Client Overview
The RCI-IIBEC Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting industry standards and providing education and research in the field of building science. With a mission to improve the quality of the built environment, the Foundation needed a robust digital presence that could cater to both their U.S. and Canadian audiences.
To serve these two distinct audiences, the client requested the development of two similar websites—one focused on their U.S. operations and another for their Canadian outreach. Both websites needed to maintain a consistent brand identity while addressing region-specific needs.
Challenges
- Dual Website Development: The primary challenge was to create two websites that maintained the same structure and design while meeting the unique needs of each region (U.S. and Canada). Both websites had to reflect the local language, culture, and regulations.
- Responsive Design: Given the diverse audience, the websites had to be fully responsive and optimized for both desktop and mobile devices.
- Nonprofit Functionality: As a nonprofit, the website needed features such as donation forms, membership management, and event promotion to support fundraising and community engagement.
Solution
- Dual Websites, Unified Brand Identity:
- I created two nearly identical websites using a flexible content management system (CMS) to allow for easy updates and scalability.
- Both websites share the same core branding, such as logos, color schemes, and typography, to maintain consistency. However, each website was customized with region-specific content and calls to action.
- Responsive Design:
- The websites were designed with a mobile-first approach, ensuring that users on smartphones, tablets, and desktops all had a seamless browsing experience. This is crucial for nonprofit organizations that rely on donations and engagement from users on the go.
- Region-Specific Content and Features:
- The U.S. site and the Canadian site were designed with separate content areas to address the unique needs of each region, such as legal information, regulatory guidelines, and localized events.
- For the Canadian website, content was tailored to reflect local industry standards and government regulations, while the U.S. site focused on American market needs.
- Integrated Functionality for Donations and Memberships:
- To support the Foundation’s goals of raising funds and growing their community, I integrated easy-to-use donation forms and membership management systems. This enables users to contribute to the Foundation’s efforts while keeping track of memberships and events.
- Both websites also feature clear calls-to-action for visitors to get involved, donate, or participate in upcoming events.
- Content Management System (CMS):
- Both websites were developed on a user-friendly CMS, allowing the Foundation’s staff to easily manage content, including blog posts, event updates, and donation campaigns. This empowers the Foundation to maintain an active and dynamic online presence without needing extensive technical expertise.
Results
- Increased Engagement: Since the launch of the new websites, RCI-IIBEC Foundation has seen a significant increase in site traffic from both the U.S. and Canadian regions. The region-specific content helped attract a more targeted audience, which led to more meaningful interactions.
- Streamlined Donations and Memberships: The new donation and membership systems have made it easier for visitors to contribute to the Foundation’s mission. The Foundation has reported higher conversion rates on donation forms and a steady increase in new memberships.
- Improved Brand Consistency: By maintaining a unified brand identity across both websites, the Foundation has strengthened its digital presence and improved recognition among stakeholders.
Conclusion
The dual website project for RCI-IIBEC Foundation successfully met the nonprofit’s goal of creating two region-specific sites that are both user-friendly and consistent with their branding. With a responsive design, intuitive CMS, and integrated donation and membership functionalities, these websites will support the Foundation in reaching new audiences, increasing engagement, and raising funds to further its mission.