Usman Group

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.

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.

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.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Usman Group was excellent to work with. Naveed definitely left a positive and lasting impact on the company with his work. One of the physicians at the clinic was very happy with the website Usman Group redesigned.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Naveed laid out a very thorough plan. We used the work process management platform Basecamp, so what we were doing and when it would be done was very clear. We also had monthly check-in calls to review the metrics. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked with a handful of firms throughout the years, and I’d say Usman Group is hands down the best. I was very impressed by Naveed’s business acumen and ability to walk into a new industry and very niche market. He wasn’t just trying to sell me something; he had a higher-level thought process. Naveed really considered what the strategy should be and pointed out things I didn’t see. He was even able to provide additional insights that impacted us, such as questioning whether we had the right processes set up to convert certain leads. He took it one step further than what you traditionally get from a digital strategy firm. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I don’t think so. I hadn’t been happy with our previous firm, and Naveed was just excellent. Throughout the years, I’ve done freelance digital marketing work, and to this day, Naveed still stands out as the best person I’ve worked with.

Any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared to discuss what you’re currently doing and where you’d like to go. One of the best things about working with Naveed is that you can bounce ideas off of him. If you’re not sure how to flush out an idea, don’t be afraid to share it with him; he’s definitely going to surprise you.