Rentals by the Water is a family-owned business that was in need of a website. The objectives of the project were a complete redesign of their old website and an improved experience to receive more bookings.
Deliverables
Tools
- Competitive Analysis
- Website Strategy
- Sitemap
- Wireframes
- Copywriting
- Wix Website
Deliverables
- Competitive Analysis
- Website Strategy
- Sitemap
- Wireframes
- Copywriting
- Wix Website
Tools
Overview
Competitive Analysis
By looking at how other rental companies organized their websites, I was able to determine what features and content to add or eliminate from Rentals by the Water’s website. I gained the following information from my competitive analysis:
- Other companies featured testimonials from clients
- Adding an “About Us” page will establish trust
- Competitors did not feature their properties on the landing page
- Competitors had 15+ page websites
- More words than photos on their websites
Sitemap
Wireframes
Wireframes
After the sitemap and information architecture was determined, I created wireframes to give the client a visual of how the website would look. A large hero image with the brand’s name along with a slogan was important for the client’s vision. The client also wanted the properties to be featured on the landing page, so the homes could speak for themselves.
Hi-fis
Client Walkthrough
Since Rentals by the Water was a small website with a tight budget, there was no user testing. Instead, I had the owners go through the rental process from homepage to booking to make sure the user flow was clear. Once I received feedback, the final changes were made and the website went live.
What I Learned
The client’s needs come first. Rentals by the Water was my first, paying client, so I had a lot to learn going into this project. To host and build the website, I suggested the client use GoDaddy and its Managed WordPress feature, but the client wanted to do their own website maintenance and updates. Therefore, I had to use a software they were familiar with, which happened to be Wix. Learning to adapt and deliver a product the client would be satisfied with was difficult but rewarding once completed.
