Practicing What We Preach: Investing in Our Own Marketing and Online Presence 

In a world where technology constantly evolves, businesses must adapt to stay relevant and ensure their online presence reflects their true identity. One Firefly, an award-winning Inc. 5000 digital marketing agency, has always been at the forefront of helping companies in the residential and commercial integration markets grow and thrive through innovative marketing strategies. 

One Firefly has taken a giant leap forward by unveiling a spectacular new website redesign that showcases its evolution and commitment to excellence. The website overhaul is aligned with One Firefly's adoption of the SMART Approach, emphasizing the importance of marketing as an investment rather than an expense.

A Fresh Vision: Inspiring the Redesign

Ron Callis, CEO and Founder of One Firefly shared the inspiration behind the decision to embark on this ambitious website redesign project. He revealed that while the previous website was beautiful and practical, it had been built with a patchwork of web designers and copywriters over the years. This urged the company to step back, allocate the necessary resources, and embark on a meticulous planning process to build a website with a cohesive design and brand voice. 

As Ron said, "At the end, we just knew we could do it better. So we slowed down, put a detailed planning process in place, and ultimately took about nine to ten months to tackle it from beginning to end." 

He emphasized that the goal was to provide accurate, up-to-date messaging that truly represented One Firefly as it stands today in 2023. To achieve this, the team built a detailed plan and execution, ensuring every aspect of the website aligned with their vision. "We're an ever-evolving company," stated Callis. "We wanted our website to represent who we are today... we scrapped the old website and designed this new, uniform, cohesive, beautiful website you see today." 

Navigating Challenges and Making Decisions

Undertaking a website redesign project of this magnitude comes with its fair share of challenges. Ron revealed that the process involved extensive collaboration with multiple members of the One Firefly team. Through comprehensive discussions with the sales team, production teams, and executives, they gathered feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the existing website and the desired content for the new site. 

"We factored all of that together and then started developing a site map... followed by a wireframing process where we creatively brainstormed the content for each page," explained Callis. 

The goal was to achieve a unified and consistent look throughout the website, presenting a cohesive One Firefly brand experience. With careful attention to detail, the company navigated the production phase, holding weekly design meetings and prioritizing the project to ensure an exceptional outcome.

Resonating with the Audience: Showcasing Real People Through Video

One Firefly was determined to feature more of its team members in the new website's content. Just as they advocate for their clients to showcase their people, workplaces, and projects through engaging video content, One Firefly recognized the opportunity to practice what they preach. Throughout the year leading up to the website launch, the team meticulously captured videography and images, ensuring that the website portrays the vibrant and dynamic nature of the company.

Callis states, "People do business with people, not with companies. We've advocated that our clients feature their teams, workplaces, and projects on their websites. Our new website allowed us to capture beautiful content representing One Firefly as the evolving company we are today."

The Power of the Home Page

Recognizing the significance of first impressions, One Firefly devoted considerable attention to the homepage. It takes about 50 milliseconds for users to form an opinion on your website, determining whether they stay or leave. The company crafted compelling messaging above the fold to convey the value they provide to its target audience. By showcasing logos of companies they have served, the website instills confidence in potential clients, encouraging them to engage further.

One unique creative approach in the new website redesign is using custom illustrations. One Firefly commissioned an artist to create these fantastic illustrations, providing visitors with a visually appealing and engaging experience. An animator was commissioned to bring the graphics to life and captivate users, ensuring they stay engaged and explore further. 

"A graphic element like that is a way to keep people engaged on your site, which gives us at least a bit of a higher probability that they might reach out and say hello, and we might be able to start a conversation," explained Callis. 

The Road Ahead: Continuous Innovation

As Ron mentioned, "We are an evolving company. This year will be our eighth consecutive 20% plus year-over-year growth. We have been evolving diligently because we're focused on growth and serving our clients, and we wanted our website to represent who we are today." He continued, "You should not build a website and forget it and re-approach the project five or eight years later like we see happen." 

While the current website is a remarkable accomplishment, it represents only the project's first phase. One Firefly has ambitious plans for phases two and three, adding more surprises and features based on their sales team's and other stakeholders' needs. As a dynamic and ever-evolving company, One Firefly strives to provide cutting-edge solutions and valuable resources to help businesses grow, prioritizing continuous website development.

Callis emphasized, "There are more surprises to come... the website that is live today is beautiful. We're very proud of it. But there's active development happening as we speak." The commitment to progress and growth is a testament to One Firefly's dedication to providing an exceptional user experience and staying at the forefront of technology and design.

Furthermore, the company plans to expand its website's educational resources and thought leadership content. One Firefly has built a reputation for providing valuable insights and guidance to its audience, and they want further to solidify its position as a trusted industry resource. Visitors can expect to find an even greater wealth of articles, blog posts, webinars, and other educational materials covering a wide range of topics related to the industry.

Gaining Wisdom from a Visionary: An Interview with Ron Callis 

Embark on the captivating journey of One Firefly's website redesign, enriched with invaluable insights from our esteemed CEO and Founder, Ron Callis. Delve into the answers to each question by clicking on the video links below.

1. What inspired the decision to completely re-design the website?

2. What were the team's highlights and challenges during the website redesign project?

3. What are some features or sections of the new website that will resonate strongly with One Firefly's target audience? 

4. Looking ahead, what additional enhancements or features can we expect to see on the website as One Firefly continues to evolve and innovate?

5. What do you consider to be the most essential part of the website?

6. Custom illustrations were commissioned for the new website. What was the thought process behind this creative approach?