EnlightWorks

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the sole proprietor of a coaching services business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EnlightWorks?

My website was incomplete, disorganized, and not user-friendly.

SOLUTION

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

I wanted a web designer that was easy to work with, organized, professional, and who understood my business. Enlightworks met all of those needs and more.

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

Danny has a system set up to help business owners make sure they include the right things in their website. It's more like a business master course, with worksheets to help you clearly define your target audience, goals, key offer, etc.

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

I was able to work directly with my web designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I was proud to announce the launch of my new website. I am now able to direct prospective clients to a user-friendly site that showcases my business.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Enlightworks uses a task tracking system. It allowed me to see all of the steps in the design of my website and to know when they were waiting on me for information. It was a great system!

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

I really love the personal touch of Enlightworks. While they have great systems in place, everything was personally customized to me. The most impressive thing is how they advise on content and help you have a clear message.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of technical operations at Precision IT Consulting, a managed service provider. We’re essentially an outsourced IT company for organizations, and we focus on city governments and local municipalities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EnlightWorks?

We needed help with marketing, website design, and SEO.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, EnlightWorks moved our website to Duda, and they then facilitated a complete site redesign and implemented SEO concepts under the hood. They are working to bring us new leads through our website.

We’ve been featuring different areas on our platform, and they’ve created different location pages on Google. For example, we’ve added various zip codes in our home city to broaden our presence. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Danny (Lead Designer & Digital Marketing Strategist). I know he has other teammates working for him, but I don’t interact with them.

How did you come to work with EnlightWorks?

Danny used to be our employee. He broke off with us and started EnlightWorks since he wanted to be more creative and focused on web design.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve been paying them $2,100 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2021, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Danny tracks and reports about our site’s metrics. He knows our business inside and out, and as a result, he’s able to build our website from the ground up.

We’re already seeing positive ROI based on the number of leads we’re getting, and we’re also ranking higher on Google. The engagement is paying for itself.

How did EnlightWorks perform from a project management standpoint?

EnlightWorks is great at project management. They use many web-based tools that make it very clear what phase of the project they’re on and who’s working on what. 

EnlightWorks has hit all of their deadlines, and they’re very communicative, especially if we need changes on the fly. Their response time on our requests is 30 minutes or less, and it’s just great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

EnlightWorks’ flexibility is impressive — we come at Danny with all kinds of different questions. 

Marketing and website development are outside of my wheelhouse. I love that I can spitball my ideas to Danny, and he can come up with tangible solutions for our problems. Additionally, he has resources that are experts in fields that are beyond his expertise. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep communication lines open. Don’t forget to ask questions, even the ones you’re thinking at the back of your head. They’ll tell you what’s feasible and what’s not. You can bring your personal preferences, but Danny will finetune your ideas and make them tangible. 

They’ll make your site searchable, and they’ll bring you more traffic. Let EnlightWorks do their thing with your guidance and input. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I just started my own well-being coaching practice called Coaching by Kendall.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EnlightWorks?

I knew nothing about web design and marketing, so EnlightWorks stepped in to help me with my website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

I connected with Danny (Founder & Digital Strategist) who helped me think through my website, including the kind of content that I wanted, my client personas, and ways to craft my content so that it would speak to those personas.

He started with a questionnaire to get a better sense of what my business was. These forms helped me think strategically about how I wanted to position myself as a well-being coach, later becoming the basis of our collaboration. It was nice that Danny could walk through each piece with me and explain the significance of each section. Once we understood the kind of content we wanted on the site, we decided on a logo and color scheme. Danny incorporated my feedback on the designs into the website, which we edited together.

Danny then started putting together a marketing plan for my practice — It was basically a marketing roadmap. The plan included a number of tools to help me expand my reach, and it helped me think through my social media strategy for LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. He also provided a potential posting calendar to follow and included tips on how to use Facebook and YouTube.

What is the team composition? 

Danny was the primary person I worked with.

How did you come to work with EnlightWorks?

I was originally going to work with a different agency that was recommended to me, but they weren’t good about following up. At that point, I started searching online and came across EnlightWorks on Clutch. They had good reviews and examples of websites that they’d designed, so I reached out to them to see what our engagement might look like. I felt that Danny was able to provide what I needed.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $1,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

The core project lasted from November–December 2020. There have been little things here and there since then, but most of the work has wrapped up.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can say, first and foremost, that the most important aspect of this experience was translating my ideas into something more tangible. Danny has helped me paint a picture of my practice in a way that was strategic and meaningful, and he really honored what my practice was about. With his guidance, I now have a really concrete idea of what my practice is about and how I’m adding value to my clients’ lives.

Other than that, my site visits have gone up, and there’s been some engagement. However, the site is still pretty new, and I’m just starting to market it.

How did EnlightWorks perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Asana for regular updates. Danny stayed on top of whatever tasks were coming up and made sure that they would be clearly marked as finished when he was done. That being said, my preferred communication channel was email, which Danny was happy to do instead. If I had a question that needed deeper thought and wanted his feedback, I’d schedule a Zoom call through his calendar.

Now that the site has launched, Danny and I are going to have monthly calls to touch base on how my site is doing and identify other strategies to increase my engagement. I know that there will be future opportunities for us to think about how I can further marketing my business.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve already touched on this, but it was really Danny’s ability to translate my ideas into a beautiful website. He did that by utilizing his own creativity while still making sure that he honored my ideas. That kind of talent usually takes a lot of listening, application, and vision, and Danny had that gift.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything I would’ve changed. I was genuinely happy with our interactions, Danny was timely, responsive, and professional. The fact that he was patient and willing to explore these marketing topics with me and basically be a teacher was really helpful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you communicate what your needs are. The clearer you can be about what you’re looking for, the more understanding that Danny will have about what your end product should look like. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager of a company that specializes in manufacturing high-pressure air and gas compressors as well as other technologies, including cryogenic technologies, liquefaction systems, gas generator systems, and hydrogen reforming technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EnlightWorks?

They refreshed our entire website, aligning with a branding initiative started by our internal marketing department. We wanted to adjust our position in the market, hoping to pivot toward a more technologically-focused company, not just a manufacturer.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We take products from research and development all the way through to sale. Our company has an aftermarket department as well, servicing technology that needs maintenance. They served as a website design company that would build our new platform from the ground up. At the time, we had a Magento site but wanted to leave that platform because we’re not an e-commerce company.

They introduced me to Duda, which is the website builder that we used for the project. After selecting the technology, they handled both the design and development of the site. We focused on content in-house, but they were responsible for all other aspects of the website. They took an iterative approach to designs, allowing our team to offer input as the project evolved. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Danny (Founder & Digital Strategist). There were others working on the project, but all communication came through him.

How did you come to work with EnlightWorks?

I did a basic web search for agencies within the area. We wanted a one-stop-shop that was local to us. Danny would serve as our central point of contact, which aligned well with our culture and work style. They provided the same level of quality for much less than large tech firms in the Bay Area. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000–$30,000. Our project slightly exceeded the scope. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from January–October 2020. COVID-19 complicated our schedule, but they were accommodating in adjusting our schedule to challenges associated with the pandemic.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new platform is more intuitive, usable, and robust than our previous platform ever was. Danny goes beyond the call of duty when it comes to responsiveness and assistance with the platform following the launch date. That one-on-one time has been helpful in teaching me how to update the platform, giving me more autonomy over the site.  

How did EnlightWorks perform from a project management standpoint?

All communication was streamlined through one point of contact, which enhanced the entire collaboration process. The tasks were organized through Asana and Google Suite tools. Everything exceeded our expectations. While there was some back-and-forth, we held ourselves up more often than Danny did. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They offer a personal touch, willing to walk us through their processes. We weren’t just another account to them— Danny took the time to get to know our business as a partner. That’s a feature and benefit that makes them stand out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our project took longer than expected to complete. While that was mostly our fault, it would’ve helped to have more firm responses at times to limit our delays. However, they wanted the project to be the best fit for us, so I understand why they did that.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very organized. Having my ducks in a row beforehand really helped speed the beginning of the process along. They were able to be integrated into our company pretty quickly that way.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Graham Garage Doors. We’re a full-service garage door company — we do everything from repairs to installations. We work with large housing developments, but will also work with consumers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EnlightWorks?

We had a very dated website, and I knew we needed a web presence. We knew that if we built it properly, we would be able to leverage it to rank higher on Google.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with EnlightWorks by saying that we wanted to reboot our logo and website design. They completed that very quickly, but then sat down with us to talk about additional things we might be missing, like SEO.

We discussed where it would be best for us to spend our advertising budget. Now we’ve retained him to support our marketing efforts. We don’t have a huge marketing budget, so they do just enough to keep us on track with SEO. We can call them whenever we have questions about digital marketing.

What is the team composition?

I’ve only dealt with Danny (Digital Marketer & Creative Director), and he really knows his stuff.

How did you come to work with EnlightWorks?

I met Danny through another acquaintance who was working with him. My colleague recommended them to help us grow. I called him up and asked if this was in his wheelhouse.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $5,000–$6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2019 and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I love the website and the logo. We thought we knew what we wanted when we started the project, and sure enough, Danny came back to us and advised us not to use the colors we selected because it evoked a certain response from potential customers. Instead, he proposed we use a more modern color palette and came back with a few ideas of his own. He integrated some of our ideas but was able to improve on them.

We quickly realized that EnlightWorks came up with a superior design. It’s not always easy to tell a client no, but we appreciated that he was able to gently steer us in the right direction.

Overall, we’re very happy. Even his fees are reasonable. He was flexible and worked around our budget. He advised that we create a PPC campaign, but that was too expensive for us, so he helps us improve our organic rankings.

How did EnlightWorks perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve worked virtually for the entirety of our engagement and their customer service is excellent.

Since we finished the logo design and website, Danny calls once a month, whether we ask him to or not, just to check in to see how things are going.

He seems like a very good person and seemed like an easy person to talk to. I could just say what I was thinking and he responded accordingly. Another time, I asked a question, and a few days later he got back to me. In the time it took for him to respond, he did research on our industry to learn more about our industry and our competition. He truly went beyond the call of duty. Not only did he explain what we should or shouldn’t do, he explained why.

I ended up feeling like he was a part of the company, rather than someone we just hired for marketing.

They managed the project very well. He continued to follow up with us, which we needed to keep the project moving forward.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The design is good, but his knowledge of SEO was his biggest strength. He knew where we needed to invest and how to place different ads.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I am extremely happy with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Write down what you think you need to do before meeting with them. Then go line-by-line so you understand the value of each point. From that point on, keep an open mind and let them walk you through what they think you should be focusing on.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an education foundation. There are a lot of things that aren’t covered, such as enrichment activities, so we provide extra funds for the schools within our city. I’m the VP.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EnlightWorks?

Our website was really outdated and didn’t work well; it had been created when the foundation was formed, and we actually lost access to making changes and updates. We got to the point where we didn’t want to refer people to the website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

EnlightWorks redid our entire website. He asked for a few things, like our logo and our sponsors. Then, he sent me different color schemes and things like that to keep me included in what we wanted the site to look like. However, I really left it up to him to get more creative, because that’s not my area of expertise.

He added a lot of different links to teachers and to making donations. We have a run that goes on every year to raise funds, and he added all of the links to that. He let us know that he can make whatever changes we need in the future.

What is the team composition?

I just worked with one person.

How did you come to work with EnlightWorks?

The person I worked with is a dad in our school district. I’d seen some of the stuff he’d designed, so I reached out to him.

How much have you invested with them?

Because of the way our foundation runs, our treasurer handles the finance part of things. However, I know EnlightWorks gave us a good deal.

What is the status of this engagement?

We originally started in October 2019. He came to one of our meetings to see exactly what we were looking for. We had a few bumps once schools closed down due to the pandemic. The partnership is ongoing; he still texts us to make sure we’re happy with everything. I’m sure we’ll be in touch because he’s involved with the school district through his children.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website looks fantastic now, and we’re very pleased with how it turned out. We were getting to the point where our sponsors wanted to be advertised, and he did a great job of making sure the sponsors were featured. He pulled everything together really nicely.

How did EnlightWorks perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was great. We communicated pretty regularly. He kept me up to date on how things were going, asking questions as he went along and having me preview things as he went.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The highlight is how user-friendly the website is. It’s easy for any parent to get on there really quickly. The mission is right there, and it explains exactly what we do with really easy-to-use links. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t seen any negatives, even after going through everything. I’m really happy with the site. There’s a problem with our funding link right now, but that has nothing to do with EnlightWorks; he’s actually the one who let me know the link wasn’t working. 

Any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend working with them. He was super on time with everything, and he kept us involved the whole time. We were just really happy and impressed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am an executive assistant at the YWCA of Contra Costa-Sacramento. In addition to providing childcare and preschool services throughout Contra Costa County, we also offer counseling for children, women’s services, and low-income housing for women in Sacramento.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EnlightWorks?

We hired EnlightWorks to redesign our website and enhance our marketing efforts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially had a simple website and wanted to update it with more interactive form-filling features. There is a substantial amount of paperwork involved when people wish to enroll in any of our services. We’re working with Danny (Owner/Creative Director, EnlightWorks) to create a more straightforward process for people to apply and for us to track all applicants.

What is the team composition?

Danny is our central point of contact.

How did you come to work with EnlightWorks?

Following an online search, we considered EnlightWorks and two other companies, but Danny seemed to be the easiest to work with. He was local and had a good marketing sense about him.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our two-year contract with EnlightWorks began in January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are still in the early stages of establishing these new record-keeping methods, but we are excited about the premise of having a log that tracks who applied and when, which creates a formal waitlist. The results of this work will streamline our paperwork processing across all of our service lines. Further, Danny has rebuilt our website to be more marketable.

How did EnlightWorks perform from a project management standpoint?

Danny always brings good ideas and solutions to our project. He has granted us access to a database of sorts that allows us to post requests or questions, and it sends him a notification each time. The database saves us from using emails all the time. It’s a much smoother means of communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As we’ve started rebuilding our website, their marketing experience has been particularly valuable. We are still a nonprofit with a small staff, so we may not be able to implement many of his ideas just yet, but there are still a lot of areas where Danny has been immensely helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’ve worked well together.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a managing director at Freedom Markers. We're a virtual assistant agency for military spouses who own a small business. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EnlightWorks?

We were looking for a vendor to develop a website for us. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

EnlightWorks built our first website, created a logo, and managed SEO. They continue to maintain and monitor our website. We're planning to redesign our logo soon, so we’ll use EnlightWorks for that as well.

What is the team composition? 

We have one main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with EnlightWorks?

We met at a networking event in San Francisco. EnlightWorks quickly earned our trust, so we decided to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working with them in May 2015 and the relationship is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Two years ago, we shifted our focus towards online marketing, and our website became even more important because that's where a lot of our clients funnel through. People can sign up to have a phone call with us to discuss our services, so our website helps us engage with prospective clients. 

How did EnlightWorks perform from a project management standpoint? 

We mostly use email to stay in touch and they keep us up-to-date with everything. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I had no idea what I wanted and they were able to put together a website with limited guidance from me. They made valuable recommendations and walked me through the whole process.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. They take care of all my needs. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of FundaMental Change, a nonprofit in support of mental health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EnlightWorks?

We hired EnlightWorks to build our website from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had some initial ideas as to what information we wanted the website to provide, but EnlightWorks offered a lot of guidance on how to get there. We now act as a resource guide to help people navigate the mental health space. Our website features tabs that lead to pages that detail our events, our organization’s overview, our board, and other helpful information.

What is the team composition?

I only worked with Danny (Owner/Creative Director, EnlightWorks).

How did you come to work with EnlightWorks?

A member of our board had worked with Danny in the past and suggested that we contact him. He turned out to be a good fit for our project.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement spanned November 2018–May 2019, but we still work together on small updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

EnlightWorks far surpassed our expectations and what we were hoping to achieve. We’re still a relatively new nonprofit, but we’ve already had a lot of traffic through the website. We are excited by the amount of success and interest we have seen as a result of their work.

How did EnlightWorks perform from a project management standpoint?

Danny sent us a series of surveys so that our board could vote on different things to narrow down our preferences. That strategy was immensely helpful for us to start with. Danny’s communication has been excellent and straightforward. He listens well to what it is we are trying to accomplish.

What did you find most impressive about them?

EnlightWorks has been very easy to work with. Their professionalism and timeliness stand out, in particular.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they exceeded our expectations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and founder of LM Disability Consulting. We provide disability access consulting to various types of organizations, including government entities, municipalities, private businesses, and community-based organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EnlightWorks?

Since I created my startup independently, I had no logo, no website, and no marketing plan. I also hired them to create my entire web platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a comprehensive, user-friendly website that’s accessible to people with disabilities, which is very important in my industry. 

EnlightWorks also created a marketing plan and branding materials. They helped me come up with a logo that communicates the work I do and the philosophy I use. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Danny (Digital Marketer & Creative Director, EnlightWorks). 
 
How did you come to work with EnlightWorks?

I learned about EnlightWorks mostly through word-of-mouth. I asked around, and people that I knew in the web design industry recommended them.

They were the best fit for our company because of their knowledge of the accessibility requirements and their creative approach to marketing. Also, the customized nature of their services was important to me. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $3,000–$5,000 at the most. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in 2017, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As I’m a new business, I don’t have data to share. But, anecdotally, I can tell you a lot of people have come my way through my website. I have nothing but positive feedback about it. It’s helpful to have that touch point for people when I speak at conferences or travel. 

I work in a niche field that not many people know about, so having information well-placed in a usable form on my website has been very important. The site has helped spread awareness about who I am and what I do. Now, I’m working with Danny to do more marketing and outreach. 

How did EnlightWorks perform from a project management standpoint?

EnlightWorks has exceeded my expectations. They’ve recommended a lot of project management tools I can use to help start up my business. Danny been reliable and responsive—every time I need changes or updates or guidance, he’s always there to assist. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to detail and accuracy has been very impressive, as well as their willingness to listen to the customer and focus on client needs. They really listened to what I wanted to achieve and built that into the products and services they provided—that was very important to me.

He was very sensitive to the civil rights nature of the work that I do, and I feel like all my messaging clearly reflects that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no recommendations for improvement.