Cogo Interactive

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Alternative Resolutions. We provide conflict resolution services, resolution facilitators, and training.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cogo Interactive?

After two iterations, our previous site felt outdated. We needed resources to create and design a mobile-friendly WordPress site that was SEO compliant. We also needed people to teach us how to navigate WordPress functions and post content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built and designed a new mobile-friendly site in WordPress, ensuring that the backend was SEO compliant. They also established a blog and newsletter and educated our internal stakeholders on creating SEO content, including navigating the WordPress functions and basic blog maintenance.

Since the site launch, they’ve conducted biannual reviews to present the SEO report and offer suggestions for future blog content and site adjustments. Currently, they’re finalizing updates for the site, which entails refreshing the UX/UI and ensuring site security.

What is the team composition?

We worked primarily with their president.

How did you come to work with Cogo Interactive?

At the time, we were considering multiple vendors for our project, but none seemed dedicated to achieving our project goals. We then met Cogo Interactive at a networking event and bonded over our mutual New York roots. Their responsiveness, strong work ethic, and expertise impressed us, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We prefer to keep the cost confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work began in June 2013 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Strategic design choices and updated functionality have yielded a 74% increase in sales conversions.

Besides the quantitative metrics, we’ve greatly appreciated Cogo Interactive’s customer-centric approach to the project. Not only have they guided us through the learning phases of WordPress, but they’ve also provided sage business and marketing advice. They’ve strived to understand our business, empowering us to curate our digital content independently.

How did Cogo Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

As we’ve mentioned, we have biannual follow-ups to assess site performance. We also communicate through Basecamp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their business acumen and deep understanding of our business needs allow them to appropriately advise us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While we value their commitment to perfecting the site, they could be more cognizant of project timelines.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of Four Sales, an appraisals company for estate sales, auctions, and personal property. Founded in 1972, we are the largest professional appraisers in the Washington, D.C. area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cogo Interactive?

We hired them six years ago for SEO, which had been managed internally. Since then, they’ve provided marketing and maintenance services to increase web-driven inquiries.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In addition to ongoing SEO, they manage our blog and author content. We review their work for accuracy and fit before they publish.

Cogo Interactive does regular monthly maintenance as well. More recently, they redesigned the website’s wrapper and added CAPTCHA protections.

What is the team composition?

The president is my primary point of contact. I also interact with various technicians as needed and the main blog writer on a weekly basis.

How did you come to work with Cogo Interactive?

I met them through a variety of local networking groups.

How much have you invested with them?

I prefer to keep the amount confidential. However, I can say that it’s substantial and in the five figures.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started in February 2012 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Consistently, we appear in first-page results for our area’s most relevant industry searches. The enhanced wrapper resulted in substantial increases for detailed online queries. Specifically, the web inquiry form generates between 7–21 new leads on a weekly basis. Many of these new queries have resulted in closed business deals.

Their blog content is accurate because the team understands our needs. New protections such as CAPTCHA have decreased the number of issues we encounter.

How did Cogo Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re fantastic; we’ve developed a long-term relationship. We use Basecamp to input queries, which they respond to quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They take the time to understand our business, which is slightly out of the mainstream. As a result, the team creates responses that are specific, tailored, and relevant to the business we pursue.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are no downsides to working with them. They address small issues immediately and ensure that same problem doesn’t happen again. That thoroughness is a highlight of the engagement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Cogo Interactive has been a fantastic partner. Their services are priced fairly to the quality that’s delivered. There are cheaper vendors, but they won’t provide the same cost-effective result. I highly recommend them to anyone needing digital marketing, web development, lead generation, and maintenance services. We’re very satisfied customers.