Process

RDDP – Rapid Development Delivery Process

Communication Practices, Expectations, Milestones

Optimized Strategies’ Rapid Development Delivery Process is a “road-map” to keep marketing planning and tool (e.g., website, social media) development on course. It provides the client an overview of the entire process from inception to marketing implementation. Clients are informed of the requirements and what to expect at each step.

STAGE 1: DISCOVERY

• Step 1: Needs Assessment
  Client meeting and survey; Determine company goals, challenges; Assess previous marketing; Outline possible solutions

• Step 2: Draft Proposal
  Draft proposal includes a menu of services, deliverables, timeline, job details, and fee

• Step 3: Client Review
  Proposal reviewed with client to determine if the objectives were fulfilled and budget met. Adjustments are made.

• Step 4: Scope of Work
  Scope of work for marketing and technical plan presented for client’s agreement

• Step 5: Confirmed Contract
  Client signs services contract and provides 50% of total contract fee as first payment

• Step 6: Customized RDDP
  Customized RDDP and timetable is reviewed with client

STAGE 2: DESIGN

• Step 7: Branding Focus Group (optional)
  Optimized Strategies team meet with senior managers for 3 hour session to clarify Brand and outline marketing strategy

• Step 8: Marketing Analysis (optional)
  Our team does a competitive analysis and follow-up with targeted market research of the Company’s Brand and client impressions

• Step 9: Project Management
  Client receives reports on status of project, from our single point of contact.

STAGE 3: DEVELOPMENT

• Step 10: Logo Development (optional)
  Based on the branding strategy, a logo, tagline and company colors are agreed upon

• Step 11: Marketing Tool Mockup/Approval
  Client receives two mockups for review and comments. Our Project Manager conducts a walkthrough, presenting the graphics (logo) and site layout alternatives to the client for feedback. All issues and considerations are tracked and managed. Approval of graphics is required before the building of the application begins. Second payment required (25%).

• Step 12: Information Gathering
  Content and graphics are delivered to the team; Development will begin when all content is received

• Step 13: Building the Application(s)
  Our development team builds the application(s) ( website, blog, Facebook site) according to agreed scope of work, content is uploaded and the site is tested for functionality. Search Engine Optimization (optional) is integrated into site development.

• Step 14: Client Site Review
  Clients reviews and provides detailed comments and feedback.

• Step 15: Hosting Preparation
• If client is hosting the website, they are responsible for ftp and DNS transfers. If Optimized Strategies is hosting the site on our servers, we will transfer domain name and manage DNS. The following is needed:
  - Domain Name provider (user name and password)
  - Emails (email accounts will have same password that can be changed by individual user)
• Step 16: Beta Site Testing

• Your draft site (Beta site) is uploaded for testing and feedback on our development server. Beta Testing is the validation performed on the completed system in a controlled, production-like environment or in the actual production environment. The beta site is tested by the client to insure the functionality of the site. Client will provide written detailed feedback.

• Step 17: Final Refinements
  Development team incorporates client’s feedback and modifications are made to fulfill the scope of work. Client approves these changes before site is released.

• Step 18: Site Goes Live
  Balance of contract fee is paid before site goes live. Approved site uploaded to production server or client’s server.

• Step 19: Final Sign-off
  Client has 30 days to review functionality, make small content changes (e.g., misspelling) and sign off on the final approval form. If there are new changes, which are out of scope, they will be quoted separately.

• Step 20: Maintenance (Optional)
  Optional client agreement offered for regular site maintenance and updates.

STAGE 4: OUTREACH (Optional)

Marketing Strategies need to be developed and integrated with current marketing efforts

• Step 21: Search Engine Optimization
  Search engine optimization techniques need to implemented including choice of keywords, tagging of site content, and title tags as well as links to related sites.

• Step 22: Content Updates
  Content (blog, video, audio) entries need to be posted on a regular basis (at least weekly) to augment search engine positions

• Step 23: RSS/Email Feeds
  Client uses various techniques to gain subscribers to their email and RSS feeds. These will ensure that the site updates are being widely distributed

• Step 24: Social Networking
  LinkedIn, Facebook, and targeted business social sites augment viral distribution

• Step 25: Twitter
  Twitter is a microblog that builds exposure and contacts for the client