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.

Thank you.

Ben McKinleyben@cascadewebdev.com503.260.2021