FAQs
You’ve got questions. We’ve got, well, FAQs.
What’s so great about JDM Digital?!
Glad you asked. There are numerous competitors in a space like digital advertising. There are no certifications, Bar exams and the barriers to entry are minimal, so differentiation is difficult to communicate.
JDM Digital is one of the most in-demand digital ad agencies (you may never have heard about) because we actually HAVE the expertise others outsource. Our approach is centered around reactions – not deliverables. Our process sets us and our clients up for success that’s on-time and on-budget.
I’m sure you’ve worked with “a web guy” before, but we’re confident you’ve never worked with an agency like JDM Digital.
Do you specialize in my industry?
Probably not. JDM Digital is pretty industry agnostic. We specialize based on our core services and our approach. We do partner with several agencies that bring industry-specific expertise to the table and we combine their experience with our technical and creative capabilities for some really killer work.
We have worked in numerous industries from Energy, Banking and HR to dog treats, Retail and Construction. But, if you’re in need of an industry-insider, we’re happy to refer you to one of our partners or friends.
Why haven’t I heard of JDM Digital?
Well, that’s probably because the work we do, by nature, is an unsigned art and we’re ok with that. What’s interesting is that other large marketing and advertising agencies around the country (you HAVE heard of) often outsource their digital needs to JDM Digital. In cases like these, the work (and the credit) go to our agency partners – not us.
So although you’ve probably never heard of JDM Digital specifically, you almost certainly have seen our work. You just didn’t know it.
Do you work for a profit share?
Nope. We tried working “for free” in return for a share of the profits. It always fell apart the moment there was real money being generated.
As they say, everybody is friends when there’s no money on the table.
JDM does not work for free. We’re sure you don’t either.
Does JDM Digital do eCommerce?
No, not really. We’ve done several (about 10) eCommerce websites over the years, so it’s a capability we have. However, it’s not really one of our core competencies.
For enterprise-level eComm, we would likely refer you to an eCommerce-focused firm. If the project was more about a client/customer portal that offers invoicing/payments as a part of it’s functionality, that’s certainly something we could do.
If all that sounds like we’re dodging the question, let’s talk through the details. Either we’re the perfect firm for the job or we’re not. However it goes down, you’ll end up exactly where you need to be.
Do you offer SEO as a service?
Yes, but not as a standalone service and rarely on sites we didn’t build ourselves. Rather, we offer SEO as an Add-on to our digital services.
If we were to propose a standalone SEO project (very rarely do we do this), we only offer initial optimization where we knock down any barriers to search engine visibility, help with on-page SEO (one-time) and provide recommendations for off-page SEO. By no means would JDM Digital be categorized as an SEO firm. There are plenty of those already.
Although JDM Digital does not offer SEO as an ongoing service, we will pick the hard to find, but low-hanging fruit and point you in the right direction on your SEO journey.
Do you work Pro Bono?
Rarely, but yes. We’re very busy, but easily inspired. About once or twice a year, JDM Digital will put the full force of the agency behind a cause on a Pro Bono basis.
If you have a cause (non-religious and non-political) you think JDM should get involved in, let us know. We would mention, this is an exception – not a rule.
Do you do websites?
Absolutely! They’re our bread & butter. We do a lot more than just websites, but if that’s all you’re interested in, it’s a core competency at JDM Digital and one we’ve won a lot of awards for. Take a look at a sample of our work.
Does JDM Digital outsource?
We do not outsource ANY of our capabilities. ALL of the work we produce is done in-house using our team of super-nerds, writers and designers. In fact, other large marketing and advertising agencies around the country outsource their digital needs to us.
When you work with JDM Digital, you’re working with the boots on the ground.
How long does a website take?
Good, you’re already excited. Timeframe is a tricky question. It depends a lot on the scope of the final engagement.
What we can tell you is our speed record from back-of-the-bar-napkin to completed, live site is 30 hours flat (a special case). We’ve also completed projects that took 8 months. As a rule of thumb, 4-6 weeks for standard project turnaround.
How much does a website cost?
Our pricing is fixed but it does vary based on the scope or structure of the engagement. If you’re wondering how much a typical website costs, we generally say between $4,000 – $9,000. By no means would we say we’re the cheapest. We focus on creating reactions – not selling cookie-cutter websites.
Before you make any assumptions, let’s grab a beer.
Do you do service exchanges?
No, not anymore. We certainly used to (as we have roots in small business marketing), but we got burned (repeatedly). JDM Digital does not work for free. We’re sure you don’t either.
If you’re willing to actually pay for all the hard work that goes into creating reactions, we can be flexible. It all starts with a beer (that we pay for).
What’s your policy on refunds?
We applaud your diligence – even if it’s a bit scary you’d ask that at this point…
JDM Digital is a small business (we live and die by cash-flow). However, we understand things can change quickly. As you’ll see in our Terms of Service (skip to #5), we will, at our sole discretion, determine if an incomplete project qualifies for a partial or full refund. Qualification depends on where we are in the project. If you pull the plug BEFORE we complete the initial, Discovery Phase of a project, that project qualifies (though does not guarantee) a full or partial refund. However, once Discovery is complete and we’ve moved into production a refund is impossible. The deposit is forfeit and JDM Digital retains the right to invoice for the final half of the project.
It almost never happens, but there you have it.
Do you accept referrals?
Of course! You don’t have to be a marketing guru to know that referrals are gold!
If you know of an organization you think would be a fit for JDM Digital, let us know. If the deal goes through, we’ll send a thank you (a 10% referral fee, a bucket of beer, our first born child…) depending on the final deal size.
What about paying for leads?
Referrals from current clients are one thing. Paying for leads is quite another. We do NOT purchase leads or lists to use in our own marketing and sales process. It’s just not how we roll.
So, to the web lead sellers out there, please stop emailing us. No beer for you!
Where do we go from here?
We love this question! From here, the next step is to grab a beer (or setup a conference call) and talk through your needs, wants, and vision. If there’s a fit, we’ll submit a proposal. You could also skip all that and just request a proposal, if you have all the project details to hand.
That might sound like a lot of work, but we can often go from an initial discussion to a proposal in just 24 hours. If there just isn’t a fit, you get some free consulting and maybe a referral to someone we think you’ll LOVE.
Seriously, what do you have to loose? Let’s grab that beer.