Visceral

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

1,000 Days is an advocacy organization based in Washington DC. We are focused on ensuring that women and children have the nutrition they need to be healthy and develop to their fullest potential, particularly in the first 1,000 days from a woman's pregnancy to a child's second birthday. I am the managing director of the organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Visceral?

Our previous website was launched in 2010, and it had a more old-school approach. It didn't provide what we needed for our users.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Visceral was hired to refresh our old website, but we ended up designing and deploying a completely new site. In the beginning stages, Visceral helped us think through what we needed the new website to be, who would be its target audience, and what information they needed to receive from it. We were given a large questionnaire, based on which Visceral developed some wireframes. Once we settled on one which felt right and presented the information in a way which we felt would make sense to us and our audience, Visceral started a couple of design iterations.

We wrote all the copy for the site. Visceral gave us templates for each page of the site, including character limits. That was extremely helpful in not making the site as text-heavy as the old version. We wanted to have a much more compelling and image-focused site, getting our points across with as little text as possible. Once we provided the copy and images we wanted to use, Visceral built the site and underwent several weeks of testing.

How did you come to work with Visceral?

We were looking to build a new website, but we didn't have a massive budget. We put out an RFP [request for proposal] to 5 different groups which we knew or had been recommended to us by partner organizations and advisors. Visceral was the company that clearly stood out after our interviews with all the candidates.

How much have you invested with Visceral?

The site had a cost of between $30,000 and $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Visceral in July 2015. The site was launched in November, within schedule.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Overwhelmingly, the response to the website has been positive from partners who were familiar with our old page. It looked great, had clear information, and great imagery. Whenever I have a conversation with someone we haven't worked with yet, I often receive good comments about the website.

How did Visceral perform from a project management standpoint?

The fact that we were able to deliver the site on time shows that Visceral was able to keep both of our groups on-task and on-time. Visceral has used different tools which enabled us to provide feedback easily. We also had weekly calls, and Visceral provided a dedicated project manager. She was responsible for making sure that all our work was getting done.

What did you find most impressive about Visceral?

From start to finish, Visceral worked to make the process of designing and deploying a new website as simple and straightforward as possible. While they are a small team themselves, they are incredibly organized and responsive.

Are there any areas Visceral could improve?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and president of Brotherton Strategies. Our company is a strategic communications consulting firm based in Seattle, Washington. We work primarily with the philanthropic and non-profit sectors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Visceral?

I needed a web developer and creative partner who understood the intersection of digital technology, effective storytelling, and the complexities of the philanthropic sector. We were also looking for a team that was easy to relate to, affordable, and who just simply got it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I’ve worked with Visceral on four client projects at this point, so there isn’t a single project that I’m speaking to; it’s more generalized. They have developed websites from the ground up, from zero to a finished site. I acted as lead writer and creative director, but they were the entire technical solution. They had to understand the nature of a foundation’s business structure. Then they had to determine how to create a site that would reflect that in clear and simple ways while still being compelling to look at and read. In several cases, Visceral worked with me from the very beginning based on just a simple idea of what I needed from a site. I really had no technical vision for how to bring that together and certainly no development expertise to build it. Visceral had that ability to listen to what the goals were, then ask probative, smart questions that might shape the goal and make it even more pointed and on target. They then translate that into a fully developed, fully realized site. Over the years, they’ve worked with me on behalf of several foundation clients.

How did you come to work with Visceral?

The first time I became aware of them, I had heard their name from a couple of friends who worked in philanthropy. We submitted an RFP [request for proposal] and we solicited bids from seven different firms. Visceral came in and had to win the business on their own merits. It was not just a direct hire; it was a competitive bidding process. They won on a combination of creative experience and competitive pricing.

Another thing that is a big differentiator in hiring and working with Visceral is that the team is small. When you are interviewing folks for the business, those end up being the same folks who work on the project. They are incredibly accessible and responsive. Their team is quick to answer, adapt, or adjust whenever you need them to. As a small business owner and consultant who prides himself on giving really high-touch service, that was a big differentiator for them. I hate it when you get pitched by somebody to win the business and then you never hear from that person again. Visceral is not that. What you see is what you get, and you get senior talent working on your account.

How much have you invested with Visceral?

They have delivered sites for under $50,000 that others who bid on that project wanted $100,000 for. Visceral came in the high 40s, low 50s range.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Visceral in February 2015. I’ve done several projects with them. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The one that I originally met them through was completed. We launched a full and beautiful website on time and under budget. We have since done a major expansion to that same site in a new and different creative direction to meet a business goal. We had to expand the site, and they did that piece of the work as well. Each time, they’ve done very good work.

I don’t have any metrics that are a reflection of their work. We have metrics on the click-through rate on the site itself, but that’s not a comment on them. That’s a comment on the foundation client I’m working for. They have finished everything I’ve needed them to do on time and on budget, if not under time and under budget.

How did Visceral perform from a project management standpoint?

Extremely well. On the day they give you a proposal, you meet the team you’re going to work with. That team stays with you for the duration. They are highly responsive. They are very good communicators. They will typically articulate a timeline for the project and a work plan, and they do a very good job of keeping the clients on that plan. If there is slippage due to the clients’ delays, they are really clear about saying, “This missed deadline is going to result in X or Y or Z,” so there are really no surprises. If the unexpected comes up and I have an urgent need for Visceral to do something, they have been very quick to drop what they were working on and get it done. They are just very responsive in a way that I can’t really overstate.

What did you find most impressive about Visceral?

There are a lot of good web design firms out in the world. I don’t think there are a lot of good web design firms who understand the philanthropic foundation sector and how to work with it as well as these guys. Plus, they do so with the high-touch service and the affordable, competitive rates that they do. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy working with them.

Are there any areas Visceral could improve?

No, there aren’t any.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The Durfee Foundation is a family grant-making foundation in Southern California. We provide grants and support to nonprofit organizations and leaders in the Los Angeles region. We're best known for our fellowship programs, where we support leadership development and capacity building in the nonprofit sector. I'm the executive director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Visceral?

We needed to redesign our website since our first website had not been updated in more than a decade. Because we focus so much on fellowship and leadership, we wanted to profile the people whom we support and also wanted to make the site more L.A. centric.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We spent the first few months on UX [user experience] and UI [user interface]. We sent Google Docs back and forth as to what we wanted for the website. Allen [Hopper, user experience and creative director at Visceral] is fantastic at explaining the design process over the phone. We worked with him to build a wireframe. The design process took about 3 months and, once that was done, we worked with the development team on the backend.

How did you come to work with Visceral?

We began with an internal team of about 5 people who were given the challenge to look at other websites of nonprofits and grant-making foundations. We culled a list of our favorites and narrowed that down to 5. Then, we went to the managers of those sites and asked who had created their site, how their experience was, and what the budget was. From that, we chose 3 providers. We asked each of those providers to make a proposal. We had telephone and Skype interviews between our team and theirs.

How much have you invested with Visceral?

The cost was between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started November 2015 and was launched in March 2016. Before we launched, we worked with another provider to rewrite some of the content. Visceral was helpful in that process as well by watching keywords carefully.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our work is cyclical, so our traffic tends to pick up when we have an application deadline.

What did you find most impressive about Visceral?

The way they relayed information to us was different from anything I'd experienced before, and it was spectacular. In other design relationships, I've been sent a mockup in advance of a meeting. The way Visceral worked was effective. They sent us that information only about 15 minutes prior to a meeting. They helped us learn to change our behavior and expectations by starting with an open slate and walking us through point by point. They were good at using a process and lay language to walk us through the technical steps of creating the site. They would keep us updated on what they were working on. Their staff is fantastic at being able to talk to people who do not live in the design world. They were incredibly responsive. The one or two times we had concerns about what was happening, they made a course correction almost instantaneously.

Are there any areas Visceral could improve?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Director of Communications of Energy Innovation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Energy Innovation is a nonpartisan climate policy think tank

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Visceral to accomplish?

• Relaunch our organizational website

SOLUTION

How did you find Visceral?

I have worked with Visceral for 15 years

Why did you select Visceral over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Visceral were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Redesign existing organizational website, with emphasis on SEO and content strategy, focused on improved user experience

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Website was relaunched with numerous positive instances of feedback from internal and external parties. Inbound search referrals have increased since launch.

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

Visceral is excellent in every regard. They were always on time, always in contact, and always responsive to our requests.

What was your primary form of communication with Visceral?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Visceral is a pleasure to work with in every regard. Their commitment to social issues is also quite impressive.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Executive Director of Simms/Mann Family Foundation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We create and fund programs and research in the fields of education, healthcare and the arts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Visceral to accomplish?

• Create new organizational website

SOLUTION

How did you find Visceral?

Referral

Why did you select Visceral over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Well-organized process

How many teammates from Visceral were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Visceral helped the Simms/Mann Institute and Family Foundation revamp its organizational website, from wireframes to design to build to launch. We ended up with a beautiful, user-friendly website. It captures our mission, vision and key projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Wireframes, design templates, then final completed website

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

They were exceptionally organized and delivered things on time, consistent with our needs for a project launch. They were very communicative and responsive.

What was your primary form of communication with Visceral?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They truly understand the world of foundations/ philanthropy. Everyone on the team is great and they do a good job of working together on the back end, then interfacing with the customer, for a seamless experience.

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

Not that I can think of.