Usman Group

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a department director at CNX Corporation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Develops and supports a modernization software for the IBM i platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• Increase Quality Traffic and Downloads: Drive more website traffic and generate software downloads that are not just higher in volume, but also more valuable by coming from our ideal customer segment.
• Target the Right Audience: Refine our Google Ads campaigns to specifically reach IBM i users while excluding irrelevant audiences, ensuring that our messaging and budget are focused on the right market.
• Improve Campaign Performance: Optimize the campaign structure, including identifying and removing negative keywords, to reduce wasted ad spend and improve the return on investment.

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

• Online Search
• Other

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Usman Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The Usman Group was engaged to optimize our Google Ads campaigns with a laser focus on targeting IBM i users. Their scope of work included auditing our existing campaigns, refining targeting parameters, researching and implementing negative keywords, and continually optimizing ad copy and landing pages to improve performance.

Key Deliverables Included:

A comprehensive audit of our existing Google Ads campaigns
Identification and implementation of negative keywords to eliminate irrelevant traffic
Ongoing optimization of ad targeting to exclusively reach IBM i users
Monthly reporting and analysis of website traffic and campaign performance
Tracking and increasing the number of valuable software downloads from our website
Strategic adjustments based on performance data to ensure continual improvement in traffic quality and conversion rates
Each month, performance was measured by the number of high-value downloads and the quality of traffic driven to the site, ensuring efforts remained aligned with our business goals.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project led to clear and positive results, including:

Increased Software Downloads:
A noticeable uptick in the number of downloads, particularly from users within our targeted IBM i audience.
Improved Website Traffic:
A steady increase in overall website traffic, with a higher percentage of visitors matching our ideal customer profile.
These outcomes demonstrated that our ad spend was being used more effectively, with improved targeting translating into more meaningful engagement and conversions.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Usman Group demonstrated strong project management throughout the engagement. They delivered all items in a timely manner and used project management tools that made it easy for us to track progress and stay aligned on tasks. Communication was consistent and clear, and they were highly responsive to our needs, adjusting their approach whenever necessary to support our goals and timelines.

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What stood out most about Usman Group was their deep knowledge of the current market and digital advertising trends. They demonstrated a strong understanding of how to effectively reach niche audiences—like IBM i users—and consistently brought valuable insights that helped us stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions

Are there any areas for improvement or something Usman Group could have done differently?

N/A

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was published on October 18, 2021.

Director of Customer Relations, Software Company
IT Services

Chicago, Illinois

11-50

Aug 2021 - Ongoing

Less than $10,000

Verified

Project summary
Usman Group, Inc. audited a software company’s Google Ads campaign. They identified areas for improvement and gave recommendations. They’ve then set up and implemented a LinkedIn campaign for the client. 

Feedback summary
In just a month, Usman Group, Inc.’s work has increased sales by 400%, exceeding the client’s expectations. They are a responsive, accomodating, and helpful partner who is always available for meetings. Their excellent project management and outstanding technical skills ensure a smooth process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of customer relations at a software company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group, Inc.?

Our leads and sales decreased because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we realized we had to change something. 

We were engaged with another marketing company, but what they were doing didn’t seem to work; they mostly focused on Google advertising. We needed help in marketing and advertising. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group audited our Google Ads campaign. They gave us recommendations that will improve our ad campaign’s performance and increase our leads. 

Usman Group also advised us to start a LinkedIn campaign, which would be more targeted than Google campaigns as it can reach specific audiences. That’ll be beneficial for us since we’re selling niche software. It’s essential to have a laser focus target with our customers to ensure we’re spending money in the right place.

As our next step, Usman Group has started our LinkedIn ads campaign. They’ve handled everything, including setting up the right copy, description, and ad type. Although we have our graphic designer, Usman Group provides feedback and puts everything together. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Naveed (Principal & CEO). 

How did you come to work with Usman Group, Inc.?

We knew about them since their office was located not that far from us. Additionally, I’m connected to Naveed on LinkedIn — his posts about marketing resonated with me. 

I researched on Google and saw how many good reviews Usman Group had, and with that, I decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2021, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within the first week of our LinkedIn campaigns, we’ve received three downloads of our software. We’re currently on the 18th day of the campaign and have received eight downloads. Those numbers are already 400% higher than our usual performance. 

How did Usman Group, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group has been great at project management. They’re using Calendly to set up meetings, and their process is straightforward. There’s no going back and forth in figuring out what time works best for our teams. We have access to their calendar, and I can check if they are available for the meeting. 

Usman Group is exceptionally responsive and always available; the whole process has been smooth. I can view our project on Basecamp to see what’s going on and if we have any outstanding requests. We use Zoom for meetings. 

Additionally, Usman Group has been proactive in letting us know each time we have a new lead. They’ve checked in with us during those first weeks, and they’ve let us know how we found the lead and how we could contact them. Their team is very helpful with us, especially since we’re new to LinkedIn campaigns. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Usman Group’s industry knowledge and ability to relate to our niche are impressive. They’re able to learn about our company and target our market quickly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Get in touch with Naveed, and after that, everything will go smoothly. Usman Group has a great process when working with new companies and learning new industries. As soon as you get in touch with Usman Group, they’ll take care of you.

STAR RATINGS:
Overall rating: 5
Quality: 5
Cost: 5
Schedule: 5
Willing to refer: 5

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Department Specialist of Acclarity

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Acclarity is a leading accounting advisory partner that accelerates growth by sharpening decision-making and strengthening business results through people-powered accounting, finance, and technology solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• Design, develop, and optimize a new, functional and professional website for our new brand (Acclarity)

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

Referral

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Usman Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The project has followed a structured, multi-phase approach to deliver a newly designed and fully optimized website for Acclarity:

1. Discovery & Research
   - Conducted stakeholder interviews to gather insights and align objectives
   - Performed a comprehensive content audit and website heatmap analysis across all seven legacy sites
   - Developed a strategic sitemap, integrating essential elements from previous sites while positioning the brand for future growth
   - Created initial page content that reflects Acclarity’s brand identity and messaging
2. Wireframing & User Experience (UX) Design
   - Designed mobile and desktop wireframes to establish site structure and functionality
   - Managed an iterative feedback and approval process to refine the user experience
3. Visual Design
   - Developed a cohesive visual concept aligned with Acclarity’s brand guidelines
   - Incorporated a structured review and approval process to ensure design consistency and user engagement
4. Website Development & Optimization
   - Developed/built website pages within the WordPress CMS, ensuring flexibility and scalability
   - Conducted extensive quality assurance testing to optimize functionality, responsiveness, and performance
   - Integrated content, applied styling, and implemented keyword-driven SEO enhancements for improved search visibility
5. Deployment & Technical Support
   - Successfully launched the first phase of website with a smooth go-live process, second live round upcoming, alongside post-launch support for technical adjustments and refinements

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Web Performance/UX: Site speed, load time

SEO/Visibility: Search rankings, traffic growth, indexed pages

Engagement/Lead Gen: Session duration, conversion rates (forms) 

Completed deliverables via project plan

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They have been incredibly adaptable, seamlessly adjusting to our evolving needs, tight deadlines, and changing requirements. Naveed, in particular, has been outstanding—thoughtful in every discussion, proactive in keeping deliverables on track, and an open, effective communicator. He and his team have a keen ability to balance the big picture while ensuring even the smallest details are executed flawlessly.

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Naveed and his team's adaptability and open communication have been incredibly impressive. Naveed leads his team with poise, proving their capabilities with every changing need and communicates updates as they come, addressing any roadblocks with ease.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Usman Group could have done differently?

The team's usability/testing process could have been a little more thorough prior to initial launch, as there were a few day-of-launch fixes that had to be made reactively that other users found as they were browsing the newly launched website.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Director, Digital Marketing of a nonprofit organization.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Nonprofit supporting job seekers and individuals looking to advance their careers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• Enhance user experience on corporate website
• Transforming our web presence to better reflect our business and mission
• Meet the evolving needs of our diverse audiences

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

RFP

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• Good value for cost
• Strength of proposal response

How many teammates from Usman Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Our current website is one of our biggest direct-to-consumer brand touch points. Unfortunately, we believe it is not doing as well as our leadership feels it should be. We need. to reach and engage younger audiences, and our current site is not doing that. We engaged the Usman Group to help us align our executive vision, undestand our marketset and compeition and leverage emerging technologies to optimize the impact of our website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Executive buy-in / alignment
• Customer satisfaction ratings

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Items were delivered in a timely manner. Cost adjustments were discussed and approved along the way to ensure final deliverables did not exceed our budget. Communication was professional, thoughtful and strategic.

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Despite its size, the Usman Group delivered services and outputs we normally see with much larger agencies. Our team received the strategic guidance needed to ensure project success and Naveed himself was instrumental in brokering resources to meet and exceed our business requirements. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Usman Group could have done differently?

Communication is so critical to project success, and Naveed took on that charge deftly. He listened well and posed thoughtful questions to refine our thinking throughout. When we needed to adjust scope or rethink our approach, we engaged in practical dialogue to resolve the issues. If there was one small area that didn't add much value to the communication nor overall process, it would've been the inclusion of the project management platform, Basecamp. While it was meant to track deliverables and progress, our team rarely accessed or made use of it.

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was published on February 2, 2024.

Vanessa Cardoni
Program Manager, Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Nonprofit
Rockville, Maryland
51-200
Nov 2023 - Jan 2024
$10,000 to $49,999
Verified

Project summary
Usman Group conducted usability testing interviews and UI/UX research to create recommendations for some sections of the website.

Feedback summary
Usman Group delivered quality work that exceeded the client's expectations. The client had a great experience working with the team and stayed on top of tasks using Basecamp, facilitating the process. Usman Group had an organized process and was responsive via email, phone calls, and Zoom.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a program manager for web marketing and custom analytics at an international nonprofit organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We needed support with our website's redesign and conducting user research for some sections of the site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group managed all our project's phases, from the discovery phase to the final reporting. We had discovery sessions to define the goals and objectives. After that, Usman Group recruited participants to conduct usability testing interviews to deliver UX research. The team created a presentation and delivered the site's UI/UX design based on their findings, which included wireframes and recommendations for sections of the website. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with two teammates from Usman Group, including Naveed (Principal & CEO) and Sam. 

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

We found Usman Group through a Google search.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $18,000–$20,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Usman Group from November 2023–January 2024. Our engagement has just concluded.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Usman Group delivered great quality work that exceeded our expectations. I had a great experience working with Usman Group's team. 

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group stayed on top of the project using Basecamp as a project management tool, which made it easier for us to track tasks — the whole process was pretty good. We communicated via Zoom meetings, email, and phone calls. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything for Usman Group to improve on.

STAR RATINGS
Overall rating: 5
Quality: 5 
Cost: 5
Schedule: 5
Willing to refer: 5

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CMO of a private equity company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We were looking to rebrand our company. Over the last two years, we have acquired six different companies, so we wanted to create a new go-to-market effort with one brand. We also needed to build a website that reflected this.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group has helped us design and develop our centralized website. They started with a technical audit of all our websites. Then, they reviewed the sites' Google Analytics and platforms and made a heat map of their audiences. Afterward, the team reached out to some of our top customers and subject matter experts to fully grasp what was working well, what we needed to maintain, what we needed to build, and what gaps we needed to fill.

So far, Usman Group has crafted a comprehensive plan that includes a sitemap, wireframes, and the actual website's visualization. It has been a full-scope project. They have used WordPress to build our site, as well as Google Analytics and a tool called Ghostery to identify what pixels are on the site. The team has also used Screaming Frog and another proprietary SEO tool to generate an analysis of all our performing commercial keywords for SEO.

Not to mention, Usman Group has also shown us where the majority of our audience is focused, with the goal of allowing us to build the website's sections with deeper insight.

What is the team composition?

We work with around four people. Naveed, who is the founder, a designer, and a project manager. There is also a content copywriter that has written for Harvard Business Review.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I issued an RFP to several agencies for a rebrand, but none had the technical ability to build the website we wanted. So I reached out to Naveed, whom I had worked with 14 years ago when he was ahead of the curve. He launched HTML5, which was new then and enabled responsive design. I knew he could help us, so I explained the project to him.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2024, and the project is ongoing. We're in its final phases.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website hasn’t been launched yet, but the quality of Usman Group’s work has exceeded our expectations. Their exhaustive analysis has been truly helpful for our endeavors and guided our efforts to be more efficient. As a result, we have leveraged our keywords for paid activities.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group has delivered the work on time and on budget. The project manager has created a Basecamp model where we see updates constantly. This person also holds our weekly meetings, and thanks to this model, we have come to the meetings fully prepared and aware of the project's status. There have been no surprises.

The team has also created several Loom videos showing their progress, indicating where they are on their side with the sitemap and the content they are considering. We've also used Teams, email, and text messages to communicate. We have texted Naveed whenever something urgent arises.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to give a shout-out to Naveed. He always comes to every project with a positive growth mindset, really collaborates, and brings everybody together. His people skills are unmatched.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I consider cost, quality, and timing whenever I work on a project. When I prioritize, I tend to think of one thing over the other. However, from my perspective, all these things were of equal priority, which has been impressive. Naveed has been able to suss out the tradeoffs and put the decision back in our court, which is great and helps us avoid any problems.

Throughout the project, we have never wished to clarify things or prioritize timing, which usually happens when working with a company like ours. Overall, Naveed has a great way of rolling with the punches and coming up with solutions to course-correct anything that we are not clear on or if we switch directions suddenly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I can come up with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clearly outline your goals, what you’re trying to do, and your KPIs. Make your timing really clear, and be very open to listening to grasp things like timing, cost, or quality. You may want to launch a website in three months, but to do that, you'll need to understand that certain trade-offs and dependencies are necessary. Be very clear and upfront with those. However, Usman Group has the experience to tell you what those tradeoffs and dependencies will be.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Attorney of Bespoke Italian Citizenship

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Italain Immigration Law

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• New website

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Usman Group were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Was looking for a new website, Naveed recommoned Webflow and helped create a webstie to my liking. He was always avalibe for questions and was very responive during a little email crisis over the weekend too. I recommond him and his company. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The goals for the website was set every week, we had meeting every week to make sure the goals were met to my liking. So it was very easy to see progress on the site.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Naveed was an amazing project manager. He made the process easy to follow and always provided a to do list for everyone every week so it was easy to know and undrstand the expectations. 

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Usman Group was very responsive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Usman Group could have done differently?

Although I enjoyed working with Naveed and Usman Group, I felt the developer that had my website was not as on top of the issues as she needed to be. A lot of time she would show up to the virtual meeting and try to fix issues that were on the to do list from last week right at that moment, she also would always start by rejecting a request before actully trying it to see if it works first. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Marketing of CLOOS North America

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

CLOOS is a leading supplier of welding automation systems, offering customizable robotic and automation solutions to meet the needs of the industry, including shorter cycle times, fewer skilled workers, and higher demands in flexibility and quality.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• Build interim website for North American market

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

Existing Vendor

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Previous projects

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The purpose of this project was to design and develop a new WordPress website for CLOOS North America. The goal was to create a modern, user-friendly, and visually appealing website that effectively communicates the company's offerings, enhances user engagement, and supports lead generation.

Scope of work:

1. Consultation and discovery
2. Website design
3. WordPress development
4. Testing and QA
5. Launch and post-launch support

Key deliverables:

1. Project timeline and plan
2. Design assets
3. WordPress website
4. Training
5. Post-launch support

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Enhanced user engagement
• Improved lead generation
• Positive user feedback
• Increased website traffic

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

One of the standout aspects of working with Usman Group was their project management capabilities. They maintained clear and consistent communication, keeping us informed of progress and milestones every step of the way. Their organized and methodical approach ensured that the project stayed on track, and any potential issues were swiftly addressed.

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

From the initial consultation to the launch of new website, Usman Group exhibited a deep understanding of our needs and objectives. Naveed and his team took the time to listen to our vision and provided valuable insights and recommendations that helped shape the final design. Their expertise in WordPress development was evident throughout the project, as they effortlessly integrated our requirements into a user-friendly and visually appealing website.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Usman Group could have done differently?

None that we can think of. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing & Communications Manager of CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The mission of CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties is to provide volunteer advocacy and support for at-risk children and youth, empowering families to thrive.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• Increase awareness of CASA to help recruit volunteers.
• Increase awareness of CASA to help engage with donor prospects.

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

RFP for website redesign

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Usman Group were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

They helped us apply for Google Ad Grants for nonprofits. Once approved, they helped us to identify outcomes, opportunities, solutions, and experiments for our campaigns. Together, we implemented various campaigns for volunteer recruitment, donor engagement, and event promotion. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

For all of the campaigns we have run, we have seen 8.12k impressions with 448 clicks. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

When prompted, Naveed was very responsive and always available to meet. We always built campaigns in real time and he always followed through to make sure the campaigns got approved.

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Naveed and his team are knowledgeable, professional, and very efficient communicators. We work very well alongside Usman Group and are truly a joy to work with! 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Usman Group could have done differently?

When it comes to Google ad management, I would have loved to have us meet monthly to discuss how campaigns were doing and what/if any recommendations they had to increase the effectiveness of our campaigns. I appreciated how responsive they were when we had questions, but would have loved to see them initial some of those conversations. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of IT of Orbit Publishing, LLC, a real estate investment company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Usman Group?

Our company has a SaaS platform, and we needed someone to work on a new UI/UX design for it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group provided us with UI/UX design services for our existing SaaS platform using Figma. The team split the project into four phases, which included interviewing users to compile their feedback, creating a wireframe design, and then implementing our input on that wireframe into the final product’s initial designs. After that, Usman Group’s team interviewed several of our stakeholders and created the final deliverable.

Regarding our requests for Usman Group, we wanted to ensure our existing customer base could understand and navigate the new interface, which is why they interviewed our existing and brand-new customers to see what was confusing about our previous interface. This was a big requirement because we wanted to ensure the platform’s compatibility with our two types of customers while fitting in with the software’s existing functionalities.

Moreover, Usman Group collaborated with our marketing designers because we were also doing a rebrand, so Usman Group’s team needed to coordinate with them.

What was the team composition? 

We were initially working with four members of Usman Group’s team, including Naveed (Principal & CEO), who led the project and conducted the interviews, Chris (UX Director and Designer), and a copywriter. Still, we ended up working the most with only Naveed and Chris.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

Our COO referred Usman Group to us because they had already worked on a similar project for software UI/UX design in another company.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $45,000 with them for this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–March 2024. Still, we planned on working with them on other projects in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of results, our stakeholders were very impressed with Usman Group's work and approved it very quickly. Overall, Usman Group produced a quality design and was very detailed in giving us all the files that we needed and requested.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group finished the project a week and a half behind what we originally estimated, which wasn't too bad, but they delivered it on budget. Regarding communication, we mainly used Zoom meetings, but they also used Basecamp to manage the project and send messages, which came through to us by email.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review? 

Chris' designs had very few modification requests throughout the project's different phases before its implementation in a few months — he hit it out of the park. Moreover, Naveed understood the project very fast, as he asked great questions during the interviews and quickly understood what our clients and we wanted to do.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What impressed me the most was Usman Group's ability to source the right feedback from our users. One of the main reasons we hired an external company is that we were having a hard time surveying our users and getting actionable feedback. Nonetheless, Usman Group's team did that part well, translating into a design that worked for all our users.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Usman Group's team was slightly behind on the project's timeline, which had to do with some of the interviews that they didn't schedule and had to go back to schedule them. Moreover, the team was on the pricier side. Still, none of these situations worried me too much because they produced a quality design, and everything else went smoothly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Usman Group met all of our expectations, which impressed me, so I recommend working with Usman Group to anyone looking for software design, which is their specialization. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a former graphic designer for Circa. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We hired Usman Group because we were looking to reframe our company around our DEI strategy. We wanted to do a bit of market research to figure out what our users were seeing and what their impressions of our website were. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We met with Usman Group several times and went over our biggest concerns. We had just completed a rebranding project and saw a decline in our downloads and website traffic. After going back and forth with Usman Group, we determined we wanted to proceed with a two-part interview process. 

This process included Usman Group speaking to our potential and current customers to determine their needs and what they had purchased from our company. The second part of the process was having users go through our website and see if they could navigate it to get the answers they were looking for. The team was also responsible for UX/UI design and helped us redesign the website. Key technologies included Crazy Egg, Google Analytics, and Figma. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Naveed (CEO & Principal) and one other individual. 

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

We found them through a referral. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a little less than $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between January–March 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any hard metrics, but we saw an uptick in users and downloads. Usman Group’s quality of work exceeded our expectations. 

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was delivered on time and within budget. Usman Group provided strong communication, and we used Basecamp and Trello for project management. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

We’d like to shout out Naveed. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team was very talented, and they had a really good understanding of how to address the market and figure out what our audience needed. Our overall experience was very positive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t love using Basecamp; however, that is not a reflection of Usman Group. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a realistic timeline and budget. Lay out everything that you’re looking for, even things that you may not think you need immediately, because it’s good to get ahead of those needs. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Quest Food Management Services.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Onsite food service management at educational institutions and corporate dining facilities

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• Clarify Quest's key attributes that clients & customer value
• Expand Quest's new client base
• Generate more sales w/ Quest's current customers

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

Referral

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Usman Group were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Project Description: The project for Quest Food Management Services (FMS) involved a strategic effort concentrated on two main objectives: enhancing sales within existing accounts and expanding the customer base in the Midwest. Initial actions focused on diagnosing Quest FMS's unique attributes through a group session, which served as the foundation for developing tailored messaging. 

For current accounts, the strategy included brainstorming sessions aimed at educating customers about the quality and freshness of the products to encourage increased consumption. The expansion efforts were directed at identifying potential regions and partners in the Midwest, creating memorable first impressions, and establishing a follow-up process to cultivate new relationships. 

The scope encompassed diagnostics, planning, and execution phases, highlighting a thorough understanding of Quest FMS's value proposition and strategic engagement in the market. 

Deliverables: Conducted a series of intake sessions with key team members to identify the company's actual attributes (as opposed to aspirational ones) using a strategic framework. This step is crucial for developing compelling messaging that highlights Quest FMS's unique selling points. Detailed planning phases for each initiative, focusing on idea generation, strategy formulation, and operational planning to effectively address the challenges unique to each goal.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Demonstrable increase in new client leads, leading to new business/sales

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The Usman Group was 100% on time and budget. They were proactive, communicative, creative, flexible, and responsive.

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

• Creativity
• responsiveness
• flexibility
• incredibly easy to work with

Are there any areas for improvement or something Usman Group could have done differently?

N/A