Site Migration / Content Mgmt

Illinois Chapter Website Migration to Kentico CMS
Led the successful migration of the Illinois Chapter website from RedDot CMS to Kentico CMS, transforming one of the largest state chapter sites to align with a national site navigation structure standardized for all chapter sites nationwide. This transition required adapting to Kentico’s fixed styling and content widgets, which presented unique challenges in creating custom layouts while ensuring consistent user experience across chapters.

Project Highlights and Responsibilities:

• Content Audit and Analysis: Conducted a comprehensive review and organization of all site content to align with the new CMS requirements.
• Site Architecture and Navigation: Developed and implemented an intuitive information hierarchy and navigation structure, enhancing usability across chapter sites
• Asset Optimization: Gathered, edited, and optimized visual assets to meet design standards and improve page load times.
• Site Buildout and Layout Implementation: Built and customized layouts using Kentico CMS components, adapting them to fit the unique needs of the Illinois Chapter.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Worked closely with key stakeholders to ensure content relevance, accuracy, and consistency throughout the implementation phase.

Ongoing Maintenance and Optimization: Handled daily maintenance, updates, and site enhancements, focusing on SEO, visual consistency, and navigational clarity. Developed a unified styling approach, enhancing both aesthetics and usability, while boosting search engine visibility.

Slide 1

Navigation Comparison: From Vertical to Top Navigation
In migrating from the legacy RedDot site to the new Kentico platform, the navigation was restructured to improve accessibility and usability. The original vertical navigation on RedDot (left) was transitioned to a more streamlined top navigation format on Kentico (right).

• A - Global National Site Navigation: The global site's navigation was reworked to ensure consistency across the platform, making it easier for users to access broad, organization-wide content.
• B - Regional Illinois Chapter Site Navigation: The Illinois Chapter navigation was tailored to highlight regional content, allowing users to quickly locate local resources and programs specific to their community.
• C - Sub-Navigation on Kentico: The Kentico platform introduced a refined sub-navigation structure that allowed for deeper content organization. This change enabled users to drill down into specific sections with ease, enhancing overall site navigation and user experience.

Slide 2

A to B: Initial Migration and Layout Challenges
After migrating the site, the initial layout aimed to mirror the original structure. However, users reported difficulty navigating and locating their favorite content, resulting in a confusing experience for both viewers and staff. This feedback underscored the need for a homepage redesign to enhance usability.

C: Homepage Redesign and User-Centric Enhancements
The redesigned homepage introduced a cleaner, more compact layout with streamlined navigation to high-traffic areas. Custom buttons and a unique widget component helped differentiate the chapter homepage from others, creating a distinct look that quickly gained traction. Other chapters frequently requested guidance and adopted similar button designs, reflecting the positive reception.

D: Additional Adjustments and COVID-19 Adaptations
Following the redesign, further enhancements included a Quick Links section beneath the main buttons, improved chapter identification below the banner, and a yellow alert box for COVID-19 information. A new virtual programs section was added to connect users with live webinars and phone-based programs, providing critical resources during the pandemic.

Key Improvement: Social Media Integration
One significant upgrade involved positioning social media icons at the top center of the page, directly under the title. By standardizing the color and size of these icons, visual consistency was enhanced, driving better user engagement across platforms.