SiteGround

Connecting Nonprofits thru WordPress

Whidbey Community Foundation website

Client: Whidbey Community Foundation

Scope of Work
Content strategy
Custom Photography
Front-End web development
Performance optimization
Security hardening
Visual design

Team: David Owen Hastings, Michael Stadler Photographs, Moore Ink, Scott Marlow

Whidbey Community Foundation, founded in 2016, is a grantmaking public charity that supports Whidbey Island nonprofit organizations through philanthropy, training and capacity building.

More than 750 community foundations operate in urban and rural areas in every state in the United States.

The new community foundation website, powered by WordPress, allows the organization to easily share fundraising, training and other news. A third-party portal by Community Suite provides additional tools for nonprofit listings and donations.

Performance Metrics

Performance WordPress Site Benchmark
Google Mobile Speed: 71
Google Desktop Speed 86
Pingdom 90 faster than 86% of tested sites
WebPageTest Speed Index 1,440 median = ~4,493
top 10% = <1,388
YSlow 82 average score = 70
Web Page Size 526 Kb In 2017, average page size = ~2.4 Mb
median page size = ~1.9 Mb
Web Server Requests 28 < 40 – 60 recommended
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Custom Designed WordPress Websites

manufacturing website screenshot
manufacturing website

Client: RAM Technologies

Scope of Work:
Branding, Copywriting, Front-end web development, Performance optimization, Security hardening, Visual redesign

Team: Scott Marlow, Christa Gardner, van den Berg Design, Pinpoint Strategic Marketing

The Challenge

RAM Technologies is a second-generation, family-owned and operated business. RAM embraces innovation and improvement, so needed a new mobile responsive website that reflected the company’s identity. Because RAM works transparently with partners, the collaborative website building process was much more effective.

The Solution

Our team completely re-branded and refreshed the RAM website. Starting with a deep-dive collaborative discovery process, Pinpoint arrived at a vibrant new look and feel for the site that provided a better user experience while showcasing the company’s rich custom photography. _Underscores Theme was selected for its flexibility and performance.

  • Overall page size was reduced 80%, within Google’s recommended 500 Kb benchmark for mobile optimization.
  • Web server requests were reduced 26%, well below the 40-60 maximum requests recommended for database-driven sites
Performance After Before
Google Mobile Speed: 77 64
Google Desktop Speed 88 69
Pingdom 90 72
WebPageTest Speed Index 2,355 4,535
YSlow 84 82
Web Page Size 437 Kb 2.2 Mb
Web Server Requests 28 38
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Engineering WordPress Websites for Architects

Washington Window and Door 2017 website redesign

Client: Washington Window and Door

Scope of Work
Branding
Front-End web development
Performance optimization
Security hardening
Visual design

Team: van den Berg Design, Scott Marlow

My latest mobile responsive website redesign with Joan van den Berg for a high-end A&E client.

The old website was not optimized for mobile devices. We took this opportunity to modernize the site with custom typography and a new dark theme to highlight the company’s architectural-quality photos in simple image galleries.

Performance Metrics

Performance WordPress Site Benchmark
Google Mobile Speed: 88
Google Desktop Speed 100
Pingdom 92
WebPageTest Speed Index 1,435 median = ~4,493
top 10% = <1,388
YSlow 79 average score = 70
Web Page Size 1.9 Mb In 2017, average page size = ~2.4 Mb
median page size = ~1.9 Mb
Web Server Requests 42 < 40 – 60 recommended
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One WordPress Theme. Endless Possibilities.

Bike Works mobile responsive website

Client: Bike Works

Scope of Work:
Front-end web development, Performance optimization, Rebranding, Security hardening, Visual redesign

Team: Penniless Projects, Scott Marlow

The Challenge

To rebrand the existing nonprofit’s WordPress website affordably.

The Results

To keep costs affordable, we built the new site design using the same HTML5 mobile responsive 2012 child theme (based on _Underscores). New full browser-bleed headers featuring custom photography help modernize the look and feel. While readability was optimized with an 1,100 pixel wide 2-column grid layout. Bold custom fonts and colors help distinguish the youthful brand.

Performance WordPress Site Benchmark
Google Mobile Speed: 72
Google Desktop Speed 87
Pingdom 89 faster than 77% of tested sites
WebPageTest Speed Index 2,211 median = ~4,493
top 10% = <1,388
YSlow 80 average score = 70
Web Page Size 1 Mb In 2017, average page size = ~2.4 Mb
median page size = ~1.9 Mb
Web Server Requests 38 < 40 – 60 recommended
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Maintain Multiple Domains with WordPress

Würks Global

Client: Würks Global

Scope of Work
Branding
Content management
Front-End web development
Performance optimization
Security hardening
Visual design

Team: Gravity Communications, Scott Marlow

Solmark International needed an online solution to promote its tire sealants and other products for the automobile, bicycle and agricultural industries.

Working with WordPress MultiSite, a Content Management System was configured to allow them to update multiple domains thru one web-based dashboard.

The co-branded sites – wurksglobal.com, veluworks.com, autoworks.com and agriwurks.com – were built around a modern, dark theme to highlight rich photography. An online dealer map helps VeloWurks customers find retailers. A co-branded sitewide footer helps cross-promote products across distinct domains.

Performance Metrics

Performance WordPress Site Benchmark
Google Mobile Speed: 60
Google Desktop Speed 98
Pingdom 83 faster than 87% of tested sites
WebPageTest Speed Index 1,878 median = ~4,493
top 10% = <1,388
YSlow 77 average score = 70
Web Page Size 1.2 Mb In 2017, average page size = ~2.4 Mb
median page size = ~1.9 Mb
Web Server Requests 40 < 40 – 60 recommended

We have worked with Scott on WordPress based websites for our clients as well as our own projects for years. His knowledge of the platform, solid communication skills and personal support (and more) make him a trusted and valued asset for us. I would highly recommend Scott to anyone wanting to create and launch a website on the WordPress platform.
Matt Karaus, owner, Gravity Communications

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