Posts by Tara Claeys
Inclusive Design Practices: Making Websites Welcoming to Everyone
Inclusive design practices are the key to making websites welcoming to everyone. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of inclusive design, its benefits, and practical tips for creating accessible websites. Understanding Inclusive Design Inclusive design, also known as universal design or accessible design, is an approach that aims to create products and environments…
Read MoreWhat Should a School Sitemap Include and What Should be Removed?
A school’s website serves as a vital gateway to information for prospective students, parents, faculty, and the community. An intelligently structured and easily navigable website is pivotal in conveying a school’s identity, offerings, and values effectively. A crucial component of website organization is the sitemap, a hierarchical list of pages that aids users in understanding…
Read MoreThe Benefits of WordPress for School and Nonprofit Websites
For schools and nonprofit organizations to effectively communicate, engage with their communities, and achieve their missions, a professional online presence is essential. WordPress, a popular content management system (CMS), is a versatile and cost-effective solution for building and maintaining websites which offers many benefits to both schools and nonprofit organizations. User-Friendly and Easy to Manage…
Read MoreConnecting Through Time: Engaging with Alumni and Sharing Their Stories on Your School Website
School websites serve as the virtual gateway to a community’s educational journey. Beyond current students and faculty, a crucial aspect often overlooked is the connection with alumni. Alumni are the living embodiment of a school’s legacy, and their stories can be powerful tools for inspiring current students and fostering a sense of pride and community.…
Read MoreEquity in Websites: A Heartfelt Approach by Design TLC
Hey there, I’m Tara, and today I’m here to chat about something that’s both a passion and a priority for us at Design TLC: equity in websites. In a world where our digital presence is as crucial as our physical one, it’s vital to ensure that everyone feels seen, heard, and included. This isn’t just…
Read MoreStreamlining Operations: Harnessing Zapier for Enhanced Efficiency in Independent Schools
In the dynamic landscape of independent schools, efficiency and productivity play pivotal roles in ensuring smooth operations and fostering an environment conducive to learning and growth. Small schools have small teams, and staff will often wear many hats. Zapier, a powerful automation tool, offers a plethora of possibilities for independent schools seeking to streamline their…
Read MoreNavigating Success: The Impact of Website Structure on User Experience for Schools and Nonprofits
When it comes to shaping user experience, the structure of a website plays a pivotal role, especially for schools and nonprofits. A well-designed website not only captures attention but also guides users seamlessly through content and fosters engagement. In this blog post, we’ll explore how website structure significantly influences user experience and why it’s a…
Read MoreThe Crucial Role of Keywords in Your School’s Content Strategy
Schools know that an effective online presence is critical to attracting, informing and communicating with prospective families. A key component of and online marketing strategy involves understanding and implementing relevant keywords on the school’s website. In this blog post, we’ll delve into why keywords matter to your school’s content strategy and how they can significantly…
Read MoreNew Email Deliverability Rules For Gmail and Yahoo: What It Means
Experiencing email delivery troubles or puzzled by those error messages? Have you received a message from your CRM (Constant Contact, Mailchimp, etc.) that you have to set up or change some settings with acronyms like DKIM and SPF? This is due to an upcoming change in email delivery for Google and Yahoo that will require…
Read More2024 Design TLC Goals
Working with a lot of schools, “new year” occurs for us two times: I am a big fan of goal setting. The research around goals indicates that goals help us in many ways: Tips for setting and achieving goals I separate personal goals from business goals, although the process for goal setting is the same.…
Read More2023 School and Nonprofit Websites
2023 was a fun and exciting year for Design TLC! Our team produced some amazing new websites for wonderful organizations while maintaining support for over 70 websites. We branched out with advanced development of WordPress integrations with Salesforce for The League of American Bicyclists and with Blackbaud for The Renbrook School. As a small agency,…
Read MoreAn Effective Website Planning, Design and Development Process
Building or refreshing a school or nonprofit website takes time and collaboration to be successful. Our website projects go smoothly because our process is well planned and organized and are most effective when the client participates in the process enthusiastically. Here is our Guide To An Effective Website Development Process: Initial Onboarding (1-2 Weeks) When…
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