A boutique digital strategy firm
Usman Group is a boutique digital strategy, market research and web design firm that helps organizations plan and execute successful communications and technology initiatives that are elegant, cost-effective and easy to implement.
- Analysis: We are research-driven, and dig deep to understand the needs and desires of your customers and how you want to better serve them.
- Strategy: We collaborate with your team on creative, proven, actionable approaches that will bring your organizational and business goals to fruition.
- Execution: We have an extensive, trusted network of experts whom we work closely with to ensure that your strategy has a practical way forward.
- Measurement: We help our clients articulate what success means to them, develop metrics to measure them and establish feedback loops for continuous improvement.
headquarters
other locations
Focus
Portfolio
National Safety Council, Priceline.com, Robert W. Baird & Company, Davita, Chicago Sun-Times, and the University of Chicago.
Internal Communications Development for Priceline.com
Priceline.com helps people get discounted rates for travel-related purchases such as airline tickets and hotel reservations. The challenge for Usman Group was to design a robust company intranet that was as engaging as its consumer-facing marketing and serve as the primary hub for all internal company communications. The team developed an attractive and easy-to-use internal communications portal that their global workforce could rally around and truly adopt.
Web Development for National Safety Council
The National Safety Council engaged the Usman Group to create a stand-alone branded website that would provide information about the latest automotive safety features and provide answers to drivers' questions. The challenge was that the site would have to appeal to drivers of all backgrounds and ages. The Usman Group decided to make the site direct, intuitive and highly skimmable to capture and keep attention. They used easy to recognize icons in lieu of text with quick, fun quizzes to help steer users to crucial car safety information. The NSC was so happy with the website, they promoted it through multiple traditional media channels and outlets, including outdoor, print, TV, radio, social, paid search and web banner ads.
Web Development and Marketing for Cressey & Company
Cressey & Company is one of the most experienced and successful healthcare-focused private equity firms in the country, but they were frustrated with their website. The main issue was their brand identity which was all over the place. Usman Group took on the content development, strategy, and web design. They developed a strategy to augment the content experience that would bring the pages to life. The end result was a site that worked flawlessly on a variety of systems.
Poplar-Prairie Stone Crossing
Vantage Leadership Consulting
Strategic Mobility Group
Selective Search
ShopperTrak
Achieva Wealth Advisors
Michelle's Interiors
Lincoln Park Institute
University of Notre Dame
Lifeline Vascular Access
Specless
Gordon Salon
Chicago Sun-Times
Make Up First
Merel Family Law
Lambs Farm
North Shore Trust & Savings
Myefski Architects
Reviews
the project
Digital Strategy & Web Dev for Marketing Firm
“Usman Group did a really good job for a reasonable price.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I was the founder and director of marketing of Townie Branding, a branding merchandising company that build merchandise lines for various industries.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
We were trying to refresh our digital strategy to help us break into different industries and increase customer acquisition. We brought on Usman Group to help us with the website layout and design and development.
What was the scope of their involvement?
First, they helped us create our go-to-market strategies. We underwent a lengthy discovery process to identify our core business objectives. Together, we identified target markets and used that information to create marketing funnels and optimize our site design. Then they redesigned and developed our site to improve the landing pages and make it easy to edit. They ensured the site was SEO-friendly and we could easily track the bounce rate. Since then, they’ve hosted our site. After development was complete, we launched ads to attract leads.
What is the team composition?
We worked with Naveed (Founder) and he brought on a designer and developer.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
A friend of mine worked with them on a marketing website for his company and had a really good experience. When I was looking for a development partner, he referred me to them.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about $12,500.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project lasted from June–December 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The new site has helped us earn more leads, which in turn will lead to more revenue. Usman Group did a really good job for a reasonable price.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
Naveed handled everything well. Even when we were working with other members of the team, he checked in to make sure everything was going well and meeting our expectations. They were extremely prompt and efficient.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They have a wide breadth of knowledge. Everyone on the team has either worked for a startup or founded a startup, so whether they’re a designer, developer, or business expert, they bring a lot of expertise to their role outside of their primary function. That was really helpful.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, they did a really good job.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Don’t just think of them as a digital service provider. They have a strong background in business development, so you can get a lot more out of your project if you work with them to align your business and digital marketing strategy.
the project
Web Design, SEO, & Branding for Medical Device Manufacturer
"Usman Group is helpful and explains processes, which is beneficial to our team."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m an engineering program manager for a micro-manufacturer of medical devices.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
Our website was outdated, to say the least. As a small company, the website was an easy way for us to promote ourselves. That was one reason why we wanted to update everything.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Usman Group started fresh and worked on our brand from start to finish. We sent our guidelines for the brand into a portal and then designers gave us multiple designs. We then selected our top designs and moved forward with the best one. After that, we secured our colors, logos, and fonts. Their team then moved on to a complete website redesign.
We’re now in phase two. They’re analyzing the website to understand how users engage with the it. Their team’s also trying to promote our name on search engines and creating content like FAQ sheets.
What is the team composition?
We worked with Naveed (Principal & CEO), Jeanie (Content Strategies Consultant), and one more person from their team.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
Our management team found Naveed and looked into a couple of other options. Eventually, I acquired the project.
How much have you invested with them?
To update the website, we spent about $25,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in May 2020 and launched the website in July. We’re now in phase two of the project.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The website’s in its infancy because it only launched in July. However, we have gotten leads from the new platform.
I’m not a developer. As a small company, everyone on the team has a lot of different responsibilities. It was nice to have Usman Group hold our hands along the way. We didn’t know exactly what we needed, and their team was helpful throughout the whole process.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
Naveed has a great system for managing his projects. Their team sets clear goals and makes everyone’s tasks clear. Naveed also responds to my phone calls and emails. Anything I need, he provides it.
During the website project, we had weekly meetings when we reviewed action items. It was a streamlined process.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I don’t know much about how to build a website. Usman Group is helpful and explains processes, which is beneficial to our team.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I can’t think of anything off the top of my head.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Maintain open communication with their team.
the project
Website Build for Safety Advocate Nonprofit
“The project was delivered on time and on budget, and it’s an award-winning website.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m currently the founder of a startup transportation safety consultancy. I worked with Usman Group primarily when I was the senior director of digital content and strategy at a safety nonprofit. My job was to communicate safety messaging to the public in a variety of topic areas to influence people’s behavior and keep them safe. COVID took a heavy financial toll on the non-profit, and a number of people were laid off, myself included.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
I hired them to help my creative team and me with a web project related to new safety technology in cars. It was a very large project, a national public education campaign, that was financed through grants.
Their team of programmers and artists helped my team of producers, writers, content generators, and artists come up with a unified theme, presentation style, and all manner of things, including the actual website!
What was the scope of their involvement?
Usman Group was primarily involved in the creation of a website. It was a totally customized WordPress-based effort. Its pages had a variety of content, showcasing everything from videos that my team put together to graphics, either motion or still, blogs, editorial, latest news, games, etc.
This was a national project, and we employed a variety of media to engage and educate the public as well as attract potential funders. We worked with a variety of stakeholders to ensure that new technologies were properly represented, and safety perspectives were highlighted.
What is the team composition?
I typically had meetings with the project manager from Usman, one of their principal graphic artists, and a programmer.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
I had a coffee with Naveed (CEO), and we had a long talk about what his company could offer and what I wanted to achieve. I also met some of his employees, but it was mostly Naveed’s enthusiasm that won me over, as well as his ideas and creativity.
I knew that Naveed and his team were competent, but lots of people are, and I wanted more than that. When it comes to creative endeavors, many people will just outsource the whole thing. I’ve always been a digital content developer, but I also get my best work accomplished collaborating with other people.
How much have you invested with them?
The total project budget was more than 9 million dollars. Usman Group was a significant part of it, but we worked with other consultants on media buys, digital advertising, VR games, and other tactics. I’d estimate that Usman’s part was $150,000–$250,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project started in May or June 2015 and took about four years to wrap up. The website is still up and operating. They were a great resource, and I remain friendly with Naveed to this day. I just wish I had reason to put him back to work with and for me.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The website we made has been used and cited by the federal government and a significant number of nonprofits and for-profits, including state motor vehicle departments. This campaign was the first and largest educational program of its kind.
When someone buys a car, there are more and more new technologies built in, such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. Unfortunately, drivers generally aren’t educated on how to use those. We created a place that taught drivers about the safe operation of these safety systems. We built out a kind of Wikipedia of active safety systems. Like any technology, it has to be constantly updated, but it’s still the largest and most comprehensive site of its kind. We did a variety of consumer tests on its design and usability, and the site was continuously improved upon.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
My background is in TV news, and I’ve worked in some of the most competitive markets in America, so I have no tolerance for missing deadlines. I’m a good judge of the need to get work done on time and on budget, and that’s what we did. I held Usman Group’s heels to the fire, but I didn’t need to. They did what they had to do. The project was delivered on time and on budget, and it’s an award-winning website.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I haven’t hired many outside providers in website design and IT, and the few projects I’ve done were in the $3,000–$5,000 range. I don’t have much experience outsourcing national projects like this one, but I can say that Usman Group did well. I’m sure they’d do well with a $3,000–$4,000 project, too.
Naveed has a tremendous amount of energy and great ideas, he’s a positive thinker, and he sees a lot of opportunities. He’s a good partner.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Not really. I worked closely with Naveed’s team. I knew I could always bring him in if I had to, but there was never a need. I have no complaints. The educational campaign is still in use today, and it’s one of the projects I’ve done in my life that I’m proud of.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
Anyone hiring an external provider needs to decide how they want the project to go and build requirements around their vision. If the client doesn’t know those, they shouldn’t pretend they do. We can outsource an entire website project to Usman Group and tell them everything it needs to do, or we can be participants in the process, talk to the team, and build out requirements in a way that satisfies our purpose.
the project
Digital Marketing & Web Dev for Medical Device Company
“I’ve worked with other SEO companies, and I think Usman Group does the best work.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the co-founder and CMO of a medical device company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
I’ve worked with them at several different companies in various positions.
What was the scope of their involvement?
I initially hired them for SEO, but over the years, I’ve worked with them on a host of different projects, including building websites, SEO, and Google Ads. They’ve done both organic search and paid ads.
For one project, another company had launched a website, and there was an error that caused us to lose all of our built-up SEO. Naveed (Principal & CEO) helped rebuild the SEO from scratch. That was a tedious and difficult process, but they were able to get it back to where it was and even exceed that. It took a couple of years, but it was a big project.
Right now, Usman Group is helping us support some of our clients on their digital needs. That includes website rebuilds and SEO.
What is the team composition?
It’s hard to say because it’s changed over the years. Naveed merged with another company. I’ve worked with a lot of the team, but I’ve mostly worked with Naveed. He’s a key player in all of the projects.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
Naveed was working with a company when I came in to work for that company.
How much have you invested with them?
I’m not sure how much we’ve spent over the years. It varies; a website project costs a lot more than monthly SEO.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our work together began in 2013, and it’s ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The organic traffic growth we saw on the project I mentioned was big. We’ve also seen order conversion through paid ads. I’m very metrics-based, so that’s a big thing for me.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
They do a really nice job. Naveed has definitely strengthened his team’s project management capabilities over the years. They use Basecamp for project management.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I’ve worked with other SEO companies, and I think Usman Group does the best work. They know their stuff and get results, and that’s what I’m interested in.
Their digital expertise is why we keep coming back to them. They stay up to date on trends and what’s changing. They also have a network so that they can pull in the right people to get the project done.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I think they do a nice job.
Any advice for potential customers?
Like any project, you need to know the outcome you want. For instance, if you’re looking for SEO growth, you need to keep a pulse on that and make adjustments or shifts throughout the project.
the project
SEO Consulting for Food Manufacturer
"Usman Group’s extremely fast, so we’ve made significant progress in only a couple of months."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the marketing communications manager for a food manufacturer.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
We wanted to increase our overall search engine statistics whether that be through the use of keywords or other forms of media.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Usman Group provides on-site SEO services, focusing on our food website. They analyzed the platform and then provided us with their professional opinions for improvements. Their team advises us on organic initiatives. They use professional services to track keywords such as Google Analytics.
What is the team composition?
I directly communicate with Naveed (Principal and CEO) He also has a team who assists with elements on the website project.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
My predecessor wanted to engage Usman Group a couple of years ago. They discussed plans to work together but the project fell through. Our sister group within the organization used their services to help with their website. When I started this position, I caught Naveed’s name and contacted him. After analyzing our site, he came up with a proposal. We decided it would be a great partnership.
How much have you invested with them?
We spend about $3,000 a month on their services.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our contract started in June 2020, and we’ll work together until the end of the year.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Since working with Usman Group, our presence in specific keyword searches improved. We’ve seen gradual progress with our positions in search engines, especially Google. They made fantastic observations about our site and came up with a plan to mitigate problems, which was extremely helpful.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
Prior to signing the contract, Naveed came up with a formal timeline with milestones. It created a clear picture of the project and made it easy for me to pitch the partnership to my management.
We track all of our tasks in Basecamp. They provide regular updates on tasks. Naveed sends to-dos, and I meet with him every week. He responds to emails if I need something in the interim. Naveed’s accessible, so I never have trouble getting in touch with him.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Usman Group’s extremely fast, so we’ve made significant progress in only a couple of months. It’s also easy to work with them. I enjoy meeting with Naveed. It doesn’t feel like a struggle to partner with him. Usman Group has made this fun by coaching me through the project, which is a really unique quality.
Are there any areas they could improve?
This may be just the dynamic of working in a home office, however, it can be difficult to have phone conversations. There can be delays on the calls.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It’s important to be candid about what you know, don’t know, and expect from them. That’s how you’ll see the best results.
the project
WordPress Web Redesign for Food Marketing Company
"Usman Group’s client-oriented and understands a lot about different businesses."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the president and founder of a food marketing company. We finance and market crops.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
I wanted to leverage my company’s reputation and financial strength on its website to refresh the business’s presence online. I needed to refine the website that I previously set up with them.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Usman Group built our initial website, which involved building modules on top of a WordPress template. During this project, their team concentrated on the website’s flow. They used a template and transferred information from our previous website, so we didn’t create the platform from scratch. However, we did update images and text.
What is the team composition?
I worked with Naveed (Principal and CEO) who has a wealth of subcontractors. Only one other individual helped with this project.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
I first discovered Naveed through a Google search for local companies that build websites. Naveed was in his previous company, which I hired to build my first website. I enjoyed working with them and had confidence in their knowledge of development. I couldn’t think of any agency that I would hire other than Usman Group.
How much have you invested with them?
The project cost about $6,5000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started this project in August and finished it in September 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I’m definitely satisfied with the work that Usman Group delivered. Naveed thinks strategically about marketing. He pushes his clients to open their minds to different ideas and think outside of the box.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
We used Basecamp to track the project, and they met every deadline. Their team made sure that I knew that I had obligations. That contributed to the project’s smoothness. We met just about all of our projections.
After running a larger company, Naveed distilled his subcontractor base to people he has complete trust in. I have a lot of confidence in Usman Group.
What did you find most impressive about them?
If you look at their website, it’s almost self-explanatory. They have a talent for putting together different elements into a creative website.
Usman Group’s client-oriented and understands a lot about different businesses. They have a rich background of experiences with different companies and organizations. That’s unique. It also gives them an edge in knowing what their client wants and how to achieve it. Experience pays off. Naveed’s able to put together teams to build sites that people want to click.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I can’t think of anything for them to improve.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Ensure there’s clarity between your expectations and Usman Group’s expectations. It’s important for everyone to be on the same page. Be clear about who’s responsible for which aspects of the website such as content and images.
the project
Site Revamp & Maintenance & SEO for Workforce Solutions Co
"Usman makes recommendations based on our unique needs."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the marketing manager at LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
Originally, our company engaged them to refresh our website.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Usman Group collaborated with one of our partners — a design agency — and refreshed our website. When we had to move to a different hosting company, their team found us a good option. As well, Usman Group recommended that we use Hootsuite to inexpensively manage all of our social media. They also recommended that we use Crazy Egg to track how people use our website.
In addition, we had a couple of projects that were outside of basic maintenance. Our website lists a huge number of jobs and contains a search function. Their team helped to change the search function's code. They also made a smaller change to the code.
Their team provides us with a certain number of hours for maintenance each month. Also, they help us with our SEO efforts.
What is the team composition?
My direct contact’s Naveed (Principal and CEO) who works with outside developers. There are two people on that team.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
I wasn’t with the company when we initially engaged Usman Group. However, I believe that the company found them through our partner design agency.
How much have you invested with them?
Originally, we set up a service agreement for $1,500 a month. In light of COVID and changes to our business needs, we reduced that service agreement to $750 a month. One project cost about $5,000 and the smaller change to the code cost $625.
What is the status of this engagement?
I started with the company in January 2020, so that’s when I started working with Usman Group. We have an ongoing relationship with the service agreement.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Usman helped us to gain more traffic to our website. Through the tools that their team recommended, they made our website more user friendly. Their team also helped us to optimize our site for the user, which in turn, increased traffic and conversions.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
Their team uses Basecamp to help everyone stay aligned on every piece of the project. Their project management’s very effective. They quickly turnaround results. Their team’s responsive and meets deadlines.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Usman makes recommendations based on our unique needs. They pushed us out of our comfort zone and recommended tools that work with our budget. Hootsuite and Crazy Egg are manageable resources that I wouldn’t have found without Usman.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, not at this moment.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Ask a lot of questions and maximize them as a resource. Allow them to offer different avenues and resources. They’re experts that can bring unique ideas to the table.
the project
Dashboard Development for Real Estate Consulting Firm
“They were able to work in a technical realm but speak to us in a familiar and comfortable way.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the VP of core services at a real estate consulting company. We’re an owners’ representative in the real estate industry, so we often work with real estate developers, nonprofits, and large corporations to help them develop large capital projects.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
Naveed (Founder) and Usman Group had created our website that's currently up and running, which I was really impressed by.
We turned to them again to help develop a dashboard tool for our client services. We wanted the tool to serve as a one-stop-shop for clients to be able to see the health of their projects and how their portfolio is doing.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Usman not only helped with programming but also the look and feel, the design, the layout, and what offerings we would have on the dashboard. They worked on usability, graphic UI, flow, and how the tool actually worked.
I don’t know the specific technologies they used to build the dashboard, and from my perspective, that’s a good thing, because they worked seamlessly to me. They created an interactive prototype that placed a mockup of the tool on a website.
What is the team composition?
I only worked with two people from their team. Naveed was our main contact, and he managed the process.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
I don’t know what the original connection was. I was recommended to them by our marketing department, and I was initially concerned because I’m in San Diego and they’re in Chicago. This was pre-COVID, so we weren’t quite as adept at doing video conferencing. However, I was told that they were great communicators. I didn’t have any problems with how they managed the project.
How much have you invested with them?
I believe it was $15,000 for the dashboard, and then we did some additional programming after that for $10,000. The website cost more.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our work together began in November 2018, and it ended around June 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The biggest advantage they brought was that, being a technical company, they understood what was possible, but then they spoke in a language that was understandable to a non-technical person.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
They did well with project management; if anything, they had to nudge us along, because I was pretty busy at the time with my primary role. They did a good job of tactfully nudging me to meet our milestones, which is an art form. They didn’t come across as pushy, but at the same time, they moved things along. I was glad to have internal deadlines, regularly scheduled meetings, and reminders. As far as managing a client, that was really helpful. Then, as far as managing down, it was pretty seamless. They worked with another company for programming services. I was involved in a couple of technical sessions with them when they had specific questions, but I mostly didn’t have to interface with them. Usman was able to speak the same language and manage them, so I didn’t need to be involved in the nitty-gritty.
They used Basecamp to manage the project. They also used another tool — UserTesting.com — to display the interactive prototype that they created. Even though it was just a mockup, it looked really sharp. At the time, I actually thought it was the final product, but they said they were going to enhance it further.
I liked the way that they were able to communicate and interpret our requirements. I gave them a full spec with all of the things that I wanted to do, but they did the layouts themselves. They were able to extract from us what we needed and put it into a nice-looking format. From there, I’d mark things up and they’d quickly make the changes. It was a good, collaborative flow.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their communication style set them apart. They were able to work in a technical realm but speak to us in a familiar and comfortable way. I’m sure there was a lot in the background that needed to be dealt with as well as certain limitations, but they didn’t throw a bunch of jargon at us. We could always understand them, and when there were limitations, they were upfront about them.
Are there any areas they could improve?
If they could provide those programming services in-house that they brought the other company on for, that might be an enhancement. I didn’t have any problem with it, per se, but it might’ve been more streamlined from their perspective to have the services in-house. However, since we’ve worked with them, they’ve expanded their services, so they might've already brought them in-house.
Any advice for potential customers?
Be prepared, because they’re able to move quickly. It’s easy for you as the client to actually be the bottleneck in the process. They were not only prepared for deadlines but often chomping at the bit to get necessary internal decisions.
the project
WordPress Web Development for Interior Design Firm
"Usman Group has dedicated team members who are experts in their areas."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
My company’s Michelle's Interiors.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
I wanted a website that functioned well and engaged users. I needed the website to represent my company's level of design. My ultimate goal for the website was to show how we work as a team and how we make it so that the client doesn’t lift a finger.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Usman Group built a custom website using WordPress. We started with an inspiration and collaborated to come up with the concept for what the website would look like. They built the platform to support different end-users, which includes architects, builders, landscapers, and clients. There’s a section of the website that features sustainability, which I’ve recently gotten into.
What is the team composition?
I had a main point of contact. I also worked with two designers. There was another person who built the website.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
I met Naveed (Principal & CEO) through another business partner. I’ve worked with Naveed for over 12 years. He built two other custom websites for me.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent $20,000 on their services.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began this project in February 2020 and it's in the homestretch. The website will go live either this week or the next.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I can already tell that the website’s phenomenal. Many websites look like a template that people altered to work for them, which is fine. As I’m in the creative design world, I wanted my website to represent my work. I’m not cookie-cutter; I’m not trendy. I wanted to show a timeless, holistic design approach, which the website does. It’s easy to get through the site too.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
They use Basecamp where we see all of the team’s communications. We check off assignments, so there are deadlines and accountability. When we need a group meeting, we have meetings and discuss whatever’s needed to keep the project moving. Their team’s on top of the project. I like their process and timeline.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Usman Group has dedicated team members who are experts in their areas. The person who codes doesn’t create content because those are different specialties. But then, they all talk together so the end result flows well. I like their creativity too.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I’m happy with them. You pay a premium price, but you pay it for a reason. They’re premium; I’m premium and want to get to a premium client.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It’s a time commitment to build a website. For an agency to design and develop a website, you have to give them the needed information. It’s great to create a folder of images. You might have to spend a day or two researching visuals that speak to you.
the project
Web Revamp for Healthcare Company
"The team at Usman Group presented themselves with a high level of integrity."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the former VP of marketing & strategy at a healthcare company. We were primarily a management service company that managed nationwide vascular access centers.
What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?
While we’re part of the same network, each vascular access center had its own unique brand. The initial challenge was discovering how to take a multitude of brands and put them under one umbrella.
We also wanted to make it easier for patients and referral sources to know where we were to be able to get to us. Even as they started to engage with us online, we wanted them to understand the scope of services we provided. We wanted an image of being an innovative, cutting-edge company, so we needed an updated website. We wanted the site to send the message that we were easy to work with because of the resources we offered.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The team at Usman Group redesigned the website, focusing on building a new customer-facing frontend. Because we wanted to bring a number of centers underneath one umbrella, we had to find different features to implement.
One feature allowed users to input their zip code and find the closest center to them. They get a map of the US that shows all of the centers within that range. Each center has information placed on the site as well. Then we had legends that gave users a sense of the scope of services. The team also found ways to implement search functionality and video content.
Since we had all of these brands, we also wanted an intranet site where users could go into a password-protected area and receive information that would help serve their patients. The information could also help with engaging their own markets. We also had a feature regarding business opportunities where users could engage to either develop a center or receive management services.
What is the team composition?
Naveed (Principal & CEO, Usman Group) was the key point person. My director of marketing, marketing designer, and analyst dealt with their program project managers and designers.
How did you come to work with Usman Group?
I believe in working with networks and referrals from professionals I’ve worked with that I know deliver a high level of quality, have a great sense of integrity, and are forward-looking. I told my network that I was struggling to find an innovative and flexible design house that was affordable. They recommended Usman Group.
Since we’re part of a large Fortune 500 company, we had resources to tap into. Looking across the board, we realized that Usman Group was the right group for us to work with.
How much have you invested with them?
We invested between $60,000–$100,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked with Usman Group from 2010–2016.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We valued Usman Group’s innovation. They found functionalities that helped aggregate the brands, making it easy to find their location and scope of services. Through their nice and elegant development work, we still use the building blocks they gave us. The website still looks fresh.
The team at Usman Group presented themselves with a high level of integrity. They strive to solve problems while remaining transparent. Their team also suggested multiple ways and solutions. I liked what they brought to the table, keeping all of their ideas fresh and different. They were a great partner.
How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?
From a project management standpoint, their team was incredibly structured. The project manager was knowledgeable and on top of things. Basecamp is used to track everything, and it is a nice system. Their team held themselves accountable for delivery and held us responsible as well. As a result, the project was delivered on time and in the budget.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I appreciated that Usman Group provided continued services. They also did a great job of working with the IT teams and providing support when needed. We were also able to manage tasks internally ourselves, which they positioned us to do with the content management tools they had in place.
The team was flexible but disciplined. They hold themselves to a high standard. There were no surprises, but if anything had to change, there were conversations to explore. Usman Group finished everything in a timely manner while remaining flexible.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there’s nothing I’d have them improve. Usman Group should continue hiring great people. Because of their culture and team, they’re a nice group to work with. As long as they keep having that same talent base, they’re always going to be a successful group.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Don’t look at Usman Group as a web developer; look at them as a digital strategy partner. It’s better to talk about any problem or solution so that they can use their experience and innovation to find the right answer.
Don’t just go to Usman Group and tell them that you want a website that will increase leads. Clients have to be prepared to talk about what the issues are. Once that’s done, Usman Group can navigate and figure out the right solution and user experience.
Due to the site’s SEO-friendly layout and well-designed landing pages, leads have increased. Usman Group was knowledgeable and attentive; they regularly checked in with the client and offered expert advice to advance the project.