VisualFizz

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a partner at a retail business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VisualFizz, and what were your goals?

Our website needed to be developed for a new concept. In addition, we needed some short-term social media and graphic design support. Our goals were to get launched quickly and under budget.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were referred to Visual Fizz and I am so glad we were. They were confident in delivering our project on time and were so amazing throughout the scoping process.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We had a kick off meeting to outline the web development needs, which has evolved into routine project calls covering all aspects. Currently, there are several initiatives that Visual Fizz handles for us.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with at least 5-6 people from the team, led by Dan and Callie.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The website looks terrific, and the social media marketing and design support continue to be ongoing. We're even looking at adding more workstreams to Visual Fizz from other agencies because they've been so incredible.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They are extremely communicative and the emails/calls are very thoughtful.

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

Delivering a big project ahead of expected time and below budget is rare. To do it with an incredible team was the icing on top.

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

None, they're amazing

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an organization that runs a no-code developers marketplace. We do software development and marketing for our customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VisualFizz?

We engaged VisualFizz to help us build our online marketplace.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began this project with another developer, so when VisualFizz came on, we gave them access to the initial code. We also held a kick-off meeting where we shared documentation regarding the requirements and our goals for the marketplace. The VisualFizz team has been responsible for designing and developing our marketplace, which sites on top of WordPress. They’ve performed PHP and WordPress development work to build the platform according to our documentation. 

The platform is a marketplace for employers to post their development projects. Once an employer has posted a project, developers can bid on the project and wait for a response. If the developer wins the bid, our platform opens a workroom, facilitating collaboration between employers and developers. Workrooms provide a dedicated space to manage projects, collect funds, share status updates, and communicate via a messaging tool. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Dan (Founder & Managing Partner) and a lead developer.

How did you come to work with VisualFizz? 

I found VisualFizz online and evaluated them against other local and national companies. I was impressed with their portfolio and that they were based in Chicago, so we moved forward with the engagement.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested roughly $100,000 in the partnership with VisualFizz. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with VisualFizz in September 2021, and the partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

VisualFizz has played a critical role in developing our marketplace. We’ve used development timelines per task to measure success, and they’ve hit 90% of the timelines we’ve set. We’ve also assessed the quality of their development work, which has been fantastic. We’ve had very few bugs, and they’ve immediately remedied the minor issues we’ve found during testing.  

How did VisualFizz perform from a project management standpoint?

The VisualFizz team has performed well from a project management standpoint; we’ve used Trello and monday.com to move the project forward. They’ve been flexible and accommodating when we’ve changed their tasks. We’ve communicated via Slack and email and had weekly development meetings via Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

VisualFizz has dedicated a team of knowledgeable, high-quality developers to our project. Not only are they capable from a development standpoint, but they’re also talented at design. They’ve consistently taken my ideas and improved them, which I’ve appreciated. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing VisualFizz could improve on; I’ve been happy with them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend listening to their ideas and treating VisualFizz like a partner because they have the potential to make your project better. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Respondent 1: I handle patient intake and marketing at Granzow Lymphedema & Lipedema Center, which specializes in the surgical treatment of lymphedema and lipedema. I reach out to potential new patients, give them information, and do an initial phone intake. 

Respondent 2: I work part-time on content creation. I’ve been brought on as a freelancer and assist in social media management. I create such things as video testimonials and other digital content creations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VisualFizz?

R1: For 10 years, we had another company handling the nuts and bolts of marketing, which primarily included patient reviews and our website. They also updated us on SEO and our website’s traffic.

R2: Our previous provider also told us they were working on SEO and that we were ranking with many different keywords, which turned out not to be the case. 

R1: The agency gave information to the doctor, who became busier and didn’t have a dedicated office manager keeping tabs on their work. Two and a half years ago, we hired a new office manager, who decided we needed a change of pace, so we wanted to identify a new company to take over.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

R2: VisualFizz has migrated all our website and social media content, tweaked it, and updated it at our request. We had redesigned the site before they came on board, and the team has taken over the website and cleaned it up. They started by doing a full analysis of our SEO and backlinks, where they found a lot of missing pieces and broken links, especially regarding the SEO work the previous agency claimed to be doing. VisualFizz smoothed out the site’s backend.

After their analysis, the team broke down the site’s problems and where it was lacking. They offered recommendations on what we needed to focus on and how long it would take them to fix the site. When our previous agency was handling the website, it had a lot of issues, false reports, and slow loading times. We asked VisualFizz to address those issues.

R1: Meanwhile, we took back ownership of the social media function. VisualFizz makes sure we stay educated on SEO and marketing to help us. The team has also done some separate projects for us. For example, when we started working with them, we wanted a brochure-like handout for new patients, and VisualFizz did some research and helped us create that. They’ve also helped us prepare for a couple of conferences, providing marketing collateral for the events. 

What is the team composition?

R2: In the beginning, I worked closely with Dan (Managing Partner) to negotiate the agreement. 

R1: Dan and Marissa (Managing Partner) continue to attend our regular meetings. However, we primarily work with Rachel (Sr. Project Manager), who is our point person. We’ve also worked with Laura (Digital Project Manager), who acted as our interim project manager for two months during parental leave.

How did you come to work with VisualFizz?

R2: I did a general search and found VisualFizz on a website for digital marketing agencies. I went through around 15 candidates from that site; I put in some requests, vetted companies through interviews, and sent them proposals. 

Our decision came down to Dan’s thoroughness and eagerness. He told me he’d send me the proposal after a couple of days, but instead, he got back to me the same night we talked. Moreover, he presented the information thoroughly and was very interested in working with us. I didn’t get that same vibe from any other agency, so we chose VisualFizz.

What is the status of this engagement?

R2: We started working together around January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

R2: Thanks to VisualFizz’s work, we’ve seen a drastic improvement in our SEO results. Since their analysis, they’ve focused on specific pages we needed to focus on, and we’ve seen more traffic and time spent on those pages, which has been key for us. Conversion rate is another important metric, and we’re heading in the right direction in that regard. 

R1: We’ve been very satisfied with VisualFizz. What’s unique about our practice is that we only have one surgeon. Our competitors tend to be part of facilities or educational groups, so it isn’t as easy for patients to learn about their surgeons since they’re part of bigger institutions. Meanwhile, our website offers a lot of helpful information — that’s the beauty of it. 

As for the team, they’re always responsive and efficient with their time. I put in requests through Rachel, who is always there for us and easy to work with. Therefore, we were concerned about her going on leave a couple of months ago. However, Laura came in as our interim manager and did an amazing job. She was knowledgeable and gave us advice just like Rachel — we were very impressed. We also appreciate that they didn’t pull Rachel from our project after that. 

My priority is working with the patients, and marketing isn’t second nature to me. Therefore, I appreciate that VisualFizz is very proactive. For example, they brought up creating goals for 2023 at a recent meeting. They scope things out for us because we’re busy, which is important to me. In January 2023, the team will get their first opportunity to show the doctor and us what they’ve done, where the changes have come from, and what they see for our future. With this meeting, new ideas will come around, whether about our identity or other types of advertising we could do.

How did VisualFizz perform from a project management standpoint?

R1: They provide monthly SEO reports, and we have a bimonthly meeting with Rachel. 

R2: VisualFizz gives us regular updates on their progress, whereas the other agency gave us one-page reports without a detailed analysis. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

R2: VisualFizz’s follow-through is what sets them apart from other providers. They commit to their reports, and they’ll follow up with us if we’re not responding in a timely manner. For example, if a blog is due soon, they’ll check in on us. They’re a constant reminder of things we need to work on. 

R1: Our previous provider had a sales approach, and we didn’t always know what was happening. What I like about VisualFizz is that we’re very like-minded in many ways. They’re not pushy but come to the table with their ideas. They’re also knowledgeable; when Marissa comes to the meetings, she’s very confident and knows her stuff. 

Patients come to us because our practice has a good reputation out there. Our patients deal with a 9–12 month delay wait for services, and sometimes we have to turn people away. Therefore, we knew from the start that we didn’t need much outside advertising since we couldn’t handle many more patients. We needed to fine-tune our existing system and make it more current and relevant. VisualFizz understands that and helps us do just that. 

Moreover, they don’t tell us what to do — they work with us. We feel comfortable with our relationship; Dan stuck with us, even when we took the time to decide to engage with them. Slow and steady won the race; when we hired them, we were confident about our decision, and we’re still very happy with it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

GGLeagues is a recreational esports league management platform that brings recreational esports to all gamers across the United States. GGLeagues works with 450+ cities and over 100 universities to being esports programming to their communities. I am the COO and co-founder of GGLeagues.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VisualFizz, and what were your goals?

VisualFizz was hired to increase our user growth through Google Ads, Social Ads, and SEO. Additionally, VisualFizz provided business development expertise to help grow our brand.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

After doing a ton of research online and meeting with a handful of different companies, we finally met VisualFizz. They responded quickly and were extremely helpful from the first conversation we had.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

First, we did a full overview of our current business, past marketing, and goals for the future. Second, we worked on the strategy of marketing through Google Ads and Paid Social (Facebook/Instagram). Third, VisualFizz provided feedback for various areas of our marketing efforts to help us improve as a company.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked directly with Callie, Dan, Marissa, Ross, Sydney, and Rebecca. They were all fantastic!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

GGLeagues saw a considerable increase in user growth in just a few short months. Additionally, our SEO and marketing became more refined.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had bi-weekly meetings between the teams and VisualFizz always responded to our emails within a day. The workflow was quick and responsive.

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

VisualFizz was extremely invested in our company which is unique to find from agencies. We felt they cared about us and the outcomes of our business.

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

No, they have been fantastic to work with!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief Administrative Officer at The Counselors of Real Estate. The Counselors is an international organization of high profile property professionals which include principles of prominent real estate, financial, legal, and business advisory firms, as well as recognized leaders of government and academia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VisualFizz?

Our website was created by a vendor that no longer supports Wordpress, therefore they could no longer serve our needs nor could they revamp our Member Search area.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We looked for vendors who specialized in WordPress who could assist us in maintaining our current website, refresh some of the pages and images, and revamp the Search Feature to better serve our members' needs.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We had a series of meetings to discuss the functionality we wanted to add. We needed potential clients to find CREs by searching multiple areas of expertise, disciplines, area served, designations, member location, property type, and company name. We also wanted potential clients to narrow searches or broaden searches according to their needs. And we wanted an 'email the CRE' function. We had several meetings over a series of months.

VisualFizz took on this project after our old vendor dropped the ball. The old vendor had begun building out the functionality and VisualFizz took over. It turned out that the old vendor really missed the mark in the initial stages, which hindered VisualFizz's progress.

Our old vendor had no real documentation on the back end functionality of our website, so VisualFizz was forced to learn and document as they worked to rebuild the entire Search functionality. Working through these issues took extra time, but we are very happy with the end result.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

In total, we worked with 4 people, the 2 Managing Partners, a Project Manager, and a Developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The member feedback we have received has all been positive.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The VisualFizz team has been extremely responsive and eager to jump on a call, if necessary.

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

I appreciate their responsiveness and willingness to work with us. We had a very small budget but they have been willing to work within the parameters we have requested.

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

No. I hope we continue to have very good experiences working with VisualFizz. So far, so good!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of two barbershops and a hair products company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VisualFizz?

Our brands were very disconnected, so we needed more continuity. We also needed better imaging, PR, and SEO services to increase sales.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

VisualFizz revamped our website, including all of the keywords that Google would look for. We worked closely on the keyword research. They’ve done different Google Ads campaigns for us, created a blog for us, and run our social media accounts. They work on our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

The engagement started with their team looking through our background and searching Google. They found areas that would be quick wins and others that would take more time. At the start, they made sure our phone numbers and hours were listed the same across all platforms. For the website revamp, they did a deep dive, adding images and content. Now, we’re looking at different marketing channels to target.

What is the team composition?

I’m in contact with three people every week. There are also two developers behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with VisualFizz?

I found them on Google while researching different local firms in Chicago. VisualFizz seemed like they were the perfect fit for our project size. They also seemed like they would be more hands-on. Right off the bat, they made me feel comfortable.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with VisualFizz started in September 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their team has sent me detailed listings of conversions and visibility on Google. Every month I’ve been open since I’ve hired them has been a higher sales month than the previous.

How did VisualFizz perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate with a lot of emails. Every few weeks, we have a status call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

VisualFizz takes a hands-on approach. They have an expert for each area, so it’s not like one person is handling everything. Their team ensures that the best person that can speak to a certain problem or propose a possible solution is involved.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything on improvement. We’ve definitely done more status calls, which has helped on both sides. There have been a lot more regular updates and schedules.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be completely honest about where your brand is at. Have an open mind to listen to their ideas. Don’t assume because you’re the business owner that you know best.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a technology consulting company that builds software and provides consulting services to businesses. Our goal is to help our clients address business process problems through technical solutions. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VisualFizz?

We engaged VisualFizz to help potential customers find us more easily. We’ve outsourced all of our marketing activities to them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

VisualFizz oversees our marketing strategy and SEO/paid search efforts. They started by doing an analysis of our website content, looking at where we stood with our SEO and collecting search page analytics. Then, they gave us a report of their findings along with a set of recommendations to improve our current state.

Their team has since tuned up our site to basically improve all of the SEO on our existing copy. They’ve worked with us to think through who our audience is and how they best receive and process information. Using those findings, we’ve restructured our content to make it better suited to our audience's needs.

They’ve also brought on a writer, who is a subject matter expert (SME) in what we do, to rewrite our copy in a new voice. That’s been a great help because we’re technical consultants, not writers. For each piece of copy, they’ve optimized the content for organic and paid search on Google, and they’re now working on some new blog posts.

On the technical SEO side, they’ve restructured our site’s navigational architecture to be SEO-compliant and have recommended tools that will help people find us. We’re currently in the process of implementing a call to action (CTA) for site visitors to text us. 

What is the team composition? 

Everyone works as a cohesive team, but my main points of contact are Dan and Marissa (Co-Founders) as well as Sydney (Marketing Consultant).

How did you come to work with VisualFizz?

We found them on Clutch while looking for local partners that worked with small businesses. VisualFizz had a lot of reviews, and people seemed to like working with them.

They were very collaborative from the get-go. The team seemed excited to work with us and threw out ideas comfortably. I appreciate that they still come back to us with an idea whenever they see something that could help our business.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since August 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s a little tricky to judge our metrics because of COVID-19. Pre-pandemic, our pipelines were really healthy. We’d regularly get leads who’d found us through our targeted keywords. That’s become more of a hit-or-miss since the economy has shifted. We’ll still see a potential client reach out once a week or so.

When we were getting more prospects, we noticed that these leaders were looking for exactly what we did. A big part of that is because VisualFizz helped make our content less generic and more specific. We’re seeing people who know they need an API or who want help with legacy software.

How did VisualFizz perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a standing call every Thursday with Dan, Marissa, and Sydney unless they’re on vacation or are putting out a fire. It’s only a short span of time, but I really like getting everyone’s point of view. They each have their own strengths and bring different ideas to the table. 

Other than the call, there’s a monthly SEO and paid search report, and they email us every time they have a piece of content to review. We often end up being a bottleneck because we’re busy with our clients. They keep track of our process through a Google Doc, which everyone can refer to.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re a relatively small client, yet they make us feel as valued as their bigger clients. They take the time out of their week to meet with us to make sure we’re getting what we need. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re very open to constructive criticism. Anytime we’ve said that something hasn’t been going well, they’ve quickly responded to remedy the issue.

For example, our first writer did their best, but they were having a hard time communicating our highly specific and technical work. It was ended up putting more work on us to review the content and define the terms. VisualFizz actually found a second technical writer who used to work for Microsoft, and it’s been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re so open to helping you with anything — you just have to be a good communicator. Be straightforward with what you’re looking for, and you’ll have a great partnership.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

At the time I was working for a global and national nonprofit working to build leadership skills for youth affected by poverty and building schools around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VisualFizz, and what were your goals?

The charity needed a website refresh after falling stagnant around 5 years. Our goals were to update as mobile-responsive, to add in interactive features, and to drive faster conversion points to our key areas of community support and volunteerism.

SOLUTION

How did you select VisualFizz and what were the deciding factors?

Our team went through a lengthy RFP process. We started with a long-list of agencies, narrowed down to a shortlist of 5, then had in-person or phone interviews with our top 3. Deciding factors for Visual Fizz were responsiveness, communication, clear strategies, and a timeline of the deliverable.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

1. Discovery
2. Draft of Wireframe
3. Review/tweaks of the wireframe
4. Production/coding
5. UAT, authentication
6. Last-minute review, tweaks
7. Release

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

About 4 to 5, ranging from owner to developer to project manager and everyone in between. A great team, solid.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The deliverable was beautiful, few things to tweak with the constant communication, and most importantly on time.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Superior project management leadership and I consider myself a strong PM at heart. They cut the clutter of too many comms tools and patch you right into their PM to limit the firehouse of extraneous messages. Again, they get to the point and effective.

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

Their humbleness, good-nature, willingness to collaborate always, technical skills, and creativity impressed us.

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

No, I'm excited to see where this company goes and who they continue to elevate in the digital landscape.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an online blog that does mattress and bedding reviews. I’m the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VisualFizz?

They do some of our SEO work, as well as things on the backend that I can’t do myself.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

VisualFizz has helped develop our website’s backend to improve our SEO, site speed, and how our pages are being crawled by Google. They’ve implemented a few things specific to SEO needs. They use Google Analytics and several other platforms.

What is the team composition?

On average, we work with three people. I believe one of them is the owner, one does development, and one is an SEO strategist.

How did you come to work with VisualFizz?

I did a little research for SEO companies that I thought could handle the scope of work we were looking for. I spoke to them further and figured that they were the best match for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $30,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It started in June 2019, and it’s a continual project. They do monthly SEO for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They've been very consistent in making improvements from the time we started until now. We've definitely seen upward trends with them. Our numbers have remained steady, if not increased. They have helped improve our site speed and made certain pages faster and more user-friendly. Overall, they’ve improved our site.

How did VisualFizz perform from a project management standpoint?

VisualFizz has done a great job. They’re very easy to communicate with, and they get back to us very quickly. They’re always on the ball with everything. They’re very customer-focused and make sure that the client is in the know. They also work around our work schedule, so they’re very accommodating and easy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their knowledge is impressive. They have a very well-versed team of people in place. Their communication has also stood out to me. They always put the customer first, which goes a long way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At this point, there’s nothing that I can think of.

Any advice for potential customers?

I’d say that communication is key. When you’re looking for any SEO company, ensure that what they’re able to offer is what you really need and are looking for. Other than that, they’ve been a really good company to work with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

ReSource Point of Sale offers customizable, end-to-end point of sale and IT solutions. From network infrastructure to hardware procurement, software implementation, project management and installation to comprehensive support, maintenance and managed services, RPOS is an industry leader. My role with RPOS is as the Executive Assistant to the CEO and I am tasked with multiple coordination efforts company-wide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VisualFizz?

Website updates, social media coordination for Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn, content creation.

What were your goals for this project?

We have spent the past years expanding our product and service offerings, as well as investing in infrastructure that allows us to expand nationwide. We needed help reaching our target audience, raising awareness, and increasing our SEO.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

An exhaustive online search and outreach to companies that were highly rated. We went with VisualFizz because they responded to our initial inquiry with a customized proposal and were ready to go from the beginning.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They started by renovating our website to bring it up-to-date. Then we filmed a brand video with them that we have added to the website in both still and video form. They have written longer content pieces and increased our SEO. They have coordinated our social media messaging in Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

What was the team composition?

Dan, Marissa, and Ajay worked closely with us and were also able to bring in specific members of their teams for social media, website, and video.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We've gotten many positive responses and new leads based on our new website and social media presence. We were also able to display our brand video at tradeshows.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were excellent at following up with us and keeping us on task as well as keeping us appraised of where they were in production stages.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was continuously impressed by their patience and tenacity. I also remain impressed by their reports and persistence in pushing us to be smarter about how we focus our efforts.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would have liked more suggestions from them during our video filming process.