Usman Group

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a former graphic designer for Circa. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We hired Usman Group because we were looking to reframe our company around our DEI strategy. We wanted to do a bit of market research to figure out what our users were seeing and what their impressions of our website were. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We met with Usman Group several times and went over our biggest concerns. We had just completed a rebranding project and saw a decline in our downloads and website traffic. After going back and forth with Usman Group, we determined we wanted to proceed with a two-part interview process. 

This process included Usman Group speaking to our potential and current customers to determine their needs and what they had purchased from our company. The second part of the process was having users go through our website and see if they could navigate it to get the answers they were looking for. The team was also responsible for UX/UI design and helped us redesign the website. Key technologies included Crazy Egg, Google Analytics, and Figma. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Naveed (CEO & Principal) and one other individual. 

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

We found them through a referral. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a little less than $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between January–March 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any hard metrics, but we saw an uptick in users and downloads. Usman Group’s quality of work exceeded our expectations. 

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was delivered on time and within budget. Usman Group provided strong communication, and we used Basecamp and Trello for project management. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

We’d like to shout out Naveed. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team was very talented, and they had a really good understanding of how to address the market and figure out what our audience needed. Our overall experience was very positive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t love using Basecamp; however, that is not a reflection of Usman Group. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a realistic timeline and budget. Lay out everything that you’re looking for, even things that you may not think you need immediately, because it’s good to get ahead of those needs. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Quest Food Management Services.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Onsite food service management at educational institutions and corporate dining facilities

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• Clarify Quest's key attributes that clients & customer value
• Expand Quest's new client base
• Generate more sales w/ Quest's current customers

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

Referral

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Usman Group were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Project Description: The project for Quest Food Management Services (FMS) involved a strategic effort concentrated on two main objectives: enhancing sales within existing accounts and expanding the customer base in the Midwest. Initial actions focused on diagnosing Quest FMS's unique attributes through a group session, which served as the foundation for developing tailored messaging. 

For current accounts, the strategy included brainstorming sessions aimed at educating customers about the quality and freshness of the products to encourage increased consumption. The expansion efforts were directed at identifying potential regions and partners in the Midwest, creating memorable first impressions, and establishing a follow-up process to cultivate new relationships. 

The scope encompassed diagnostics, planning, and execution phases, highlighting a thorough understanding of Quest FMS's value proposition and strategic engagement in the market. 

Deliverables: Conducted a series of intake sessions with key team members to identify the company's actual attributes (as opposed to aspirational ones) using a strategic framework. This step is crucial for developing compelling messaging that highlights Quest FMS's unique selling points. Detailed planning phases for each initiative, focusing on idea generation, strategy formulation, and operational planning to effectively address the challenges unique to each goal.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Demonstrable increase in new client leads, leading to new business/sales

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The Usman Group was 100% on time and budget. They were proactive, communicative, creative, flexible, and responsive.

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• Creativity
• responsiveness
• flexibility
• incredibly easy to work with

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Marketing Manager of a non-profit company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our organization, founded in 1941, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating Ways to Age Well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• To create a luxury website for the opening of our new senior residence.

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

Referral

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned
• Superior proposal to competition

How many teammates from Usman Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The current website, launched in 2018, needed a significant overhaul to match the luxury expectations of our affluent target audience, who are world travelers and individuals with substantial net worth. At the very core of the approach lies a captivating concept – drawing inspiration from travel and destination websites to transport potential customers into the enchanting world of our organization. The project scope included: 

• Content Audit
• Sitemap Development
• Developed 5 new webpages
• Content Editing
• Created 12 Wireframes
• Website Design
• Website Development
• Content Insertion & Styling
• Cross Browser Testing
• Website Analytics Setup
• Website Training
• Website Maintenance Support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

While the project is still ongoing due to our own preferences, Usman Group has demonstrated the ability to develop a thoughtful, high-end website while at the same time balancing the needs of our organization. Come April, Usman Group will have delivered a website that has elevated our design and performance. Since Aug. 2023, they have demonstrated tremendous knowledge, patience, understanding, guidance, and effort into the development of our website.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Usman Group has consistently met all deadlines and responded to all needs. It is important to note that they have been diligent in their work while also emphasizing patience and understanding. We've always had open channels to communicate concerns, intentions, and wishes. We understand that we demand more than the average customer, and Usman Group has stepped up to the challenge of delivering a website that meets those demands.

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Usman Group has demonstrated impressive knowledge and expertise with regards to delivering a high-end luxury website. They were ready, willing, and able to step up to the challenge of elevating the design and performance of our website. They were also consistently communicating on next steps and how to overcome existing hurdles.

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

First off, our website project was a bit different from the norm. We openly acknowledge that we are very particular about the needs and design of our website so that it fits our brand. Any website vendor would likely have faced the same challenges that Usman Group has faced when developing our website. They have been understanding, patient, and gracious as we've navigated those challenges together. 

That said, I believe one thing that might have helped in the entire process was, shortly after contracts were signed and the project was initiated, having one or two overview meetings about the entire project so that we were all on the same page. It felt like we dove into the sitemap almost immediately, and it may have helped to start slower with a meeting that gathered everyone's thoughts, allowed for questions, and gave us an understanding of the road ahead.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Sr Director, Marketing of a research company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company  is a data and tech company reinventing the market research industry with first-party, consumer-sourced data.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Usman Group to accomplish?

• Better user experience
• Increased flexibility & customization
• Less reliance on vendors

SOLUTION

How did you find Usman Group?

Online Search

Why did you select Usman Group over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• CRO / Strategy & Owned Design

How many teammates from Usman Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Our website redesign consisted of several phases spanning 6 months: 

• research and user interviews
• wire framing and design
• development
• content migration
• go-live

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

In terms of progress, our website is definitely more interactive and modern now that we use Elementor. Still working through a few kinks to get the site where we want it to be with speed and search, however the fact the site is live -- and with a beautiful new design -- is certainly a sign of success!

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Over the course of 6 months, the majority of our interactions were good. Early phases went smoothly: user interviews were recapped nicely with personas created, and wire frames started to turn into beautiful designs. One stand out in particular was the corporate photography the designer spent extra time on, he really captured our brand look. 

Development also went well, as developers started to take the designs, create the code and Elementor widgets that became the website. We hit a bit of a snag during the content migration, which set us back a month due to attempting a content import from drupal to word press (not as easy as anyone hoped), getting forms working properly, project ownership changes (our end), and competing client work (developers). Once past this, we got back on track for a successful go live.

What was your primary form of communication with Usman Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their early research and user interview phase proved invaluable to us -- not only did we use it to evaluate the UX and journey, but it helped us inform the final site architecture and understand user flow.

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

Knowing that switching hosting providers was on our horizon, Usman encouraged us to make the switch to WP Engine before launching the site. We declined for a variety of reasons, and in hindsight, we should have ripped the bandaid off rather than postponing. 

I think if we had been given a bit of insight into what that switch would entail and how it would work (basically what we'd need to do and cost to do it), we would have pulled the trigger -- ultimately saving both parties a few headaches.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at MindAptiv, a technology development company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We hired Usman Group because we needed brand and web presence development services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our company had a lot of old materials on our website, so I came in and helped update what we were doing and how we were presenting ourselves online. While we were discussing these, we decided to have a new logo and change our branding a bit. That was where Usman Group worked. They redeveloped our website from scratch using WordPress.

For features and functionality, we wanted the website to be more contemporary and interactive. Users visiting the website should be able to interact with the information there. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates from Usman Group, namely Naveed (Principal & CEO), Chris (UX Director & Designer), and Adam (Senior Web Developer). 

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I found Usman Group on Clutch. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $30,000–$35,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from February–June 2023. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our technology was hard to understand, and trying to do so was extremely difficult, especially for teams in a creative environment. However, Usman Group was great at coming up with concepts that met our expectations right out of the gate. 

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group was timely when it came to delivering tasks and meeting our budget. Our team was slow since I was new in the company, and there was a lot to understand. Fortunately, Naveed was brilliant. I called him our website coach and therapist because he was great at fleshing out our ideas. This helped us find valuable ways of doing things. He helped me figure out how I could work around the technical stuff. To communicate, we used Basecamp and email.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity was valuable to us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had a little tussle on the landing page design. Creative assets weren’t as important as messaging for us, but the creative team wanted to prioritize the assets before messaging. This was something I noticed in all other advertising and marketing teams. Nonetheless, Usman Group nailed it in the end, and the result was great. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Usman Group is great at delivering tasks, and it’s much better if you’re prepared to deliver what you need to deliver to them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the development director of CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties, a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer advocacy for children in the child welfare system.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We needed help building a new website for our organization and creating graphic design and marketing materials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties helped us create a mobile-friendly WordPress website, enhanced the UI/UX of the platform, and carried the site's design needs. They focused on making a website that allowed users to contact us, get informed about our organization, learn how to volunteer and donate, and get to know more about our team members in a fun and interactive way.

Regarding the process, they started by interviewing our stakeholders, donors, volunteers, board members, and other supporters. After that, they asked us to send examples of what we wanted for the site, and then we sat down to make a map of how we wanted the platform to look, including buttons in the toolbar and the type of pages. In addition, they did a deep dive into SEO and keyword research to incorporate them into our site.

From there, we started the design phase, where they led a patient process in helping us get the exact look of what we were looking for. We went through different iterations until we landed on a beautiful design. From there, our internal team started developing content and working with a copywriter that Usman Group referred to us.

After that, we started working on interesting all the content to the platform and creating the backend to launch the website, which they also helped us host and maintain.

What was the team composition? 

We mainly worked with four members of Usman Group’s team, including Naveed (CEO), who walked us through the entire process. In addition, we had contact with Adam (Developer) and Chris (Designer).

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

We put out an RFP, and among all the respondents, Usman Group stood out to us for their approach to interviewing stakeholders to see what types of volunteers and donors we were looking for in a website. They also seemed experienced and able to provide guidance on how to get a high-quality platform.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $62,000 with them on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2022–April 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to Usman Group’s work, we now have a consistent brand for our program. Moreover, we received a lot of positive feedback on the site’s mobile-friendliness, the UX, and the content — they were incredibly professional.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group was great at delivering on time and staying within budget. In addition, they were comedic and responsive to our emails. We had a communicative process to share our feedback and questions throughout the project. Regarding tools, we used Zoom for weekly meetings, Basecamp, email, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Usman Group’s communication was outstanding because they kept us updated on the project’s progress. Additionally, their expertise was unique; if we requested something from them that wasn’t a good decision, Usman Group’s team wasn’t afraid to let us know, which was what we wanted.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn’t think there was anything they could improve on — working with them was a great experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Usman Group is a great team if you’re looking for something unique because they take a lot of pride in their design and the effort they put into it. Be prepared and willing to let the reins when appropriate because they know what they’re doing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the operations manager for Language Access LLC. We provide interpretation and translation services in Colorado and beyond.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We had an existing website, but it was very subpar and didn’t even reflect our services. We wanted to reach a broader audience and showcase our services better. We were particularly interested in clients looking for experienced, high-end providers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group upgraded our website. We initially had an idea; Usman Group helped us define our market and the message we wanted to get across. They used Webflow for web design and Shutterstock to get the images we’d use for the site.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two teammates: Naveed (Principal & CEO) and Jeanie (Content Strategist).

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

We searched for companies that provided this type of service. Usman Group was very attractive because they catered precisely to our kind of company, and their services weren’t for mass consumption. When we looked up the country's top 10 providers or website developers, they offered 3–4 levels of service. It was our problem if we didn’t fit those categories, but none of them were what we sought.

On the other hand, Usman Group’s services were a good fit. Our first conversation revolved around our needs and goals, and the product adapted to that.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $11,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first conversation was in January 2023, and we wrapped up the project in March 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s a little early for metrics because we just finished the project. However, potential and previous clients have complimented Usman Group’s work. Moreover, everybody in our company is pretty upbeat about it.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was outstanding. Usman Group set the deadlines ahead of time and met every single one. During the project, we had to attend to some family matters, but they were understanding. Overall, we completed the project on time and were happy with how Usman Group handled everything.

We sometimes communicated via telephone or had Zoom meetings to review the progress and discuss what we needed to adjust or change. However, our main project management tool was a dashboard they’d built. Everybody had access to its information; we got a message every time someone completed a task, and the same was true for them. Whenever we posted something on the dashboard, they were immediately notified.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were patient and flexible enough to work with us and give us time when we needed extra time due to our workload. Overall, we were happy with Usman Group’s service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t know if they could’ve improved the service. Some things could’ve been anticipated and included in the initial discussion, but that’s hard to determine because neither of us knew.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Senior GIS Data Analyst in the R.A.I (Research, Analytics, and Insights) at the YMCA of the USA (non-profit)

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Usman Group?

The purpose of this user experience review is to ensure various internal user group needs are being met. The YMCA of the USA employs a number of tools and with its most recent launch of its Insights Hub, it attempts to consolidate a host of internal and external tools, however various user groups are either unable to locate these tools, uncover key functionalities or perform critical tasks when accessing these tools.

Due to the desired deadline of December 2022, Usman Group recommends a highly focused engagement to quickly uncover user needs, pain-points and visualize a path forward for the following YMCA digital properties.

1. Insights Hub
2. Science of Strengthening Community Tool
3. Community Insights Tool

We will interview a variety of user groups to understand their key needs, challenges and perceptions for each property listed above. We will then match up what the GAP is between actual user needs and organizational assumptions to arrive at some basic truths. Shortly after our interviews, we will define a handful of composite user profiles, which will be based on the interviews performed earlier.

These profiles will articulate each user groups motivations, frustrations and prioritized functions. To ensure the best possible communication experience during this project, we will assign a dedicated project manager to your account. We will also establish a password-protected online project management area (called Basecamp) that will serve as our central hub for all project communications, tasks, milestones and supplemental files related to this project.

This will enable all parties involved to be more closely aligned and better informed on project achievements and obstacles – 24/7. If you have any questions, or need further clarification on items covered in this proposal, please feel to contact me directly. I am very excited about this opportunity and look forward to building a trusted business relationship with the YMCA of the USA!

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My supervisor discovered them, talked to them, and she decided on them.

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

Expert Review: Review the current Insights Hub and identify potential changes to enhance the UX. We will also review select tools, including the Science of Strengthening Community and Community Insights, to identify possible changes to improve UX.

Stakeholder Interviews: Facilitate and summarize up to (9) recorded interviews for assumed stakeholder groups. • Network Partners (3) • Local Y Leadership (CEOs, COOs) (3) • Local Y Power Users (3)

User Profiles: Creation for up to (3) composite user profiles, which will guide which types of functions or content that need to be clarified or created for each tool.

Findings & Recommendations: Synthesize key findings into a portable findings and recommendations document to articulate our recommendations for increased tool usage and adoption.

We will produce low-fidelity wireframes to help visualize suggestions and findings. Furthermore, this document will serve as a best practices guide for Y-USA Insights staff to develop future user friendly digital tools.

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

We worked directly with the Naveed U. (Principal + CEO)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With what was provided (final deliverables) we plan on putting these into action by the end of the year, if not, earlier.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow was great! Very organized, structured, and timely.

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

They were very patient, nimble, and great to work with!

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

I would say one area they could improve on would be to fully understand our tools (at least the ones that were part of this project.) This makes it easier to have a more in-depth discussion about them. However, I think it speaks to this project and the feedback we received that Naveed himself found the tools a bit robust\overwhelming.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Gordon Salon; we do hair and makeup at our locations throughout the Chicago area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We hired Usman Group to build a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we had numerous meetings about our goals and provided Usman Group with preliminary documentation. We also shared our original website with them, which they used to help us develop a new concept. Once we decided on a concept, the team built the website from scratch using Java and WordPress. They also optimized the site for SEO and created innovative graphics for our landing page. Additionally, they connected us with a third-party domain company to host the site. 

Apart from the website development project, Usman Group helped us with branding, product development, and business development initiatives. They coordinated different projects and made sure everything worked according to our needs.  

What is the team composition?

We worked with Naveed (Principal & CEO) and five other team members.

How did you come to work with Usman Group? 

We found Usman Group through our local chamber of commerce. They had built websites for significant publications in the Chicago area, so we decided to engage them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Usman Group from June 2010–June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Usman Group team built a modern, fast-loading website that met our expectations. They also helped get our website on 70 different online directories. The team guided us through the process from start to finish, touching on the technology, business, and creative aspects of the project. Furthermore, they facilitated valuable connections with other knowledgeable resources, which helped us succeed. 

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group wasn’t cheap, but they were very thorough in terms of project management. They responded to our needs, met deadlines, and communicated effectively via phone. Naveed and the team were exceptional; they had a relationship-focused mindset, which made us feel valued.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed by Usman Group’s relationship-building skills and business acumen. They not only understood our goals from a technical standpoint, but they also knew how to help us reach them in a practical way. Additionally, when they couldn’t help us, they’d connect us with the appropriate resources who could, which was immensely helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I had to choose one area for improvement, I’d say the pricing, but the value of the partnership was well worth the money. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend being specific about your goals for your website. Usman Group will be transparent about the cost and feasibility of your project.