Neon Rain shines bright -- and responsively -- on Web world's many devices
Thursday September 26, 2013
By Kay Rios
InnovatioNews
DENVER -They're not just your average Web development agency.
That's what Neon Rain Interactive's website says, adding that  -- above knowing the basics -- it handles daily requests that would make most developers blush.
While defining what would make developers blush might be difficult, one thing immediately definable is Neon Rain's success in the industry. Recognized as one of the Top 10 Web Development Firms by the Denver Business Journal for six consecutive years, Neon Rain has also been featured in KillerStartups.com.
It has also received a Silver W³ Award, which honors creative excellence on the Web. President and founder Arif Gangji, 34, was personally recognized by the DBJ as one of its Top Forty under 40 to follow in 2012.
Neon Rain is a full-service Internet marketing firm providing expertise in four areas: Web application development, mobile app development, custom website design and search engine optimization.
"We write the Web applications for startups (and) for existing businesses both small and large that need to create efficiencies," says Gangji.
Neon Rain has developed its own PHP framework, Starbug, which allows for scalable, rich applications for either standard browsers or mobile devices.
When it comes to mobile applications for iPhones and Androids, Gangji says Neon Rain helps them decide if they need one and, if so, what it should look like and what it should do.
"In many cases, they don't need an app -- just a mobile website," he said. "But if they do need one, we can determine if it should be a hybrid app or a native app.
"We also design custom websites from the ground up using various platforms like Wordpress and Drupal. We use a discovery process to determine who their clients are and their prospects. We look at the culture of the company, the audience and the goals of the company. Then we build it in a content management system that allows people to edit their own websites."
The websites are built to be "responsive," Gangji says.
"Whether someone is looking at it on a laptop or a cell phone, it's going to look good either way. The website is going to change itself depending on the device. That's responsive."
Search engine optimization is the fourth leg of the organization.
"Our interactive marketing team focuses on search engine optimization," he said. "We have copywriters and optimizers that create content and get that content into the public eye. They can help the website rank higher depending on key words."
Neon Rain's success is registered -- not just in its many accolades -- but also in its actual growth. "We've grown 30 to 50 percent each year since the beginning in terms of gross revenue," said Gangji.
He attributes that growth and the overall success to several factors. First, there are the experts within his company (there are now 12 full-time employees including Gangji).
"We have an amazing skill set in our company," he says.
Second, he notes, is the level of client care. "We care about our clients and make sure we are looking after their best interests. There's a lot of education that happens, even during the discovery phase. We don't ask for commitment until we have determined what they want and need. "During that time, we'll tell them if we think their project is viable or not -- even if that means not continuing with the project."
Good communication is key, Gangji says.
"We are very transparent with our clients," he said. "We show them all the areas of the project and keep them up to date with where we are on everything, including budget."
Jim McConnell, president of Greenworks Video, vouches for that expertise and customer care.
"We've used them a number of times and right now, we're using them for a very complex project that features a 60-second broadcast network," he said. "Neon Rain is building the infrastructure. Arif does so much work and his model will works so well for this client."
McConnell said he's impressed with Neon Rain's transparency.
"If something is going on, they let me know immediately and they don't make up excuses," he said. "There's constant communication. I get weekly updates from him with a phone call and a spreadsheet he sends me every single week telling me where things are.
"And I don't feel like I pay a premium for their transparency," McConnell adds. "They were the biggest bang for the buck. It's a real pleasure to work with Neon Rain."
Neon Rain -- named after Gangji's hacker handle in high school -- began operations in 2002 when the Web security company Gangji worked for was going through company layoffs.
"Before I went into corporate America, I dabbled in the Web world and started a couple of companies in high school and college. So I went back to that."
His effort has paid off and that - again -- he says is through transparency and client care, which he continues to offer.
"We'll will look at your best interests and see what you really need."