Platform Migration and Site Transformation Revitalizes an eCommerce Store
Established in 2000, Laurelwood Books is the passion project of M.T., a dedicated educator and curriculum author. The company’s mission is to provide high-quality homeschool curriculum and educational supplemental materials, with a focus on academic excellence and faith-based learning.
“I am a 75-year-old widow, taking care of myself with multiple jobs, including my book business,” explained M.T. during our first conversation. “I love what I do. Writing for homeschoolers has been a gift from God. I need my website to do better.”
With over 100 products in the online store, Laurelwood Books had a small but important presence in the homeschooling community. However, the website was facing significant challenges that threatened the future of their online business.
The Challenge Was A Website on the Brink
When I first assessed Laurelwood Books’ website, I discovered several critical issues:
- The site was built on an outdated version of Zen Cart, an open-source e-commerce platform.
- Order notifications were not being received via email, causing potential lost sales and customer service issues.
- She did not have a way to communicate with her customers and engage with them.
- Conflicts with the hosting provider led to delayed maintenance services and high costs.
- The ongoing problems were putting pressure on M.T. to consider shutting down the online storefront altogether.
The situation was dire, and swift action was needed to save Laurelwood Books’ online presence.
BEFORE working with Waymarks on migrating to a new platform, the site was outdated, complicated to update, and no longer sending order notifications.
A Strategic Overhaul Was The Logical Path Forward
To address these challenges and meet Laurelwood Books goals, I developed a comprehensive strategy:
- We immediately created a backup of the existing site to alleviate M.T.’s fears of losing her online data and content should the situation with her current host continue to deteriorate.
- After careful analysis and consideration, we determined that moving away from Zen Cart and the current host was essential.
- We researched and provided alternative platforms that fit M.T.’s budget and needs. Squarespace Commerce emerged as the best option.
- We set an ambitious one-month timeline to complete the platform migration, rewrite content, and launch the new site.
Our expedited migration plan included the following steps:
- Full site archive and meticulous product inventory.
- Set up of the new website on Squarespace.
- Migrate products and pages with enhancements for readability and SEO.
- A system of revisions and quality assurance testing to ensure the new site was ready for launch.
- Technical launch planning and domain name cutover to minimize downtime.
- Training the site owner on the Squarespace dashboard and interface.
All during the busiest time of the year for curriculum sales: the start of a new school year. Careful consideration was given to Laurelwood Books’ ideal customers—homeschool families—and minimizing the time the shop itself was unavailable to potential buyers.
M.T. shared her thoughts on the process: “Migrating my entire business to a new platform was a daunting task. Though I am tech challenged, you took it on and encouraged me through all of it.”
The Results: A Revitalized Online Presence and Immediate Orders
We worked with a very tight deadline to minimize the cost of maintaining the existing site and hosting while also paying for the new platform. Our efforts paid off, and we launched the new site ahead of schedule. The new ecommerce site began receiving successful orders immediately after the launch—with proper notifications to the shop owner and customers!
The online shop now boasts a modern design and improved navigation, helping users find exactly what they are looking for quickly and easily. We also updated the content to better appeal to the target audience: homeschooling families.
AFTER the platform migration and relaunch with Waymarks, the site featured a new modern design, copy written for the target audience, and an easy-to-navigate shop.
In addition, with the one-on-one training, the new platform allows M.T. to easily update the content and add new products herself. There are also additional features that will allow her to begin communicating with customers through an email list, which was an important goal for fostering engagement and future growth. The store is now set up for long-term success.
“I am so grateful to reach the launch without stress.” M.T. expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of our collaboration. “That is truly amazing. Helping me the way you did made me feel that you were truly focused on my needs.”
Ready to Transform Your Website?
Laurelwood Books’ website migration journey shows how the right strategy and support can breathe new life into an online business. Whether your site needs to move to a new host, switch to a new platform, or simply refresh its content, Waymarks is here to help.
Take the first step towards revitalizing your online presence. Let’s discuss how I can empower your business for success.
