**BACKGROUND** I am the digital marketing manager for the Children's Museum of Atlanta, established in 1987 but officially opening its doors as a physical space in 2003. Spanning 30,000 square feet, our museum is designed for children, encouraging them to explore, create, climb, and learn. Our exhibits range from basic tools and mechanisms like pulleys and levers to educational themes such as farm-to-table initiatives. We even have a genuine farm, a grocery store, and a mini Waffle House. Our museum features sections on geography, science, and an art studio where kids can experiment with painting and color theory. Additionally, we have a designated area for children aged five and under, focusing on developing fine motor skills. This facility provides families with a unique learning experience. We also engage in outreach efforts across Atlanta, bringing our museum’s resources to schools and community centers that may lack the ability to visit us. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What issues were you hoping to resolve with Sideways8 Interactive? After recently rebranding and launching a new website, we required a partner to assist in managing potential changes and conducting simple A/B testing to enhance user experience (UX). The provider needed to have access to appropriate tools and developers capable of handling tasks that I couldn’t manage due to time constraints. **SOLUTION** What role did they play? Sideways8 serves as my behind-the-scenes collaborator, taking on larger projects. We keep them on retainer and have biweekly meetings to discuss new initiatives. Their contributions include the development of a portal for our board of directors, with me designing the interface and them constructing the necessary tools. They took over from our previous agency, which had created the website before shifting focus to a new market. Sideways8 quickly adapted to the existing developers' and designers' specifics, ensuring our website stays current. They are also updating the homepage's creative elements, which were originally coded in the stylesheets—something I couldn’t manage since we refresh them twice a year. They oversee much of our SEO and manage our Google AdWords account. With a Google Grant, they’ve been tasked with taking the information I provide and creating multiple campaigns. **TEAM DYNAMIC** My background in agency work involved a traditional model with an account manager, limiting direct interaction between clients and creative teams. However, Sideways8 operates differently: I can communicate directly with developers, which is a shift from my previous experiences. Although I have a primary account manager for consistent communication, I've interacted with three other developers and likely more. I also maintain contact with the owner, who is a board member at the museum and has established a strong rapport with us. Aaron, their lead web developer, has been pivotal in executing major projects. As a client, I’m used to a more distant relationship with the main team, but I appreciate having engaged with around seven individuals throughout our collaboration. **PARTNERSHIP ORIGINS** How did you start working with Sideways8? A board member involved in the tech sector knew Adam, their co-founder, and recommended that we include him on our board and consider a partnership for our marketing needs. **INVESTMENT** How much have you invested in their services? We’ve spent approximately $40,000 on their work. **STATUS** When did our collaboration begin? We partnered with Sideways8 in September 2015. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What results can you share that reflect the impact of this partnership? We had a blue "buy tickets" button on every webpage, and wanted to change the color to something more striking. We switched it to orange and observed a 30% increase in clicks within six months. We also host customizable birthday parties at the museum, but struggled with the initial sharing of information for bookings. Sideways8 developed a straightforward online form allowing us to clearly communicate details like party dates and client information, resulting in a 28% increase in party sales within the first month—an impressive improvement. **PROJECT MANAGEMENT** From a project management perspective, how did Sideways8 perform? They operate entirely in the digital space, which I had to adapt to throughout our partnership. There isn’t a physical office to visit, but since Adam is local, I’ve met him in person, as well as communicated via email and phone. Most developers participate in conference calls and screen sharing, and their responsiveness is outstanding. There was an instance when a developer assigned to our project left without my knowledge, and this wasn’t communicated to me. While we didn’t face any critical deadlines, it illustrates the complexities of managing multiple individuals. **IMPRESSIONS** What impressed you most about them? Their ability to tackle challenges is remarkable, and their development team possesses extensive knowledge. I feel confident in presenting them with any problem, knowing they can address it. If something lies beyond their capabilities, they've assured us they would communicate this honestly and recommend alternative solutions, even if it leads outside their firm, which I greatly appreciate. **AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT** Are there areas where they could improve? I personally thrive on face-to-face interactions and would appreciate the chance to meet with everyone involved in our projects. While this might be beneficial for me, it may not be practical for their company overall. **ADVICE FOR FUTURE CLIENTS** What recommendations would you give to potential future clients? Inquire about the communication dynamics with developers and account managers. Since there is a lot of personnel turnover, it's important to familiarize yourself with team members’ names and roles. Given that Sideways8 operates differently from most agencies, I suggest potential clients ask for a team overview early on to understand expertise in different areas. My prior agency experience helped me quickly adapt, but others might find this aspect challenging.