Usman Group

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the EVP and general manager of Integrated Merchandising Solutions (IMS).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We hired Usman Group for two projects. For the first, we needed them to create a custom website and admin page for our branded merchandise division. The second collaboration focused on revamping our company’s website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group began working on the project for our merchandise division, but we ended up halting the project due to internal decisions. We chose to go with a cloud-based solution and no longer required Usman Group’s development help.

From there, their team updated and redesigned our company website with new images, wording, and other features. They gave us recommendations for moving forward with the best site practices. Usman Group made several changes to evolve our platform.

What is the team composition?

Naveed (CEO, Usman Group) was my main point of contact on a daily basis. There were a few other teammates but we didn’t work as directly with them.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I’m not certain of how we found them, but after seeing the excellent work they produced on our first unfinished project, we chose them again. They were easy to engage with and gave us a great experience before.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–October 2013.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of the work they produced was excellent. The updated website fully satisfied our CEO and brought our company into the 21st century. Comparing our old platform to the one we currently have shows Usman Group’s skills and we’re very pleased with the results.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very engaged and managed the project from the very beginning. We had a singular point of contact, so we were in the loop on every stage. They took the time to explain the process to us and communicate important information to our stakeholders.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Usman Group was proactive in their approach and recommendations. They guided us through the project and broke down complicated terms to keep us informed. Even though we don’t work together anymore, I still maintain a professional relationship with Naveed because of his team’s strong entrepreneurial spirit.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing specific that comes to mind for them to improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m currently a marketing manager for an office supply retail business in the Chicago area. When I worked with Usman Group, I was an SEO manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

Our company was undertaking a new marketing strategy, so we needed a fresh design for our website and blog to accommodate that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’d originally intended for them to develop multiple blogs devoted to different topics like workplace ergonomics or dorm startups. Since we have a B2B audience, we wanted our new platforms to showcase user stories, share advice, and highlight successes by small business owners.

Initially, they helped us develop a mood board and plan mock-ups for the new site so we could narrow down our options for the new look and feel. After that, they developed and designed the site and blogs using WordPress. Once that was ready, they worked with our IT team to get everything set up on our internal servers.

Unfortunately, our company decided to table these projects before the site was able to go live.

What is the team composition?

Most of our conversations were with their founder, but we had access to the developers and designers as well.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I like working with local, smaller agencies, so I searched for companies that met these criteria. We met with their team face to face and got along really well. They understood what we were looking for right away.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from November 2014 to January 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They definitely met our expectations. They’d done a good job with all the work up to the point at which we stopped. Everything was completed efficiently and matched the goals we’d laid out at the start of the project. It’s unfortunate that nothing ever went live, because I would’ve liked to see how they handled the support elements of the project.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They collaborated well. When we met in person, everyone was engaged and ready to discuss ideas. We also communicated through Basecamp and I was able to keep track of everything as it was happening. It was fairly easy to clarify things or suggest ideas on the spot. I found that very helpful.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I found the mood board approach very helpful in coming up with the design for the site. It was exciting to get to be creative since our company is very particular about branding. This was an opportunity for us to pitch new things to them.

Generally speaking, their professionalism stood out. They knew their field and they had a good grasp of the technical elements. Since my background’s in SEO, their team was a good fit with my own expertise. Working with their experts was enjoyable and they gave reliable, sound advice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

ADR Systems is a company that offers alternative dispute resolution services, including mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation among others. I'm the executive director of business development and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We were rebranding our company, so we were looking for a vendor to create a new website for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We met with Usman Group and discussed the concept and our vision. Starting from scratch, they worked with us every step of the way, creating a website that was user friendly and easy to navigate. We wanted our clients to be able to contact us and submit cases for mediation and arbitration through the website and Usman Group helped us reach that goal.

What is the team composition?

We mainly worked with Naveed (CEO, Usman Group).

How did you come to work with them?

We put out an RFP and they responded to it. We brought them in for a couple of interviews and decided they’d be a good fit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2013 and the website launched in August 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has been very useful to both our clients and our internal team. Now, attorneys can submit new cases and people can ask us questions through the website.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

It was a seamless process. We had great communication and they always updated me on the progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were as invested in our project as we were. It was a true collaboration, which is why the project was so successful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Get to know the people you're working with. Respect their time and trust them to deliver what you need. They'll do a great job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing for Lifeline Vascular Care. We’re a healthcare company and human services organization that provides management to physician practices across the country.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We were looking for a full-service development firm to build our website. Specifically, we wanted the site to promote the existing outpatient vascular centers within our network and also entice physicians to open more outpatient facilities with us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we spent a considerable amount of time with the Usman Group them to understand their capabilities and scope out the project. Once we had clear vision communicated between all parties involved, Usman Group designed and developed our multilayered website. The site has a customer-facing aspect, as well as a password-protected intranet that’s only accessible by staff. That level of security exists because the intranet houses all of our policies and procedures. The site also includes an e-commerce section that isn’t open to the public. Instead, the feature is used by centers within our network to purchase marketing materials. Lastly, a couple centers in our network have subdomains built into the main site so they can list unique information. It's a fairly comprehensive site with a lot of functionality.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

Our director of strategy had a consulting relationship with Usman Group after working with them from previous roles. They were a good fit for our organization.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project took place between July 2012 and June 2013. We’ve gone back to them periodically for functionality changes and new developments.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have over 700 teammates that utilize the secure portion of the website to do their jobs on a daily basis. The website is aesthetically pleasing, professional, and captures the culture of our brand. Usman Group created site backgrounds that are mosaics of our actual teammates and physicians. They also helped us integrate photographs of our staff into the site that would resonate with users more than stock photos.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They utilized a project timeline with built-in milestones and check-ins to ensure everyone stayed on schedule. They were also extremely proactive in reaching out to us and getting approvals in a timely manner so that we wouldn’t delay the project. As a result, they never missed a deadline during our engagement.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We greatly appreciated their willingness to collaborate. They got to know and understand our business intimately after spending the necessary time with us up front. That initial understanding enabled them to guide us through the process and implement the functionalities we needed to succeed. They jumped right in and that was key to designing the complexity of our site. It’s been a long and fruitful relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Usman Group was always open to meeting with us face-to-face. They worked hard to build a relationship with us and that sets them apart from other vendors.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the vice president of marketing for a software and social media consulting company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

Our website was outdated and needed to be completely replaced. We needed a team that could not only work on presentation and content to improve our brand identity, but that could also create a contemporary and functioning B2B marketing website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group updated our formerly static site with a modern WordPress site, so we were able to have more dynamic web pages with features like moving visuals. They helped us create a more compelling web presence while also helping us figure out how to convey our value proposition and what makes our company distinct.

In addition to their contributions to project management and design, the team also helped us organize our approach to the site by encouraging us to consider different buyers and user perspectives. They walked us through aspects, like copywriting and graphics, and suggested ways to creatively engage our buyers.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I’d worked with them previously while at a different company, so I already knew the quality of the work they produced. Nevertheless, we met with several companies to find a good fit for the redesign, but ultimately Usman Group’s work quality and willingness to educate our team made them the obvious choice.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the redesign in June 2015 and finished the following October. We still have them on a monthly retainer to provide updates and solutions as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Usman Group created a new company image that demonstrated our contemporary solutions and client success stories, which made us more competitive. They made us a more structured B2B website that allows engagement from different buyer types. With the new site, we were able to improve performance, whether that's inbound inquiries about different solutions or better integration with marketing automation tools. It’s now easier for us to understand and anticipate user behavior, which results in more conversions.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They're responsive, structured, and straightforward. They addressed our questions in a timely fashion and provided straight answers and helpful information.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were most concerned with budget and timeframe, which they kept in consideration as they determined the scope of the project. They also helped structure conversations in our thinking and understanding of the project. When they started the site, they laid out their strategy and the functionality they were trying to achieve, which allowed us to make better decisions. Additionally, they knew how to present information in a compelling way.

Overall, they were easy to work with and the entire experience was positive. Their responsiveness, creativity, and willingness to teach us enabled a successful partnership.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Were we to repeat the process, I would have liked a more definitive plan to manage the site after the initial redesign was completed. We can still approach Usman Group with problems or questions about the site, but a more detailed schedule or timeline would create a more substantive forum.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an executive director at a non-profit that works with courts and alternative dispute resolution. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We have a resource center that courts, lawyers, and judges use when they're either starting or refining their court alternative dispute resolution or ADR programs. We had two websites: an organizational website and an online resource center, which included a very complex database. Both websites were outdated. We wanted to bring the two sites together and bring them into the 21st century, improving the database navigation and the user interface. We also wanted to be able to add our own content. We were looking for a company to help us with those needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They've created a new website for us, managing both the design and the development. The organizational part of the new website has bio pages and provides the information about our company and our programs. The resource center part is broken down into two different aspects: the materials that are housed in the database and the content we've written. Naturally, there is some overlap among all three parts. For example, if we write a big evaluation, we talk about it on the organizational part of the site, describing a service we can provide. We also post it as our content in the resource center and enter it into the database for other people to find.

What is the team composition?

I worked mostly with Naveed (CRO and Partner, Usman Group).

How did you come to work with them?

One of our board members had hired Naveed Usman for his company's website and recommended them to us. At that point, we already had a quote from another company, which was significantly less expensive, but we could tell that Usman would go above and beyond to produce the complex website we needed, so we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000 and $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between January and September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our board members are thrilled with the look and feel of the website. These are lawyers and judges, which is the audience we're targeting, so their opinion is critical. We've also received rave reviews from our colleagues around the country who work in our field alternative dispute resolution and rely on our website for information and easy navigation.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

Naveed did a great job and was responsive. He is an excellent communicator. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Naveed is amazing and his word is rock-solid. We're non-tech people, but they were able to speak to us in a way we could understand. We encountered some issues in the process, but Naveed assured us that they'd deliver the product they had quoted and he did. Naveed went out of his way to be sure we got the product we expected. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything to improve. We are so happy with our site! 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I formerly was the digital marketing manager at Gerber Plumbing Fixtures, a plumbing fixtures manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

As a trade brand, our main target audience is plumbers and people in the plumbing trade. We didn't have a great web presence. Our challenge was to how to present the brand with a more user-friendly online experience. We wanted to make sure that homeowners see our products as high quality. Because we have a very extensive product offering, our other challenge was how to make that product selection experience effective and well-organized.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They spent a lot of time talking with us as part of the discovery phase. We talked about the issues that we needed to address and they were very helpful. They worked closely with me to set up the data structure. I laid out the whole product offering and hierarchy, and they formalized it in a way that makes sense online. They spent a lot of time figuring out the site navigation and search filters. In terms of design, Gerber is a very traditional manufacturer. They helped us figure out the best way to present a professional-looking brand. They gave us a lot of input, and we ended up using most of their recommendations.

In terms of the backend, it’s actually complex because we have so many products. We needed a powerful database but didn’t have unlimited funds. They found a tool called Grasshopper. It's very customizable and gave us the functionality that we needed.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with a project manager. The founder also checked in occasionally to make sure that things were on track.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I found them online. I wanted to find a vendor with local developers. We had issues with slow response times from our previous firm whose developers were overseas.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them on the project from May–October 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While I was still at the company, the new website boosted how the brand was perceived. My boss really wanted to debut the new site at a big meeting with all of the company’s sales representatives. Usman did an amazing job at making that happen. They made sure that we had a live site to demonstrate on the day of the meeting. The site was a big hit with the sales representatives. They thought it was much better looking and easier to navigate than the old site. My boss was really happy with it as well.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

The team was very responsive. They used Basecamp to manage the timeline, and items were always delivered on schedule if not sooner. Any issue we had always got resolved as soon as possible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very easy to work with. They’re very eager, and they deliver quality work. They never tried to upsell us on anything we didn’t need. They went above and beyond to find solutions that met our needs and fit our budget. They meet us where we are.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. I had a great time working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and president of Sherman Communications & Marketing. Our PR firm has been in business for about 17 years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We had minimal online visibility and a fairly antiquated website that wasn’t mobile-friendly. Since that site was first built, SEO had moved into a whole new realm. Since it wasn’t built on WordPress, there were few ways to improve it in-house. We hired Usman Group for an end-to-end platform overhaul.  Most importantly, we wanted the redesign to attract potential new clients online and showcase how our firm has evolved.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group conducted a thorough survey to ascertain my goals, design and functionality preferences, and requirement priorities. I gave them examples of comparable sites I liked along with my rationale and purpose for our platform. Together, we worked through the entire design phase. We weighed the options for using a template or creating a custom page.

For our SEO strategy, they compiled a list of target keywords including the reasons why they mattered. They offered a strong analysis for our list of ideal search terms. After we defined this detailed scope, we created wireframes and designed each element to arrive at the ideal iteration to build on. The site is built on a WordPress CMS.

What is the team composition?

Usman Group assigned 1-2 designers to our project. At the time, their firm was fairly large so Naveed (Principal and CEO, Usman Group) didn’t get involved with daily tasks. We had another specific point of contact who was always available for outreach and updates.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I'd been introduced to Usman Group several years earlier. We've collaborated on projects with other clients prior. At that point, I knew the team quite well. Even though other vendors gave lower quotes, it was more significant for us to have insight and confidence in our partner's reliability and specific capabilities and expertise.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Usman Group from February–June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Partnering with Usman Group yielded significant tangible benefits. Shortly after their involvement in our SEO efforts, the site immediately started ranking higher for our most important keywords. We've gotten more than four new valuable, quality clients based on their work. In addition, we have even more pending prospects from their sharply designed new site.

Usman Group’s endless patience was a critical factor in achieving these business results. Our site has a much more professional look and feel. It accurately represents our company and encourages potential leads to contact us. The platform is a useful, informative resource. It answers a wide array of new clients’ questions before they even speak with for the first time. Maintaining careful attention to detail, Usman Group skillfully produced high-quality deliverables. They prioritize customer satisfaction over maximizing their profit by expanding our project’s scope.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We were pleased with Usman Group’s consistently high-level discourse, open availability, and thorough methodology. Both communication systems they have in place consistently updated us on status and priorities. The team kept us on track to meet our timeline. If necessary, they'd reset deadlines to avoid delays. Since I was often busy with other clients, this support was crucial.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Usman Group cultivated a keen insight into our business offerings to best fulfill our critical needs. Establishing this knowledge base helped them pinpoint the optimal way to accurately represent our business. I especially appreciated their personalized approach to allotting adequate time and resources. They prioritized client success and never rushed through the responsibilities we gave them. The entire team was a pleasure to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'd appreciate more in-depth explanations for using WordPress myself. Hosting a tutorial could help clients maximize their new site. To their credit, they did walk me through how to use it in-house, but that type of resource would preempt having to pay another vendor later on. I'd like having a go-to resource to make changes after our partnership ended. A simple checklist for SEO best practice would also be useful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend getting to know the team Usman Group assigns you. Treat them like people instead of just a paid vendor. Being polite and appreciative will make the most of your partnership. I also encourage future clients to give clear directions to outline exactly what they want. Painting them a picture of your ideal desired outcome will take the guesswork out of the equation. Setting expectations is an important step to take.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of Creative Promotional Products. We print client logos and corporate imagery on a variety of merchandise, generally for use as giveaways or promotional purposes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

They were the creators of our first real website. We had a very basic homepage and wanted something unique. We go to them whenever we need to modernize our online presence and recently partnered with them for another update. We wanted something compatible with search engines and ahead of current trends.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We start every project with an initial meeting at their office to explain what we want. We go through storyboards and concepts and their ideas. We explore imagery and layouts and they start working on the code. They help keep us focused and stay involved through every step of the process.

The very first site they built for us was flash-based and included a lot of movement and scroll-over features. Whenever we redesign the site, they help us stay current with programming languages and functionality. We usually have a lot of questions for them and they always rise to a challenge.

What is the team composition?

We work with several people, but I usually interface with a project manager. It’s a collaborative partnership, so my team members may communicate directly with other members of their staff.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

We first started working together right when they entered the industry. We were happy with the work they did on an early project and we stayed friendly with them. When we’re not actively working together, they check in periodically to see if they can help us on a project or provide additional services.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $30,000–$50,000 on the last site build. We’ve spent more over the course of our relationship.

What is the status of this engagement?

The website build took place between June and September 2014. However, we've worked together since at least 2003 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re very good at finding cutting-edge solutions that come to life on the screen. We stay at the forefront of change within our industry and get a lot of good feedback on our site. Our clients think it looks unique and stands out, especially compared to the standard, uniform sites of several competitors.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is excellent. They plan everything out and constantly check in about scheduling. They’ve never missed a deadline and are great at following through.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re professional and friendly. We have a good business relationship, but we also feel like family. We have a casual rapport that is still business-oriented.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t encountered any.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

When I engaged Usman Group, I was the marketing coordinator at GG+A, a consultant for corporate-sized nonprofits.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We were looking to completely recreate our website. The previous version was lacking in functionality and visual appeal, and its backend was causing problems with data management. We wanted to switch CMS platforms, rebuild the backend infrastructure, and create an improved UX/UI.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Usman Group managed the entire design and development process. The marketing team had a shift in leadership in the beginning of the project, and the new director had a limited understanding of digital marketing best practices. Usman Group was instrumental in communicating the value of creating a new site and expressing the brand effectively to the executive team.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with the chief revenue officer, the marketing director, a project manager, and a designer.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I almost worked with them on a website redesign project at a previous position a few years ago, but we dropped the project just after settling on Usman Group. When we were considering firms for this project with GG+A, I suggested them and they quickly rose to the top of our shortlist.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in the spring of 2016, and the project took about six months. We first engaged them in the winter of 2015 in determining the scope and giving several presentations to our management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I left the company shortly after completing this project with Usman Group, so I wasn’t there long enough to see its impact on metrics. However, when I left, the site was ready and functional. They worked efficiently and the site was done right. We had a company-wide conference right after rolling out the new site, and everyone was very impressed. Functionality had improved drastically and the layout was very smooth. It gave us a complete facelift to the point that our clients started commenting on how we seemed like a completely different company.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great. They managed the project attentively every step of the way. We had weekly check-ins with our project manager and regularly brought our teams together for full-staff meetings. When questions came up, we would reliably get an answer on the same day. They set a project schedule in the beginning of the project and did a great job maintaining it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very patient and professional throughout the planning process as we worked to convince the executive team to move forward with the project. We had to make a few changes to the site throughout the project, and they were always flexible and accommodating. They thought about all aspects of the project holistically and encouraged us to think critically.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. They pulled off a fantastic project on time and on budget.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

No advice necessary. They’re great at what they do.