A Rapid Response and Website Rebuild

This was an opportunity that our team had been excited for, although it was not how anyone would have liked it to happen.   Rachel Allen is a friend, an author, a client, a member of the Great Things LLC Accelerator group, and a kind hearted force for good.   Rachel provides a variety of wellness and trauma informed services for individuals, community groups, and organizations.  Her work impacts so many, and we have always wanted to work with her and her website.

Rachel’s web site, YogaSong.net, had served her for years.   Through the Accelerator Membership Group, we did a study and made recommendations for improvement.

The company that designed and managed her website had been responsive and she was happy with them.  Prior to the change in ownership at Rachel’s previous web design firm, she maintained a satisfactory relationship with the service provider. However, the subsequent challenges in responsiveness and communication prompted Rachel to question the relationship.  Effectively, she could only make blog posts.    Fortunately for Rachel, she owned the hosting and domain, as well as having administrative access to her site.   This is something that EVERY business should have.

Our team was honored when Rachel entrusted us with the task of proposing a website rebuild, redesign strategy, mindful of preserving existing relationships and ensuring a seamless transition.

The Conversation About Regaining Control of The Web Site.

Having to change web design firms or transferring a site can be a stressful situation.  Rachel asked our team what her options were.   After a quick peak at the WordPress set up, we understood what needed to be done.  We could not simply “take over” the administration.  It was built with tools that were unfamiliar with and was overly complex to attempt to update.    We proposed a rebuild using Elementor ProElementor Pro and WordPress.   This provided several key advantages:

1. An outstanding foundation to quickly rebuild the site, and incredible flexibility to keep the same design aesthetic.
2. Give Rachel the able to self-administer and update her own site.
3. By utilizing Great Thing’s GoDaddy Reseller account, we were able to save her almost $200 a year by choosing better hosting services.

Rachel gave us the approval to move forward, and we had 41 days to do.   If we could complete it in time, we could cancel all of her old services on their regular annual renewal date.

The Process, Changes and Speed Needed

The website rebuild process had to be fast, efficient and keep all of the good things about her existing site.   YogaSong.net has a few years of blog posts that had to be retained.   There were content changes that remained to be completed.  Finally, there were structural changes that were desperately needed.   The team meet and came up with the game.  Here was the high level objectives:

1. Set up new Ultimate Managed WordPress Hosting under our Reseller Account.  This had more features, bandwidth, included an SSL, and provides us delegate access to support the site.
2. Transfer the existing blogs, the blog post metadata, and all of the images.
3. SEO plan and Marketing Requirements
4. Agreed on the architectural changes needed to streamline the user’s experience, as well as presenting her offers to the public.
5. Identity any new content needed or new pages.
6. Create a more robust and access platform for her events.
7. Create custom graphics to maintain brand consistency.
8. Complete the build, take the site live, and connect all of the Google analytics, search console and other accounts.
9. Close and non-renew an old or unnecessary products.

Our web designer Milo, jumped in headfirst.   She built the structure, got approval and got to work.   The major changes were separating her services.  Previously, Rachel had all of her services lumped into one page.  Her clients fall into two distinctly different groups, individuals and organizations.   By pulling the services into the appropriate audience’s landing pages.  This will improve her sales and engagement by showing the right message to the right audience.

Under the gun for a Website Rebuild.   We had a deadline, the renewal of the old hosting, SSL and other online services.   The timeline was set, and the team created a project plan to meet.   We were supported by Rachel, as she was responsive and great to work with.  We set the “Go Live” date to be two days before the old site’s hosting expired.

Fast forward to the grand reveal—YogaSong.net was reborn. With a sleek new design, intuitive navigation, and a thoughtful content, the new site is optimized for success.

But the real magic lies in the details. From streamlining the homepage to aligning services with Rachel’s diverse clientele, every decision was made with love and intention. And let’s not forget about preserving those precious blog posts—165 and counting!—because we believe in honoring the journey that brought us here.

As we wrapped up the project two days ahead of schedule, there was a sense of pride and fulfillment. Rachel’s excitement said it all, a beacon of gratitude and excitement for the journey ahead.

In the end, Rachel’s website makeover wasn’t just about pixels and code—it was a testament to friendship, collaboration, and the power of positive change. Here’s to Rachel, YogaSong.net, and the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Namaste, friends! 🧘‍♀️✨

Lessons for Other Business Owners

Unfortunately, the situation that Rachel found herself in is not that uncommon.   Many business pay a web designer or firm to build there site.   Then that firm or designer chooses to have control over empowering the client, that is where the trouble can begin.   While it is “convenient” for a company to manage your site, you should ALWAYS own and control each of these critical assets:

1. You Hosting Plan.
2. Your Domain and Domain Registration
3. Have Administrative Access to the Site
4. Register and Own your on social media accounts.
5. Own your own license for all plugins and web design tools

If you don’t have these things in place, you need to take action before a problem happens.  If you have questions or have been considering a website rebuild, please contact us to discuss your options.