A nonprofit website build for Hope Encounters International, focused on clear storytelling, simple next steps, and fast performance. I handled the full WordPress implementation with light guidance from Sojourn’s CEO.
Project Summary
I designed and developed the Hope Encounters International website in WordPress, creating a structure that highlights mission impact, programs, and ways to get involved. The build emphasized approachable navigation, mobile-first layouts, and clean content models so editors can publish updates quickly without breaking design consistency.
The Problem
The organization needed a modern site that clearly communicates its mission, makes it easy for supporters to engage, and removes friction for staff updating pages. The previous presence lacked a consistent layout system, clear calls to action, and a streamlined path to learn, connect, and support.
The Solution
I built a component-based layout in WordPress (Elementor) with reusable sections for hero, mission, projects/programs, testimonials, and calls to action. The site’s architecture organizes content by initiatives and stories, with optional landing pages for campaigns. Forms were configured for contact and updates, and performance best practices were applied to keep pages fast on mobile.
- Clear information architecture for mission, programs, stories, and contact.
- Reusable section templates for faster page creation and consistent design.
- Prominent CTAs to learn more, volunteer, or support.
- Form integrations for inquiries and email updates.
- Accessibility and performance checks across templates.
Technical Breakdown
- Platform: WordPress with Elementor-based templates and global styles.
- Content Structure: Pages for mission/programs; optional story/news posts; consistent headings and internal links.
- Forms: Contact and updates forms configured and spam-hardened.
- Performance: Caching, image compression, lazy loading; attention to Core Web Vitals on mobile.
- SEO: Page titles/meta, clean slugs, schema where relevant, and logical internal linking.
- Governance: Editor-friendly templates to reduce layout drift and speed up publishing.
Results
- Clearer presentation of mission and programs with straightforward navigation.
- Faster content updates through reusable sections and templated pages.
- Improved mobile performance and readability for supporters on the go.
Planned Improvements
- Campaign landing pages with measured CTAs and post-campaign archiving.
- Story hub with filters (topic/region) to surface recent impact.
- Lightweight analytics dashboard to track conversions on key actions.
