The Foundation Schools sought our expertise to enhance their online presence with a complete website refresh. Given their existing WordPress framework, our task was streamlined, avoiding the complexities of starting from scratch on a different platform.
Challenges with the Former Website:
Our initial analysis of their homepage highlighted significant issues. The background video failed to narrate the school’s story effectively, while essential details such as school description and location were frustratingly elusive. The navigation, overlaid on the video background, was small and hard to spot, hindering user experience. Additionally, the backend required reorganization for better page segmentation and navigation.
“Our old website was clunky, not user-friendly, and didn’t look like a school! Design TLC understood our vision, designed a beautiful new website to clearly display our services, and streamlined our contact forms process.”
Foundation School Client, Morgana Finney
Transforming the Home Page:
Our approach focused on a complete visual overhaul. We incorporated vibrant and compelling photography, infusing brighter hues and a fresh accent color that harmonized with their brand logo. Subtle graphic shapes, inspired by the logo’s design, were integrated, adding polish and professionalism while enhancing user-friendliness.
Revamped Sitemap and Navigation:
We restructured the sitemap to logically group content, providing a more informative and accessible portrayal of the school’s locations. Leveraging custom post types with dedicated templates, we streamlined the process of updating details for each of The Foundation Schools’ four Maryland locations. Quick links in the header were added for staff login and enrollment inquiries, and dropdown menus optimized subpage navigation.
Tailored Page Templates and Content Presentation:
To maintain consistency, we created custom post types for staff, board members, and open positions. Each location now boasts an easily updatable and uniform presentation through dedicated page templates. Additionally, we installed a WordPress plugin to display Annual Reports as easily navigable embedded PDFs, offering a seamless reading experience on the webpage.
Enhanced SEO and Performance Tracking:
Collaborating closely with The Foundation Schools’ staff, we helped them write custom meta descriptions for every webpage to improve their appearance in Google search results. Keyword research pinpointed opportunities to bolster their search rankings. Post-launch, we submitted the updated sitemap to Google Search Console, providing guidance on tracking and monitoring search performance in the coming months.
We are proud of the revamped Foundation Schools website and look forward to seeing its impact on inquiries, staff engagement, and involvement of enrolled families. We are thrilled to remain part of their team for ongoing website maintenance and support.