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What 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…

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The 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….

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Connecting 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…

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Equity 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,…

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Streamlining 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…

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Navigating 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…

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The 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…

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New 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…

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2024 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…

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The Power of Color: How It Influences Website Behavior and Boosts Conversions

In the world of online marketing and web design, every detail matters. One often underestimated yet incredibly powerful element is color. The colors you choose for your website can have a profound impact on user behavior and, ultimately, your conversion rates. In this blog post, we’ll explore the psychology behind…

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2023 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…

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Creating the Best School and Nonprofit Websites with Beaver Builder for WordPress

In the digital age, having an online presence is not just an option; it’s a necessity. For schools and nonprofits, a compelling website is a crucial tool for conveying their mission, values, and impact. However, achieving the best website that’s also easy to manage and affordable can be a daunting…

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Maximizing Your Impact: The Power of Matching Gifts for Nonprofits

In the world of nonprofit organizations, every contribution counts. Whether it’s a modest donation from an individual or a substantial grant from a foundation, these funds fuel the important work that nonprofits do. But what if we told you that there’s a way to double the impact of each donation…

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Easy Improvements For Better School and Nonprofit Website Performance

Before we delve into the specifics of enhancing website performance, it’s crucial to revisit a fundamental rule of website design. The allure of adding numerous bells and whistles to your website, such as videos, animations, and flashy elements can be tempting. However, these embellishments can potentially lead to a negative…

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Why Choose WordPress for Montessori and Preschool Websites

A strong online presence is essential for small schools, including Montessori and preschools. A well-designed website not only serves as a gateway for prospective parents and caregivers but also reflects the unique philosophies and values that these institutions uphold. When it comes to building a website that effectively captures the…

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Leveraging APIs in Web Development: Enhancing School Websites with Blackbaud Integration for WordPress

Design TLC is uniquely positioned to integrate the Blackbaud API into a WordPress website for schools. Check out the website we created for The Renbrook School to see an example of how this combination comes to life. Read on to learn more about APIs, and how Blackbaud and WordPress can…

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Why I Love Working for Design TLC

by Lauren Krieger, Client & Creative Service Associate As much of my day is spent working, it is important to me that a job provides more than just an income, but an investment in myself; a job that provides inspiration and opportunity for learning and growth, the satisfaction of feeling…

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Top 5 Ranking Factors for Local Organic SEO for Schools

Independent school marketers recognize the importance of having a strong online presence to attract prospective students and parents. Organic local search engine optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in ensuring that schools appear prominently in search results when individuals look for educational institutions in their area. Organic vs. Paid SEO…

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myriam-jessier-eveI7MOcSmw-unsplash Courtesy of Myriam Jessier on Unsplash.

Enhance your small school marketing with Looker Studio and GA4

Data analytics plays a pivotal role in understanding user behavior and optimizing strategies for success— it’s how digital marketers understand what is working and what isn’t in their strategy. There are several tools for tracking performance and analyzing data, including Google Analytics and Looker Studio. Google Analytics has long been…

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sigmund-OV44gxH71DU-unsplash-1 Courtesy of Sigmund on Unsplash.

10 Must-Haves for Every Montessori School Website

The Montessori philosophy, focusing on a child’s independence and sense of responsibility, is a unique education option parents often choose for their child. To stand out and effectively engage interested parents browsing your Montessori school’s website, your website must have several crucial elements to take a curious school parent through…

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