Web Loft Designs

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a sales coaching & consulting firm in Dallas, TX.

For what projects/services did your company hire Web Loft Designs, and what were your goals?

Our website was created about 10 years ago and we had been patching and updating it. The WordPress updates were not being installed and the site became outdated technologically and with its out-of-synch messaging. We hired Web Loft to create a new website entirely in order to upgrade the technology and to add the new marketing messaging. Another major goal was to keep the site clean, elegant, and simple.

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

We had worked with many web site vendors before and the major difference we found with Web Loft is that they genuinely cared about the project being successful. They also clearly cared more about us and our business as well as they do the art/skill of building websites, which is what other vendors failed to demonstrate.

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

After the kickoff meeting where we explained what we wanted, we were given an online form to complete where uploaded graphics, images, etc and answered many questions explaining who we are and what we do. Everything was later clearly laid out in an online project management tool (Basecamp) which was also used as a central communication hub.

Once the wireframes were created we were allowed to provide feedback and edits which was an important part of the process. Next we entered the final phase which was to code the designs that we approved. What was impressive was each image, word, or graphic was approved or discussed electronically before they moved forward. This was a much better alternative than things I've seen in the past.

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

A project manager was our main point of contact, but on several occasions we would interact with the owner, who is very pleasant, customer focused, smart, and actually a lot fun to work with...which is rare.

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

What became very clear very quickly was that the design was very polished, professional and clean which is important considering our clients are mostly Fortune 500 companies. Also, the message on the site was very Clear, Compelling, and Concise which is exactly what we were hoping for!

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

There was as much communication that was needed via Basecamp. We would also be notified via email as a reminder that an action was needed in basecamp. We never had any issue with delayed responses and if there was ever an issue it was resolved quickly, which is always appreciated.

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

They would not allow us to add any feature, word, or graphic to the site that would conflict with our ultimate goal. This was impressive. They genuinely cared about the end result, even if it included telling us no to an idea. I really appreciated this and found it both rare and refreshing. Thanks

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

We were new to basecamp and could have used a brief tutorial in the beginning. They later explained things to us on a call and we never had any issues afterward.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a small and relatively new company that manufactures and sells industrial fans.

What challenge were you trying to address with Web Loft Designs?

We wanted to establish our first company website. We hoped to use it as a platform for marketing and e-commerce.

What was the scope of their involvement?

While I onboarded the company after the engagement had been kicked off, I believe they started from scratch. We didn’t have any inhouse resources to provide web or graphic design. They built a platform that allows customers to purchase our products online via credit card.

What is the team composition?

I worked primarily with Paul (Senior Project Manager).

How much have you invested with them?

I’d assume it’s come to several thousand dollars.

What is the status of this engagement?

The relationship began in September 2018 and it’s an ongoing relationship. We’re currently undergoing minor changes to the site.

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

Since they established our platform, we’ve continued to see consistent improvements in web traffic. The platform has also received great internal feedback.

How did Web Lofts Designs perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve had a couple of projects with them, and the shorter was one was a good quick-hitter. They’ve been good about sticking to a project plan and scope. You can expect them to deliver on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s been easy to communicate with them. While it’s often difficult for non-technical folks to express their vision, they seem to understand what we want to achieve. It’s been stress-free in speaking with them because they’re able to translate our wishes into actual features.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. Sometimes their response time could be improved because they get a little busy, but we’ve been thoroughly satisfied with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I prefer to work on discrete projects with definable milestones. I’ve found multiple, smaller projects towards a larger goal to be the optimal way of working with companies like theirs.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of The PRS group. We’re a client-driven geopolitical risk and forecasting group.

What challenge were you trying to address with Web Loft Designs?

I was looking for a web designer that could freshen up the website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team refreshed our website. I worked closely with their designers because I knew what I wanted. I sent images of colors, fonts, places, and cars that I liked to convey my personality to the designers. Through that process, the site started to fit our look. They also helped us with the backend because we have a section to our company where clients come to buy data.

In the following years, they worked on other projects. Their team provided different offerings and added different functions to the website.

Their team maintains the platform. I contact Marina (President & Founder) when the site needs a fix or an update.

What is the team composition?

I communicate with Marina who hands off projects to her team.

How did you come to work with Web Loft Designs?

They came as a referral. I got competing quotes but those other service providers were nuts. Their offers were all over the board. Web Loft Designs had the knowledge and technical wherewithal to create a good product.

How much have you invested with them?

For the website refresh, the project cost about $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them around August 2012 and the engagement’s ongoing.

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

I got a lot of compliments on the site. We’re in the investment finance and risk world, so the cooler colors fit well. A lot of analysts that I worked with on a 1099 basis reached out and offered their help. The design changed peoples’ emotions.

How did Web Loft Designs perform from a project management standpoint?

They priced the projects accurately and delivered on time. We've now had a long relationship, so I can text Marina when I need the site fixed. Their team doesn’t disappear. We have a business relationship but it’s one where we trust each other so well. They’ve done a good job with the ET zone for work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Web Loft Designs listened to my ideas without trying to give me a cookie-cutter solution. Unlike other vendors, their team was able to revamp the site without overhauling the platform. They have a great maintenance policy, so I don’t feel like I’m ever getting goosed. Every time that I’ve asked them to complete a project, they’ve done it. If a feature didn’t work out well, they fixed it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve fixed any issues. A long time ago, there was an issue with getting on ET, which they fixed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want. Work with them. Don’t expect solutions to pop out at you. Don’t be afraid to tell them what you want and what you don’t like. Their team can handle honest feedback.

Before I hired Web Loft Designs, I’d gone through a couple of other companies that were brutal. If that’s what a web design company is, I’ll send smoke signals to people.

Please describe your company and your position there.

American Course Academy is an online provider of educational courses dealing primarily in Hospitality Industry training. My position is Director of Business Development.

For what projects/services did your company hire Web Loft Designs?

Our company hired Web Loft Designs to develop two online educational sites.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have attractive websites that were concise, easy to navigate, and stood out from among the competitors in our space.

How did you select this vendor?

Through online review and sample portfolio.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Our project was the creation of two separate websites providing online educational services but than referenced each other so that a 'bundle' option could be selected by the user. The process with Web Loft was very structured and made us think through content development we had not previously considered.

Through their process, we were able to flesh out the detailed information based on our experience. They helped with every facet along the way including site plan, review and edits of script, image selection, and most importantly shared their experience, expertise, and advice on additional 'features' that could be added to rank higher in searches or get more conversions from visitors.

What was the team composition?

Web Loft has a large staff but we primarily worked with 4 key individuals throughout the process - each experienced in their niche relating to project management, web development, and graphic arts.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Our entire business is online so they helped to create the 'face' of our company. We are receiving good traffic and conversions into sales.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had direct contact with the project manager. He originally set the schedule for delivery of our websites and kept us apprised along the way. There were no delays from their team. In addition, we could track their team's progress through an online management site called ActiveCollab.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found their honest assessment of our script and ideas refreshing. They are not afraid to point you in the right direction based on their experience. Also, I found the ongoing communication was reassuring they were actually working towards our project and meeting the established deadlines agreed upon.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We had a great experience with them and are using them for 2 additional websites now. They are very efficient and is a pleasure to work with them. So far, so good and we don't have any recommended areas for improvement to suggest at this time.