http://www.MagicOfReading.com
Before		After

Challenge

Magic of Reading tutoring service wanted to change the look and feel of their website from an "amateur" to a professional looking website. Aside from the design aspect, Magic of Reading expressed the need to tackle other operational challenges through the website. Included in those challenges are:

1. Improve the look and feel of the website, including capturing the essence of the service on the website
2. Improve navigation through the website
3. Help facilitate communication through the website
4. Help manage customer (parent/student) records, tutoring sessions, scheduling, and other tutoring related activities
5. Enable parents to be more involved and informed in their child's needs and progress

After gaining a better understanding of Magic of Reading's service and operational process, we were able to propose a solution that addresses all five challenges.

1. A significant contributors to a website's professional look and feel are consistent design and navigation. Aside from the main home page, all informational pages have the same structure (font style, page layout, and flow). We included design elements, such as images, custom images, fonts, and colors that not only look professional, but also better capture the essence of Magic of Reading's service
2. We included three navigation elements: top navigation, left navigation, bottom navigation. Each element serves a unique purpose. The top navigation panel is a "drop down" navigation menu that is separated into categories, and it enables users to navigate to any page from every page. The left navigation panel displays links associated with the category the user is currently browsing. Lastly, the bottom navigation panel includes other information that is meant to be accessible from every page.
3. Aside from contact phone number, which is visible from every web page, users can send messages to Magic of Reading (anonymously or not), without having to have a personal e-mail address. Furthermore, users can request a tutoring service by simply filling out an online form.
4. Customer paper records, tutoring session notes, and other scheduling paperwork that were previously difficult to manage were compiled and populated in an electronic database. Secure online administrative section was developed in order for Magic of Reading to have access to the electronic database functionality was created to enable Magic of Reading to access database records, create new ones, update, and delete.
5. In order to maximize Magic of Reading operational efficiency, a secure, personalized customer area was designed in order for each registered customer to be able to access their personal records (profile, tutoring session notes, meeting schedules, etc.). This approach not only addressed the parents need to be informed of their child's progress, but it also helped to facilitate communication, and simplify the tutoring scheduling process.

The success of the delivered solution was twofold:

Design: Magic of Reading received a user friendly, professional looking website. From a design perspective, the organization's image was dramatically improved. Additionally, not only has user traffic on the site on the rise*, but also users' online experience has improved significantly**.

Development: In addition to improving Magic of Reading service image, their operational efficiency has also improved significantly. From relying on paper records, Magic of Reading was running a paperless operation. Easy secure access to customer records enabled them to add and maintain records, including tutoring session related notes. This capability has subsequently benefited parents, who were now able to easily access those records and be better informed about their child's progress.

*Traffic statistics on the site showed a gradual increase of 20% in user traffic, and over 50% increase in the length of time users spend browsing the site.
** Magic of Reading received positive feedback from users about the website design and the easy access to content.