Using audits to drive change, Mechanics Bank launched with a new CMS and an improved design that follows web best practices. Find out how.
Strategy
A website depends on content, design, and functionality — strategic planning helps make sure all three work in concert.
Giving your site definition, guidance, and direction.
Knowing what your customers want is not the same as putting it into action.
This is where the strategic content, architecture, and design process comes into play: turning site requirements — and user needs — into an action plan for engagement, editorial process, and organization.
The strategic process.
At Blend, we know there’s a wide spectrum — and with it, a balance — of granularity in regards to how a site is put together. Every “what” needs to include a “why,” and every feature must tie to actionable user goals.
This means developing a strategic web plan that takes into account:
- Content strategy
- Information architecture
- Technical and integration planning
- CMS selection
- Governance guidance
What does strategy include?
The strategy phase of any project is focused on planning for design and development through iterative user-focused consultation. These are the steps we take to save time, energy, and money later on.
CONTENT
- Discovery and user research
- Content strategy and design
- Site message architecture
- Web style guides and writing guidance
ARCHITECTURE
- Site mapping
- Content and template modeling
- Taxonomies and ontologies
- Wireframes and visual models
- Technical scoping
CONSULTATION
- Annual and quarterly roadmapping
- Accessibility audits
- Governance and operations analysis
- Performance audits
- Workshops
Related work.
Check out some of the work we’ve done in the field of strategy.
From Design System to Final Launch
Icertis needed more than a new design — they needed a full design system, and they needed it built in a robust tool. Blend and Optimizely stepped up to help them out.
Partnering Toward a Fresh New Credit Union Design
Relationships matter, especially in the world of federal credit unions. Thankfully, partnerships are what we specialize in at Blend — and it was a partnership with SELCO that led to a fresh, beautiful new site.
Our thoughts on web strategy.
Read articles on web strategy.
The Truth is in the Red Flags Off-site link
When is it time to rebuild a website? The obvious scenarios include big, hard-to-miss events. But more times than not, there are red flags flying in plain sight, signaling it's time to move on.
How Developer Cross-training Helps Projects Succeed
Cross-training developers results in increased productivity, more collaboration, and better results for client projects.
Episode 24: Maintain and Improve (w/ David Hobbs) Off-site link
Corey and Deane discuss the people and rules that help run a website after launch. Then, David Hobbs, author of Website Product Management: Keeping Focused During Change, joins to talk about transferring a site from a project to a product — what that means to keep the site going after launch, where it most often fails, and how to streamline requests and set reasonable expectations for the future of the site.