choosing the right digital team to support your organization's needs
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Presented at InnoTech Oregon 2013. All rights reserved.TRANSCRIPT
InnoTech 2013
Choosing the right digital team to support your organization’s needs
//Ben McKinley
cascade web//development – founded 2001- Digital marketing and web development shop- Web software developer
your brandlive – co-founded 2010- Live video retail/collaboration platform
- Portland Seed Fund – fall 2012- Angel Oregon 2013 Launch Stage Winner
Content and data management platform
(CMS)
intranets + extranets Live video retail and collaboration
//Agenda
• State of businesses and organizations, today
• Spectrum of options available
• Are you asking the right questions?
//State of businesses and organizations, today
• Easier than ever to start a new company
• More generations in the workplace than ever before
• Technology blurs lines of personal and professional lives
• Coming out of worst economic recession more than a generation
• Marketing and sales teams are being asked to do more with less
//desired
//realistic
//Spectrum of options available
Consulting
TechnologyTools
//Consulting
Work that establishes a foundation and recommends strategy/tactics • Branding• SEO keyword research• Site audit• Marketing audit
Selling points:• Team member capabilities, awards, office space• Expertise with domain, industry• Deliverables highly customized for each client
//Technology
Little direct human interaction. SaaS model – sign up, download, use.
• Google Analytics• 37 Signals – Basecamp, Highrise, Campfire• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Selling points:• Features, functions, ease of use, low cost• Standardized parameters for all users
//Everything in between
Agencies - one stop shops that deliver integrated solutions
Web design/development
Social media
Search - Analytics/Optimization/PPC
Media and content creation
//Confused?
//Where to go from here?
• Firm focus
• Business approach
• Process
• Technology
• Ongoing support
• References
//Firm focus
• Generalists v. specialists?
• Where are they investing time and resources?
• Are all services offered at the same level of expertise? Do rates reflect this?
• How do they measure success/ROI?
• Do you focus on output or outcomes?
//Business approach
• Who owns the company? How long? How is it funded?
• The Team: employees or contractors?
• How long has the staff been with the firm?
• How is work distributed amongst the team?
• How long are typical client engagements?
//Process
• Strategy, Solution, Evolution – Are all of these needed?
• Scope: How is scope established? How is scope-creep managed?
• Budgets: Fixed bid, hourly, undefined?
• Timelines: How closely are they managed?
//Technology
• How is technology involved with your needs?
• Do they build, buy or borrow? How do they address the pros and cons of each?
• What level of administrative access is provided?
• How many administrative interfaces are involved in the solution?
• Is your team capable of using the admin tools?
• Technology is only as good as the people behind it.
//Ongoing Support
• Is it offered? Is there a Service Level Agreement (SLA)?
• How is support billed?
• Who is responsible for a web site – hosting, technical support, disaster recovery, back ups, security, domain renewals, DNS?
• How committed is the firm to the tools it promotes to its clients? Web platforms, custom development, integrations?
• How quickly will issues be addressed?
//References
• Get at least 3. Check them. Be thorough.
• Request referrals that align with your needs.