Wire Media

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and communications director of an international environment and sustainability nonprofit organization. We work in the sustainable food industry with supply chains, retailers, and seafood companies. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wire Media?

Wire Media built a brand new website for us. Our previous website had technical and backend problems; it also didn’t reflect our organization, which had recently acquired a new look and feel. In other words, we needed them to revamp the website in terms of functionality and brand presentation. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the project with plenty of discovery sessions. From there, we looked at wireframes and worked on what the site could do for our audience. At the same time, Wire Media started working on design concepts based on the materials we’d already done. We also provided them with examples and basic guidelines. 

After that, we moved into the development phase. Our internal marketing team was responsible for much of the site’s content beyond the homepage and landing pages. Wire Media guided them during the process.

At present, we’re working with them on a post-website creation capacity. The team provides us with ongoing maintenance and support. 

What is the team composition?

We work with 5–6 people from their team, including their CEO and project manager. Our team also collaborates with a developer, two designers, a content developer, and a strategist from their team. 

How did you come to work with Wire Media?

We found Wire Media through a referral from a larger organization. That organization did a lot of cause-related PR work, including website development. This project was too small for them since they didn’t do individual websites, so they connected us with Wire Media. That was the start of our engagement. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $50,000–$60,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in April 2021, and we’re still working together. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received an overwhelming reaction to the website’s look and feel. Many end users find it easy and user-friendly with good content. Moreover, we’ve received plenty of positive anecdotal comments from other organizations in our space, such as big retailers and other brands that work with us. 

From an operational standpoint, the website is doing everything we want. We have complete uptime and fast load times. It’s also easy to use; we have a lot of options if we want to make interesting pages. Overall, the website has addressed all the problems we had from a backend and content creation management perspective. 

How did Wire Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Wire Media’s project management skills are great, and the team is highly accommodating. We feel that they’re truly interested in the project regardless of its size. In other words, we’ve received personalized attention from them. 

Moreover, they have a multifunctional team; they don’t only work on content, and they don’t only work on technical tasks — they can bring in the right people depending on the project’s phase. Our team also talks and works directly with whoever is handling specific tasks, such as their designers and project managers. Their CEO is also a constant presence throughout the project. 

Overall, Wire Media has been nimble and flexible in helping us meet a tight timeline. As we go through the development process, which we haven’t done before, their resources stay accommodating and try to make everything happen based on our needs. 

In terms of tools, they use Teamwork to manage the project. We also use that to communicate with each other. Our teams also have a weekly standup call. We’ve also scheduled additional work sessions. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Wire Media’s services are personalized; they don’t have a cookie-cutter approach, and they truly listen to us. Their resources treat this as a unique project, so we don’t feel like they’re just repurposing things for it. Simply put, the team’s services are specific to what we need and what we are as an organization. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would have been better if their technical people also attended our meetings. For context, our marketing team and our CIO are present during our standup calls; it would have been more useful to us if both their creative teammates and technical people are present during our meetings. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want as an organization. We’ve chosen Wire Media because we know what we want, which is a small company that can be personal in their services. However, if you want the formality of a big agency, then you should reconsider and think if they’re the right fit for you. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive director of a nonprofit education organization that teaches the Enneagram personality test.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wire Media?

We had an outdated website with primitive capability and a lot of issues. We’re growing, so we wanted a page that could scale with our growth and was up to date. We broke the project into design and development phases, and we hired Wire Media for design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Wire Media did a discovery process, asking a ton of questions to find out what our perception of the website was and what our users needed. They did surveys and one-on-one interviews with different user types, gathering a huge amount of information about their needs and dislikes about the site.

Wire Media put all of that into a preliminary design, and then they went into a wireframing phase. They laid out some of our pages and made detailed designs from there.

Also, they looked at our current website and figured out what we needed to optimize it for search engines. After SEO, branding was a huge part of their work. They helped us update our logo, color scheme, fonts, and so on.

What is the team composition?

Marcy (Owner) was heavily involved with every aspect from project management to design. Leslie (Creative Lead) was the branding and design lead. There were other people involved, including a project manager, but Marcy and Leslie were definitely the heart of the team.

How did you come to work with Wire Media?

My former marketing director found them, possibly through a referral.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost was $50,000 exactly.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Wire Media in July 2020, and the design project closed in late April 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Wire Media did well. We got a lot of positive input from our stakeholders on the new branding, which are 20 people ranging from board members to faculty. We can also credit our marketing team for the branding success.

We haven’t developed the new website yet. Wire Media gave us some SEO recommendations that we put into play immediately on our current website, and those have shown results.

Another small bit of proof is that we showed their design to a website developer, and they said that it was well done.

How did Wire Media perform from a project management standpoint?

The quality of their documentation was good, and they were accommodating and easy to work with. Wire Media was very receptive to our input, and they listened respectfully when we had concerns or disagreements. We had a great team and a collaborative vibe going on.

The results were good, but things took a bit longer than expected. It was a minor point, and most tech projects take longer than what people say they will. There were some delays on our end, but there were times when it felt like Wire Media was taking longer. We ended up getting the finished product 1–2 months later than what we were expecting. Part of that was because they had some staff transitions.

All in all, the communication was fantastic, and the outcome and level of detail were great. However, the project slipped toward the end, so I can’t give Wire Media a perfect score. It wasn’t a critical task for us, so we had other things that were taking time. Due to that, the design delay didn’t hamper the overall project. Actually, Wire Media’s delivery came in at the perfect time with regard to the overall project timeline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very personable and collaborative. They’re easy to communicate with, responsive, and respectful. When there was a disagreement, they were professional about it and dealt well with it. Their technical skills were great too, but that’s kind of a given when we do our due diligence to pick a vendor. We’re not going to choose someone if we feel they lack the qualifications.

However, what distinguishes great providers from good ones are their communication skills, and Wire Media was great to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could’ve been more on schedule. Some aspects of the slippage were on our end, but some were on theirs.

Also, before we signed the contract, I expressed concern about the need to give significant attention to our CRM since it’s a very important architectural element of our overall technology platform. I told them that we needed to give it some attention, and they downplayed it a bit. I tried to get some guidance from them about whom we could talk to. They were a bit helpful but they just weren’t that engaged on the CRM topic.

However, I got more vocal, and they finally realized that this was super important. They’re not a CRM company, so I was kind of on my own to scramble around and gather the necessary information. That inserted some significant delays into the project, because there were a number of things that couldn’t move forward until we answered that question. If they’d been a bit more proactive in helping us sort out the CRM stuff earlier, that would’ve reduced 2–3 months of delays.

Of course, CRM wasn’t in their scope, but that’s one of the few criticisms I have. It’s a criticism in the sense that they should’ve recognized earlier how significant it was. Since they’re not a CRM company, it wasn’t on them to figure out CRM stuff, but they should’ve taken it more seriously.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s always important to be clear about expectations and go into the project with clear documentation and specifications. Wire Media’s ability to give the client what they want is completely related to your ability to articulate what you want. There’s a discovery phase, so they help you figure it out, but you need to be clear on your goals.

Nonetheless, they’re easy to collaborate with. It’s not like you have to find some clever way to communicate to get the most out of them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company is a colorectal cancer nonprofit and I am the senior communications manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Working with Marcy and team has been a breath of fresh air. We've worked with several web developers over the past several years and they've all left us with empty promises, inflated invoices, and disappointments.

SOLUTION

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

Wire Media has come to our rescue and we are excited to continue our relationship with them as we improve the user experience and functionality of our website. They always come to the table with new ideas and solutions for existing problems, are super responsive, and committed to deadlines.

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

Initially we worked with Wire Media to design a megamenu for our WordPress website. After an initial kickoff call and discovery, they established an estimated timeline and budget, with milestones along the way. We worked hand-in-hand to meet the deadline and the final result was exactly what we had hoped for. Because of the success of this project, we are now working with them to maintain our site, as well as new web dev projects.

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

We've primarily worked with Marcy, Founder & CEO, as well as a few different developers and project managers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We continue to hear from our audience and staff how easy to navigate the site is thanks to our new megamenu.

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

We email regularly, have monthly calls to touch base, and use platforms to manage requests and specific projects as needed.

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

The accessibility, accountability, and commitment to our vision have really impressed us.

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

No; any issues that have arisen have been fixed immediately. We couldn't ask for a better team to be partnered with!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of Brand and Partnerships at The Solutions Project, a nonprofit organization working on climate solutions grounded in local communities. I oversee all of our communications efforts, including our digital communication.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wire Media?

We’ve worked with Wire Media on a pretty continual basis for at least five years.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first started working with them to solve the problem of updating our website to be mobile native and to refresh the user experience.

When we initially launched, most people were still on desktops, which went more towards smartphones.

Since then, most recently, we have refreshed our brand and worked with Wire Media. We also did with them on the biggest project that we just completed, which was a total redo of our website with our new brand look and feel, and the problem there that we were solving was clear communication about who we are and what we do.

We wanted a much refined and strategic user experience between our website and our social channels, and just general upgrading of the architecture and paths of the user experience. I believe it is still a WordPress site.

They provided a lot of the design work for the website and everything from incorporating the new brand identity into the new look and feel of the website and adding to the evolving from having extensions of our new brand through the design of our new site.

What is the team composition?

Because of the long partnership we have had, we’ve worked with Marcy (CEO & Founder) consistently. She’s part of our weekly calls. Hazel (Account Manager) is our point person. We also work with Leslie (Creative Lead) as the designer and James (UX Design Strategist) as part of the web redesign.

How did you come to work with Wire Media?

Word of mouth is everything. We called up one of our long-time leaders and advisors in the intersection of digital strategy, web design, and organization management, and she recommended Wire Media.

We looked at the quality of the work that they did with other both nonprofit and philanthropic clients, and it was a no brainer. Our very first project with them was basically for our annual impact report, which is a digital piece of content. We were looking at how they presented data and stories to mostly a donor audience about an organization’s impact over a year, and it was great.

How much have you invested with them?

For the entire collaboration, it is significant. Doing two primary website builds, each of those is between $50,000 and $75,000, and then every annual impact report is between $10,000 and $15,000.

Since 2015, we have done four of those. As part of our website work with them, they have a care package of support. They are our web development team consistently and that is about a $2,500 a month investment that we make.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them at the end of 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When we did the first website redo with them, we have infographics that are used by tens of thousands of advocates across the country, and probably the world. There was a significant increase.

We weren’t really able to track the level of user engagement with that content before the first upgrade from Wire Media. We jumped by tens of thousands of engagements with that content when we upgraded the website the first time. We had only just begun to understand user experience and success metrics with the new site and how it is much more integrated with our social channels and our email program and things like that.

There is already just a significant improvement in terms of email signups and donations and web traffic. The final thing is just anecdotally because everyone is now asking us who did our website and giving us great feedback about the quality of the website and this experience from a design perspective, architecture, and user experience.

How did Wire Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Part of the care package offering that they provide allows us to have very open access to their team. When there is a crisis moment, they are incredibly responsive and help us solve it.

 We meet on a weekly basis to run priorities and make those continual upgrades to our website based on the performance data, our growth, and programming, and things like that. The project management is also a plus in our relationship with Wire Media.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Wire Media is able to hold the details and big picture at the same time very well. They can solve short term problems, build a landing page as needed, but within the context of what the foundation of the site is and what the experience we want to maintain and evolve for site visitors.

Additionally, what the functions are that we may not be ready for now but want to make sure that the basic architecture and the basic design allows that space when we are ready to add different functionality to the site. I really appreciate their ability and their capacity to be strategic partners with us in that regard.

They also come to us with insights, ideas, recommendations, and they are not heavy hitting on it. It isn’t a sales approach on their end to add more things to our plate. It is more to keep our site current and leading edge in terms of all the things that they are learning on the technology side and the user experience side, and again integration with social channels and Google Ads, SEO, and email programs; the full scope of digital tactics and channels that even if they are just focused on the website, there is an understanding of how the website fits into the broader strategy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think the only thing I would say, and it is probably true for us as well, is that we are in a year and a time of constant change and chaos. I think we are always weighing and reassessing priorities. The concrete improvement is just helping us in our relationship with them, to have that clear set of priorities that we are managing on a week by week basis.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My recommendation would be to state really clearly what the problems are that you are wanting to solve and think that your web design and website can help solve. Really listen and have that exchange back and forth with Wire Media to figure out what the solutions are.

You don’t have to come up with the solutions yourself and then come to Wire Media with a more transactional prescriptive request. Let them do their job to help you. That would be the best advice that I would give.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior associate on the communications team for a nonprofit that focuses on promoting vaccines and vaccinations across the globe. I manage and oversee the graphics, and other multimedia-type assets, for the organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address Wire Media?

We hired them to create our annual report.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They create a microsite design for our annual report. We provided the copy and content, and they formatted that and created the designs for them. While their partner company built out the site, Wire Media created the designs, and they worked hand-in-hand in implementing them. They used HTML to create a custom page.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two teammates, Marcy (Founder & Owner) and one designer.

How did you come to work with Wire Media?

They frequently partner with another company that we use to make updates to our website. They were a recommendation through that company, which led them to be brought into our web projects.

How much have you invested with them?

The total project was $30,000, which was broken up between the two agencies.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in November 2019, and the report went out in July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re in the process of pulling those numbers. We’ve received much more positive feedback from this year’s report than those of other years. The design is user-friendly and exceptionally navigable. It looks nice, sharp, and professional, so we’ve been happy with their creative output.

How did Wire Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform very well on this front, so we haven’t had any issues. They were responsive and delivered items ahead of schedule. We used Basecamp to organize project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re small, so we felt that we were able to get their full attention. They’re able to respond to our feedback and make quick changes if needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There have been times, especially in the annual report that preceded the one in question, where we weren’t completely satisfied with the final designs. Having said that, that responsibility lies with us and not them, since we were late in the game for releasing a report and eager to expedite the process. We didn’t give them as much feedback as we should’ve, in the early stages.

This year’s annual report really boosted my confidence in them, since we gave them the right feedback and received an exceptional product.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give examples of what you’re looking for. That’ll help them understand the types of design you’re looking for.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a Venture Partner at an early-stage impact investment fund.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Wire Media?

Wire Media helped us create an impact report for our fund. We needed to craft a story about our investment strategy as a portfolio and how we invest for impact. We also presented impact stories for each company in our portfolio using a mix of quantitative and qualitative data. Our last impact report our first, and we created print and pdf versions of it. This time, we wanted to make it digital and interactive.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to report our portfolio-wide impact to our investors, attract new investors, and attract mission-oriented founders seeking funding.

SOLUTION

How did you select Wire Media?

I researched other publicly available impact reports on the web. When I found a few that I liked, I asked for referrals and found Wire Media.

Describe the project in detail.

We worked closely with WM to define our various audiences and objectives. They took a look at our last report and new content we were thinking of including. They came back with design ideas that would tell our story. It was a very collaborative, iterative process. They listened well and presented ideas that we loved and never would have come up on our own.

What was the team composition?

We had two main points of contact at WM, one who oversaw the project and creative direction and the another who managed logistics. They pulled in others (UX design, graphic design) as needed at the project progressed. Web developers were involved as well, but WM managed that process, so we never interacted with them directly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We did not design the report with measurable outcomes in mind. We have received lots of positive feedback from our investors and current companies in our portfolio. We frequently use the report in conversations with prospective investors and with companies in our portfolio when planning on how to increase/improve their impact.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very smooth. We had weekly checkins to keep on top of the overall progress. In between, online communication, immediate requests, sharing resources, general blocking and tackling kept things moving.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Extremely collaborative, iterative process. We felt like a team, which is hard to do with a third-party vendor. I'm used to throwing something over a wall and having a vendor throw something back over for review.

The WM team was very accommodating of our team's needs, erratic schedules, changing context (with COVID, BLM) that affected the content, etc. They were flexible and came up with creative solutions to challenges that came up.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Can't think of any.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a communications project analyst for an educational nonprofit. I handle our social media strategy and all things communication.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wire Media?

We had a website prior to our work with Wire Media, but it wasn’t exactly what we needed. It was built years ago and was too simple. We needed something dynamic to carry more content and speak to our different audiences as we have educators, students, and employers all coming to our site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Wire Media redesigned our site and did the backend development work. Our goals weren’t just to make our site beautiful, although that was important, but we needed it to be accessible to our various stakeholders as well. They used WordPress to build the site.

They took us through a holistic process to get us to the final product. We sat down and worked with Wire Media to uncover who our audience members are and how they access our content. This helped us understand our needs and ourselves better, informing us of our goals for the development process.

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with Marcy (Founder & Owner, Wire Media) and 2–3 other people. Hazel (Technical Account Manager, Wire Media) helped out at the end.

How did you come to work with Wire Media?

I believe they were recommended by another developer or media company that we work with. We were attracted to them because they work with nonprofits.

Because we're based in the Bronx, it was important to us that we had a diverse team. While we experienced some difficulties finding that, we hired Wire Media because they are a woman-led team with both experience and expertise.

How much have you invested with them?

We’re at $45,000 invested as of now.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in April 2019, and the relationship is ongoing. We just launched the site and they’re supporting us with little changes currently.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their impact has been huge, both internally and externally. We’re a confusing organization, and people don’t always know what we do and what we’re about. I’ve gotten feedback from our partners that our new website gave them clarity about us.

Our online identity now reflects our internal identity. That has reinforced our sense of self and helped us in the office. Marcy’s process of finding our audience was incredibly helpful, launching us on a journey of self-discovery.

How did Wire Media perform from a project management standpoint?

We primarily spoke over email. I also would check in once a week on a video call, asking lots of questions. They had a central hub of all their materials, which made communication incredibly easy.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They took the time to look through our materials and talk with us to figure out who we are. When we work with consultants or third-party vendors, it takes a while for them to figure us out. Wire Media quickly understood our identity which translated into a fantastic visual identity they built for us.

We also need flexibility, as things need to go through numerous people in our office to be approved and emergencies can derail us. Marcy was able to accommodate us but keep us on track moving forward. We appreciated her discipline.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re lovely to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Utilize the calls and ask them questions. Take advantage of the fact that they’ll happily teach you how to handle your site on your own once they leave.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of communications for the National Immigrant Justice Center. We provide legal services for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, and we advocate for fair immigration laws.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wire Media?

We originally worked together on our organization’s website projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked on website projects in 2011 and 2016. Most recently, we worked with them to develop a resources library for documents and other materials that we make available for our pro bono lawyer network. We wanted to make everything more searchable and improve the overall navigation within that library.

They helped us evaluate our needs and come up with better ways to serve the attorneys that use the resource. They interviewed our staff and devised an online survey for users. Then, they developed a robust search and filter tool and helped us with content strategy. They did all the wireframes and mockups before building the site. They still provide ongoing optimization and security updates as needed.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with the developers, and their owner acted as our project manager.

How did you come to work with Wire Media?

We have a longstanding relationship with them. We considered several other companies, but Wire Media best understood our needs and were the most responsive agency we considered. They fit our budget, and their flat-fee structure worked well with our restrictions as a nonprofit.

What is the status of this engagement?

This particular project began in January 2019 and just closed in September 2019. Their support is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're tracking the metrics, but it's too early to cite any particular results.

How did Wire Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very good at meeting deadlines and following project compliance. We used Teamwork to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're communicative and honest. We've had no surprises, and they're very good at setting the parameters. If something goes outside the scope, they're very helpful at keeping us on track. We can manage expectations well, and we had a good understanding from the beginning.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they could improve. This was a really successful project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As with any web project, ask as many questions as needed to make sure everyone is on the same page. Don't make assumptions without speaking openly with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a global nonprofit that works with financial service providers in emerging markets, developing market-driven solutions for low-income women. We also promote inclusivity in financial institutions by piloting programs that strengthen gender diversity and leadership skills.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wire Media?

We initially approached them to develop our digital annual report. Our previous reports were too long and text-heavy, and the content wasn’t optimized for the web. As a result, we needed a thought partner who could make our content more digital-friendly while keeping within our budget. We would later engage them again to develop marketing materials for a global summit.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the annual report, they worked closely with us to come up with story concepts and different ways to present the information. They also led the content strategy and established a creative direction. Once we approved their ideas, they developed the report.

Based on the success of that engagement, we contacted them again to create a full suite of digital content collaterals for our booth at a global summit. Their team developed multiple assets, including four brochures, an animated video, and an interactive booth, which was the highlight of our station. During the process, they led the brainstorming and development in addition to securing the logistics for the project delivery and set up.

What is the team composition?

We primarily interfaced with Elektra (Account Director, Wire Media), though we also worked with Marcy (Owner, Wire Media) and another designer. Marcy was instrumental in driving the content strategy and creative direction for both projects. I believe they also had a developer on their team, but we didn’t interact with him directly.

How did you come to work with Wire Media?

We put out a public RFP, and they responded to it. At the time, we were looking for a firm that could provide a unique, custom look and feel. Some of the agencies that approached us could only produce a pre-established look, and others were far too expensive. In contrast, Wire Media had strong examples, a nimble team, and an affordable operating model. We called them to see if they would be a good fit, and they interviewed well.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work lasted from March–November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their digital impact report received overwhelmingly positive feedback from donors, potential partners, and incoming staff members. Engaging and well-designed, it was a concise way of presenting our otherwise complex business.

To this day, our donors continue to reference the report as a dynamic way of learning about our institution, which also helps attract new members. We’re currently working with a branding agency that has also commended the report as an example of a strong creative asset. They’re actually using it to update our brand identity.

As for the summit materials, it was the first time that we’d done any kind of interactive base. Wire Media’s work added a sense of professionalism and gloss to our presentation. Moreover, their work had a staying power beyond the original intent, and we’ve continued to use their marketing collateral to promote the organization. People can download the brochures from our website, and we use the animation in pitch meetings with potential businesses as well as workshops and seminars.

How did Wire Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Elektra was an exceptional project manager and ensured that everything went smoothly. They actually delivered the project under budget. The team consistently kept us apprised, informing us of any potential delays. They used Teamwork, which allowed us to easily track task progress and transfer files. If we encountered any issues, they responded promptly and were available for calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated how they provided constructive criticism rather than just enabling us. Of course, they accommodated our specific needs, but they weren’t yes-men. Marcy would ask us questions and challenge our notions. She pushed us in a direction that we might not have considered, which ultimately produced a better outcome.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While they produced quality deliverables that fulfilled our needs, there were aspects of the creative side that could have been stronger. Perhaps we didn’t give a clear enough brief or explicitly define our expectations, but, as a result, we weren’t particularly wowed by anything. In the end, their final product looked good, and we had no regrets.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Wire Media has a set process to understand the client’s needs, and they know how to drive a project. Therefore, the client should prepare for the project beforehand and be explicit about expectations. We faced some challenges with aligning ourselves internally, so I think we could have done that better.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of communications for The Solutions Project, which focuses on many tactics to transition to 100% clean energy. The majority of our work provides financial and immediate support to organizations across the country who are changing the face of clean energy work. We're primarily focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion as we transition to a world powered by the wind, water, and sun. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wire Media?

The Solutions Project has gone through several iterations in its short life. It was founded by actor Mark Ruffalo, Stanford scientist Mark Jacobson, and Marco Krapels, who has a background in energy finance. As the organization evolved, they hired an executive director, started developing programs. We needed to better align our web presence with the work we’re actually doing. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Wire Media came onboard to overhaul and update both our websites to better represent our mission and clarify the connection between the two. They created a more integrated and mobile-friendly interface. Both sites still run on the original WordPress UI with another effective code base. Assessing our product from a design perspective improved its utility. Engagement tasks like kickoff meetings and interviews cultivated a deep understanding of our brand. They carried these concepts through the design and execution phases to pinpoint the best forward-facing output to produce.

Wire Media reworked the frontend and backend of all our interactive maps. These tools showcase our vision for what 100% clean energy would look like across the globe. Since most users access our site through their phones, adding mobile responsivity was key for a core component of our online content. 

Many of our partner organizations lobby local city councilmembers and senators. Wire Media made printouts relevant and easy to access for use in those meetings. PDFs update automatically as we add new data around the wind, water, and solar profiles worldwide. They also supported our two annual impact reports that highlight our strengths and chronicle the past year’s achievements. 

What is the team composition? 

I worked with a cross-section of Wire Media's team including their founder and director, a product manager, and a graphic designer. I even interfaced briefly with their engineer and backend coder. 

How did you come to work with Wire Media?

They were referred to us by a friend and colleague.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $100,000 –$250,000 for the total cost of their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2017. I enjoyed the UX/UI design process so much that we extended our engagement.  I've worked with Wire Media on a whole host of projects and I adore them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Wire Media made a useful site and helps us keep the content fresh and relevant. Our new platform accurately and responsively reflects how our organization evolves over time. The improved staff interface is easy for our less experienced teammates to maintain. We didn't need to extensively revise it since they understood our concept from the start. When we mutually decide to adjust things, they incorporate changes seamlessly.

Our users and donors have given overwhelmingly positive feedback from both a design and usefulness perspective. Our site traffic is remaining consistent. In a recent meeting, a major museum with a climate engagement program used one of our sites as an example of how they wanted theirs to look. In that regard, we're hitting our targets.

Overall, our partnership has been a strongly positive experience. Wire Media figures out tech solutions to reach our goals within budget. Our new interactive maps they programmed are more usable for partners nationwide. They consistently provide both reality checks and helpful responses More than anything, they keep the digital content we release fresh and relevant. Cohesively reflecting our organization and accomplishments is no small feat. 

How did Wire Media perform from a project management standpoint?

The majority of my day-to-day interactions were with the project coordinator, who I now call a friend. Like several of their staff, I’m based in the Bay Area so we could meet in person. The team is incredibly responsive. They had clear, transparent conversations to ensure we always knew what was going on. 

Wire Media set realistic expectations about what we could accomplish within our timeline and budget, so they get high marks there. It’s especially challenging to keep tabs on complications for any project with tech components. If anything was going to be delayed or wasn't working as planned, they immediately flagged it. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Wire Media delivered a high-quality product consistently and repeatedly, which is just one reason I keep using them. Their team is delightful to work with. I've gone through several website overhauls in my career, so I know how hard this work is. It's a testament to Wire Media that I actually enjoyed this process. I hope to keep working with them in the future.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In some ways, they're still trying to adapt to my needs as a client. Having a slightly more streamlined project set of tracking tools would be helpful. They use many different platforms to communicate both regarding internal project management and client facing like email. This is a function of working in a 21st-century environment, though, and I’m certainly guilty of it as well