St. Martin’s Episcopal School
New Small School Website
When we set out to help St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School (SMES) improve their website, COVID-19 was not on the map. With the pandemic crisis forcing schools to move to remote learning, the school’s online presence became all the more important.
The SMES community was able to pivot quickly to provide a robust online learning program, and they worked hard to maintain their tight-knit school community via social media and video connections. We helped manage a lot of content on the new site while they focused on running their school, so that as soon as school ended, we were able to make final checks and get the new website live quickly.
The former SMES website was built on Weebly. The design and content were out of date.
We provided a fresh design, with custom photography from our team photographer Betsy Withycombe to make the new website current and relevant. SMES worked with writer Edit Barry to develop messaging and copy for top-level website pages. The result is a website that feels warm and welcoming like the school itself!
The new website is hosted with Kinsta, who offers a nonprofit rate. We were happy to see the Home Page, even with an Instagram feed, loads in under 2 seconds.
Simplified Branding
The school name is very long, making the addition of a graphic element overly busy. We modernized and simplified the logo, helping create a fresh, modern look for the website. We also created an icon that further condenses a very long school name into a brand element that can be used in social media and other materials.
Infographics for small school website
To create a visual representation on the “Facts at a Glance” page, we created some custom engaging infographics.
Does your website need a refresh? Let’s chat!
Objective
- Redesign and Modernize the Website: Replace the outdated Weebly site with a modern, responsive website that reflects SMES’s welcoming community and current offerings.
- Improve Navigation and Usability: Develop a clear, structured site architecture to make it easier for families to find content—especially during the COVID-19 transition to remote learning.
- Support Branding and Messaging Updates: Simplify the school’s visual identity and logo, and collaborate on content that better communicates SMES’s values and personality.
- Integrate Donations and Analytics Tools: Provide a cost-effective solution for online giving, and ensure analytics and search tools are in place to measure success and drive enrollment growth.
Approach
Strategic Navigation Design
- Collaborated with SMES to create a clean and user-friendly navigation structure.
- Introduced sectional navigation with a sidebar on top-level pages and an off-page menu for subpages.
Visual & Content Enhancements
- Replaced the outdated Weebly site with a custom WordPress design built to modern standards.
- Conducted a custom photography session with Betsy Withycombe to reflect the school’s vibrant environment.
- Worked with writer Edit Barry to craft warm, welcoming messaging for key landing pages.
Branding Simplification
- Refined and simplified the school’s long name in the logo for a cleaner digital presentation.
- Created a compact brand icon for use in social media and other promotional materials.
Donation Integration
- Implemented GiveWP to handle online donations with low fees and minimal administrative overhead.
Infographics & Visual Data Representation
- Designed custom infographics for the “Facts at a Glance” page to present key information in a visual, engaging format.
SEO & Analytics Setup
- Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console, including sitemap submission for SEO.
- Empowered SMES to track engagement and grow enrollment through informed, data-driven decisions.
Outcome
- Modern, Engaging Website: SMES now has a professional, visually appealing site that reflects the warmth of its community and supports online learning.
- Improved User Experience: Visitors can now easily find information thanks to a thoughtful navigation structure and compelling visual content.
- Streamlined Branding: The simplified logo and custom icon create a versatile, clean brand identity across platforms.
- Easy Online Giving: GiveWP provides a simple, low-cost way for donors to support the school online.
- Better Data & Growth Potential: With analytics tools in place, SMES is now equipped to track success, optimize content, and grow enrollment.
