Mavenlink Contributing Guests

“Mavenlink has become an essential part of how we run our business." - Rick L'Amie, President of Moxie Marketing

Q: Sean Crafts (Mavenlink Co-Founder) - Can you tell us a little about your business?

A: Rick L’Amie - Moxie Marketing, which is located in Austin, Texas, helps small businesses and service professionals realize their business dreams with simple, affordable and effective marketing consulting and creative services. Placing an emphasis on strategy before tactics, Moxie Marketing is powered by the Duct Tape Marketing System™, the world’s most practical small business marketing system. A certified Duct Tape Marketing consultant works one-on-one and in groups with small business owners to develop a systematic approach to marketing their business. Then, we equip them with tools, tactics and creative materials, including branding, advertising, direct marketing, public relations, referral systems, content creation, web site design, brochures, email marketing, search engine marketing and optimization, and more.

Q: Sean - Can you explain why you needed a Project Management solution when you found Mavenlink?

A: Rick - We employ two full-time employees, but manage a trusted network of marketing professionals, including graphic designers, copywriters, SEO and SEM professionals. Although this model allows us to reduce overhead and pass the savings on to clients, it does create logistical hazards. We tested a number of project collaboration tools to try to manage our project work, but found that the solutions were too complicated and cumbersome. In addition, we used multiple and disparate technologies to manage time tracking, expense tracking, and invoicing to augment our project collaboration tools. As a Google Apps user, we also wanted to make sure whatever tool we used easily integrated with Google Apps, allowing for ease of use and a single sign-on.

Q: Sean – What have you been able to achieve since joining Mavenlink?

A: Rick - We have turned ourselves into a virtual agency, building lasting customer relationships and establishing a network of providers that can be trusted to deliver great work. We manage all work, communications, and business transactions through the Mavenlink platform.

• We now invite clients and trusted subcontractors into our Mavenlink project workspaces. Permissions and the intuitive nature of workspaces enable everyone to stay on the same page while maintaining appropriate controls to ensure the client relationships remain strong.
• We are able to track expenses easily within Mavenlink, reducing the need for multiple tools.
• Invoicing now is simple. With one click within the Mavenlink platform, we can issue an invoice and tie the cost to project work. Each line item can be associated with activity listed within a collaborative workspace, where clients engage throughout the project, creating a powerful link between costs and value delivered.

Q: Sean – Is there anything else you want to add about the results your company has experienced from using Mavenlink?

A: Rick - Since switching to Mavenlink, we have increased our efficiency and productivity in a powerful system that integrates seamlessly into its Google Apps environment. Rather than tracking through or losing email strings, all client and partner activities are captured in one space, including communications, documents, milestones, tasks and projects. Clients have become more accountable and responsive to action items assigned to them. In addition, while overall activity has increased, client satisfaction also has continued to rise. One of our clients recently commented, “When I first got what appeared to be an invitation to yet another ‘collaboration tool’, I wanted no part of it. Now that I am in this system working with you though, I really like it.”

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Don't forget to follow Rick & Moxie Marketing on Twitter: @MoxieMarketing

If you would like to tell your Mavenlink story, let us know in the comments below or email us at contact@mavenlink.com.