Ydraw

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of a start-up television production company focusing on interactive content.

For what projects/services did your company hire Ydraw?

We needed help producing an animated, multimedia video for a new, interactive TV game idea. This included providing scripts, storyboards, editing, composition and voice over work.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to captivate the viewer with a visually striking—and still instructive—video about our new multimedia project.

How did you select this vendor?

Right from our first call, we were instantly impressed with this vendor. They initially elaborated upon how their services could effectively help our specific project while also giving personal consultation, collaboration and insight.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

I provided a starting storyboard and script which Ydraw used for conceptual development. Soon, we moved to production and collaborated on art design, voice-over, editing and musical composition. Production took around four weeks.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Ydraw’s collaborative, accessible and insightful project manager aided in each phase of the process and served as the point of contact for the editor, art director and composer. She was available by phone and email for daily rounds of feedback.

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

Each component of the video—the quality of the animation, artwork, voice-over and composition—all exceeded my already high expectations. The end product is extremely polished and professional.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our teams was extremely fluid and collaborative. Communication channels were always open and expectations regarding each phase of the project were clearly articulated and fulfilled.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found the quality of their output impressive; their value-add was twice the cost.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communications director for an advocacy nonprofit. Our members are primarily physicians and other healthcare providers that advocate for policies that expand equal access to treatment.

What challenge were you trying to address with Ydraw?

A substantial part of our mission involves effective communication around policy issues. We wanted to find a simple and straightforward way to convey some of these issues, which can be very complex. We decided video would be the most efficient medium, specifically whiteboard animation.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the engagement off with a single video that turned out well. Just last week, we completed our 23rd video with them. We worked primarily on whiteboard videos, but we did do a motion graphics video for the first time earlier this year. It’s been a productive and pleasant partnership.

The process starts with ideation. I always come to them with a relatively specific idea of what I’m picturing and the language that I want to use. I typically deliver script and later bring in the audio. Our chairman records the audio in a studio near his office in Nashville, while Ydraw manages the animation and edits it all together. Lesa (Project Manager, Ydraw) creates the theme plan and does a fantastic job. She also makes suggestions around special effects and logo animations that give the video more energy. She’s offered some really wonderfully creative ideas that have enhanced even what we brought with the script at the beginning.

What is the team composition?

I generally work with two people. Kristen (Project Manager, Ydraw) is my main point of contact. I always go to her when I have a new script. From there, Kristen moves the script along the process and Lesa provides the theme plan. They coordinate with animators and editors to build video collaboratively.

How did you come to work with Ydraw?

A friend of mine who also works in communications, and I asked her if she knew anyone that could produce whiteboard videos. She highly recommended Ydraw and I reached out to them soon after.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $75,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2015 and the work is ongoing.

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

We’ve found that viewers often ask to share the videos either at meetings or on newsletters. We always take that as a vote of confidence. The videos are effective in conveying these ideas to the extent that viewers want to share to their own networks.

We also frequently receive positive feedback when we share them at meetings. Viewers say they’re easy to understand and even fun to watch.

How did Ydraw perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve brought a level of enthusiasm to the project that we’ve really appreciated. At the start of a project, I send Kristen our scope and tell her to get started. For someone I’ve never actually met in person, we have a very good working relationship. On the rare occasion that last-minute changes are needed, she’s always accommodating in finding solutions that are straightforward and inexpensive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They invest in the work that they do and really seem to enjoy it. It’s more productive to work with people who genuinely enjoy what they’re doing. They’re a team of professional, creative, and pleasant people that provide high-quality services.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clearly explain your specifications and requirements before starting production. Offering examples of what you’re looking for is helpful from a design perspective.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of a company called Travel Labs. We are an AI platform for business travelers.

What challenge were you trying to address with Ydraw?

We found it difficult to explain certain concepts of our business without a lengthy meeting with investors or prospective customers, so we wanted an animated informational video to better illustrate select information.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We originally intended for one 90-second video, but that grew into a 2-minute video, and we added four other videos that are about 60 seconds. All five videos are whiteboard animations. Ydraw wrote the script and outlined the first video, but I managed the script and the creative for the four vignette videos. Ydraw provided hand-drawn artistry and was responsible for voiceovers, sound effects and music, and editing.

What is the team composition?

For the first video, we worked with two project managers, a voiceover artist, a drawing artist, and a sound editor. For the four smaller videos, it was the same team except with one project manager.

How did you come to work with Ydraw?

I arranged 12 companies on a price spectrum, and Ydraw was near the middle. When I reached out, they were quick to provide a nondisclosure agreement and an agreeable contract. Ultimately, I was impressed with their production quality and how they executed the creative.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from April 2018 to May 2018. All five videos are complete.

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

All videos are in the process of being released, but everybody who has seen them so far has been impressed with the production quality. The concepts that are illustrated in the videos are clear to the viewer, which is what we struggled with. They fulfilled our need from that perspective.

How did Ydraw perform from a project management standpoint?

Ydraw introduced a dedicated project manager in our first meeting, and they were the glue that held the project together. Throughout this engagement, it was some of the best project management I had ever encountered.

What did you find most impressive about them?

For the price point, they make fantastic content. In the past, I’ve spent significantly more money on videos and didn’t get the quality I got from Ydraw. From the creative to the project management to the quality of the artists on their team, the whole package is what makes them exceptional. I’m constantly referring them because we’re so impressed with the quality.

Any advice for potential customers?

It’s important to invest the time and develop a relationship with Ydraw in order to produce the desired results. Plan on dedicating time to the project’s success because the end result is well worth it.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the creative content manager for a large sports organization. I'm responsible for producing a lot of different elements for TV and social ads throughout the year.

For what projects/services did your company hire Ydraw?

I've now worked with Ydraw on two video projects and have enjoyed each experience.

How did you select this vendor?

We first hired another company because I thought any animator could deliver a simple video. That was a huge mistake. Not only was the process slow and arduous, but the final product also did not match my requirements. Unfortunately, I had to accept it to meet the deadline. I learned my lesson and immediately sought out Ydraw for my next two projects. Ydraw’s artwork and process were exponentially better than our previous vendor’s.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

The first project was a whiteboard animation explainer video about two different types of giveaways. The second was a TV ad that told a fictional story of a dinosaur, which matched a giveaway item. I had a vision in my head of what I wanted the TV spot to look like, but it seemed unattainable. Fortunately, Ydraw brought the story to life exactly the way I had envisioned it.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Ydraw was thorough and kept me in the loop on the status of the video. They took my feedback and suggestions without any hesitation or delay. From start to finish, they were easy to talk to and work with. I never felt like I was in the dark or that the project was in jeopardy.

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

I was extremely pleased with the final products. The first project was creative and memorable, which was what I wanted. In fact, it turned out so well that I returned to Ydraw for my second project. I am so grateful that I turned to Ydraw.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Ydraw is extremely efficient. Initially, they connected with me to find out my vision and timetable for the project. They also walked me through each part of the process. They were clear about what was needed and what they could provide. They even suggested elements to the videos that took my project to the next level. Almost every time, their recommendations were what I needed to hear.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team at Ydraw never flinched at my timetable for production, considering that I had some very tight turn requests. They explained what was possible, allowing me to make the best decision for the product and my company.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I cannot think of anything to suggest. This company is incredible to work with.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of marketing and corporate communications for the North and South American branches of REHAU, a company that provides polymer solutions for the construction industry. 

For what projects/services did your company hire Ydraw?

We hired them to create a video to promote our PEXa plumbing systems, educating engineers on the benefits of our system as compared to other more commonly used materials. 

What were your goals for this project?

Amid this culture of limited attention span, we wanted create a fun, educational, interactive, and engaging web video that kept viewers glued to the screen by giving them the opportunity to select a material section and determine the ending. We also wanted a product that would meet our goals for impressions and views and generate website traffic. 

How did you select this vendor?

We had worked with Ydraw on a number of projects before and were pleased with our experience. They are extremely professional and always deliver high quality work on time. 

Describe the project in detail.

We presented the idea of an interactive video to them. After clarifying the technical details, we began working on a script and the animation. Our extensive engineering and legal review requirements made the process lengthy on our end. We are in the final stages now and nearly complete; the video will launch soon. 

What was the team composition?

The team included a writer and a technical advisor. 

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

Not yet.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective. With a dedicated account manager and quick response time, the process was always smooth. We have no complaints.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was very impressed by their professionalism and creativity.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are none I can think of.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the PR/communications specialist for UniFirst Corporation. I carry out day-to-day marketing tasks, including press releases, copywriting, video scripts, social media management, and more.

For what projects/services did your company hire Ydraw?

We needed to produce interesting and compelling corporate videos that were different from the rest.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to educate our audience about various aspects of our business in a clear, concise, and creative way.

How did you select this vendor?

We’ve been using Ydraw for our corporate videos for several years.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

We needed to approach a serious subject—safety—in a creative way so that our employees would really take notice. Ydraw suggested an animated whiteboard video that brought to life our CEO as a cartoon character to capture the attention of our audience and communicate important safety goals, while also keeping the interest level high.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

I can't praise Ydraw enough for their communication methods. They were in touch with us every step of the way throughout the entire process via emails and conference calls.

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

We get so much positive feedback from the videos. They truly capture people's attention so much so that they sit through them and fully understand its subject matter. Ydraw is unbelievably creative in their approach.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

This aspect was seamless. As I said, they’re in touch every step of the process, which ensured a smooth workflow.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to capture exactly what we wanted to communicate in the most creative way was outstanding. They truly deliver high-quality work with the utmost attention to detail.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. I wish we had an unlimited budget for unlimited videos!

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a manufacturer, and I’m on the communications team.

What challenge were you trying to address with YDraw?

We needed to find an easy-to-understand and compelling way to inform employees about a new initiative. We didn’t want to do a "talking head" video. We wanted something more visual and more compelling.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We knew we wanted to explore the concept of a whiteboard video. Another department in our company had done one a few years ago, and it got really good feedback. It was approached in such a way that it could be evergreened, which is also something that we wanted for this project. We had a vague idea of what we wanted to say, but we needed someone to help us bring it to life. We knew the product ourselves very well, but we needed a way to explain it to people who would be seeing it for the first time in the video.

YDraw helped with scripting. They set up the project background and brainstorming meeting to understand what we were trying to do and asked a lot of questions about the project. We provided some background documents beforehand. They produced the first draft of the script, and then it was a very collaborative effort to adjust, change some language, graphic ideas, etc. There were some things we wanted to change around company nuances and things we wanted to emphasize a little more. We worked collaboratively on the script and visual ideas.

Once that was set, they went to the artist. We had the ability to choose from a range of artistic styles. We liked the fact that their videos were almost two-dimensional with the shading and coloring options they have available. We could select the artist or the style and also had input on the voiceover talent.

They have completed one video, and now there’s another video that’s still in development.

How did you come to work with YDraw?

We reached out to our marketing team and asked who had done the whiteboard video for them. They recommended that we look at YDraw. We considered two other companies, but we liked YDraw’s clear-cut process that they laid out for us. They let us know the steps in the process and when we would get things from them. We also appreciated the variety of the artistic style that was available. They were very cost effective compared to other vendors.

How much have you invested with them?

This information is confidential. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2017, and the work is ongoing.

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

The video has received great reviews from those who have seen it. They viewed it in a quarterly leadership meeting. Since then, our team has been using it with different one-off meetings and projects. We used it yesterday in a training session for the first time, and it was really well-received. They used it in the first part of the training and then went into the actual training, and it really created an energetic start. The trainers loved it because it replaced their efforts in explaining why we need this initiative. They can show the video and the story is presented in a much more interesting way than they felt they were doing.

How did YDraw perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. They met all of their deadlines. If they said you would have something in two days, you did. If there was a delay in the project, they let us know in advance.

Even before we engaged with them, the way they approached things and the details they gave us was very helpful. They let us know where to make changes in the process in order to avoid additional costs.  

They were very welcoming to our feedback. It was a true collaboration. When we would make edits, they were very open. When we got into the art phase, they were very accommodating of our requests. For example, we wanted to be sure we balanced the presence of men and women.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service sets them apart. They were the first vendor that I’ve worked with that let me knew exactly what was going to happen. The communication was clear between us. They were respectful even when we missed a deadline on our end. They reached out to see if there was a way they could help us. They never got annoyed with us because the time table changed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I would recommend them without a doubt, and I have already for some internal projects.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a program manager for American Express. When I was working with Ydraw, I had more of a communications and training focus

What challenge were you trying to address with Ydraw?

Our employees weren’t reading the emails that our team sent out. As a result, we wanted to give them something that was more attention-grabbing with videos so that they could quickly watch and understand what we were trying to communicate. They would serve as another medium for people to access and understand what was happening in the company. 

At first, we wanted a 2-3 minute video to use in town hall meetings to advertise a new product we were launching and help people understand it. We usually get together quarterly to talk about what is coming up next for the company. It's an internal event where we need to share information with different VP and director organizations, so these became a good way for us to plug our product in under 5 minutes while we had a captive audience.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a general idea of what we wanted, which was one overarching 3-minute video and 5 videos specific to different topics. Other than that, we didn't have much more of a concept. We went into meetings with YDraw and laid out what we were trying to get across. They were able to use that and ask pointed questions as needed. YDraw was able to draw on their past experience with other clients. We had a nebulous idea going in, and they helped us focus on how we wanted to present it.

For the initial 3 minute video, we met with one of their employees a few times, and she would ask questions and we would answer. We saw Sprints and were able to make changes at those times. The process was interactive in the beginning to finalize the script. Once they had the script in relatively good shape, they did storyboarding for us so that we could see their idea from a visual perspective. We were able to review those storyboards in-house as well. One example that we changed was this: we were looking at a situation where we were allowing people to work away from their desks. The storyboard had someone sitting beside a pool and able to work there. While the message of being able to work virtual worked, but we didn’t want to make employees think that we expected them to work on their vacations. We were able to pull that storyboard picture away from the pool area, and we added in an airline seat as if someone was traveling on business.

With the storyboards, along with the script, we were able to tailor that message we wanted to get to people. The storyboards are animated, whiteboard style videos. When you watch the videos, essentially it’s like watching the animator draw things and paint things very quickly.

The process took longer than it should have, but not because of anything that Ydraw did. We had several layers of approvals within American Express. After we realized that the initial 3-minute video was taking so long to approve, YDraw told American Express that when we get something in for approval, we have 48 hours. If nothing is said in that time, they have by default agreed to it. We were able to speed up the 5 90-second videos immensely.

How did you come to work with Ydraw?

The idea to reach out came from one of our VPs, but I don’t know if it was because they had experience with them or what.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $45,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2017, and the project lasted until May 2017.

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

We have had immense positive feedback on the videos. By using at town halls and also when we did product launches, we put the series of videos on a rotation. We had tables set up so people could ask questions about the product. We also had the videos on a loop at our help desk. We got feedback from the people who were running the tables and continued feedback from our tech concierges that people were stopping by just to watch those videos, and they’ve gotten great feedback.

In terms of the results that we were hoping for from the audiences in the meetings, we got what we were hoping for. We’re also using those in pointed messages that we’re sending out to people once a week where we’ve got one of the videos in there that helps tell the story. We’ve free structured the email and we’ve added that. We’re getting more people when we do surveys to answer, “Yeah, I’ve received that email. Yeah, the video was great." We know it’s having the right effect.

How did Ydraw perform from a project management standpoint?

I could not have asked for a better partner. They were receptive when we had things that we needed to talk about. They made time for us when we had questions. It never took more than 24 hours to get a response to an email or phone call. Usually, I was contacting them after their work hours, and they would call me back the next morning. We had good cooperation from anybody on the team that we worked with. We worked with Sarah on the scripting and Alexa was the project manager from our perspective.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The product that they create is fairly unique, and the speed that they can turn concepts around to something tangible is great. That was certainly a great experience. They were able to bring their industry experience in knowing things that have worked in other companies. They were able to steer us away from things that, in their experience, was not what we should do, and they’d explain why. It helped make a better product at the end.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were very quick with the turnaround. They grasped the concepts that we were trying to get across very quickly. I can't think of anything we could have done better or differently. They exceeded my expectations.

Please describe your organization.

Bluesafe Australia is a workplace health and safety company providing workplace safety solutions across Australia. I was the Founder and Managing Director. As of April 2017, the business has been sold.

What business challenge were you trying to address with YDraw?

We were looking for a way to get our message across easily and explain our product with as little confusion as possible. To do so, we needed great marketing communication to our customers, and we wanted to entertain and educate them at the same time. The moment we came across one of YDraw's videos on YouTube we knew we needed to get one for our company.

Please describe the scope of the work and YDraw’ involvement in greater detail.

YDraw did everything from finding out exactly what we wanted to achieve to how to market our product with the greatest clarity to our customers. Once they understood our goals, they provided video scripting and production.

They offered consultations on everything from video creation to marketing effectiveness through various media.

Ydraw actually treats you like they are a part of your business. Thier warmth and sense of genuine caring are rare. They were involved every step of the way and I would say their service was "5-star".

How did you come to work with YDraw?

I stumbled across a YouTube video of Ydraw. What made me choose Ydraw was the quality of their videos and their ability to effectively communicate a message. The second deciding factor to work with Ydraw was when I met and spoke with Jace Vernon. I knew the moment I started speaking with him that he had integrity and he could be trusted, and it was more than obvious they were excellent at what they did.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

Our initial video was roughly $17,000 USD. That works out to about $20,000 AUD

We've also engaged Ydraw for some other smaller projects, and in total, we've done about 4 videos and are about to engage them to do another for my new company.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working together in 2013, and we've had an ongoing relationship ever since. 

What are the results of the project, and are there any statistics or metrics you can share?

We used to have to spend 20 minutes explaining our product to our customers before they'd buy. We now use a Ydraw video to explain our overall product in less than 3 minutes. After we started marketing with the video, our customers understood and buy without needing any explanation.

This saved us 20 min per customer with over 300 customers since Ydraw videos started being used. That equates to 6,000 minutes of selling time we would have used to explain our product to these customers.

YDraw’s work was received enthusiastically both internally in my company, and externally by my audience. Many of our clients were commenting about the video when they called.

How did YDraw perform from a project management standpoint?

Excellent. They can be trusted to do an excellent job. They are above average in terms of deadlines and communications, and the projects have been ahead of schedule. 

We use email and Skype to communicate.

What distinguishes YDraw from other providers?

Some people do what YDraw does, but the team at Ydraw are passionate about what they do, and it shines through.

Is there anything YDraw could have improved or done differently?

They could have done it for free. No seriously, initially I thought it was quite expensive, however, it has paid back dividends I did not even foresee at the time

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and creative director of Base Beauty Creative Agency. I also host a podcast called Where Brains Meet Beauty.

For what projects/services did your company hire Ydraw?

We hired them to produce whiteboard animation videos for a hair care brand.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to increase brand awareness by telling a story in a unique and shareable way.

How did you select this vendor?

I found them online.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

We worked closely together for our client's brand campaign for anti-breakage products. Ydraw shared examples of their past work, helping us select the best drawing style and voiceover artist for the videos.

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

We were thrilled with the final videos that Ydraw produced. Our client loves them and has shared them on multiple platforms, receiving great responses.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were responsive, helpful, and efficient. My direct contact, Kristen (Project Manager, Ydraw), could not have been more accommodating in helping us to reach our goals.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We loved working with their team because of their willingness to accept and meet challenges. Ydraw was amazing and gave us everything we wanted.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.