Sonesta Franchise Web Design

Sonesta needed to create a robust and informative website for their franchise services, with the main objectives of generating qualified leads and providing a seamless user experience.

Our goals were to deliver:

• On-Brand & Effective Online Presence:
  • Develop a website that effectively showcases Sonesta’s franchise services and communicates the customer advantages.
  • Create an informative platform that educates and engages targeted audiences.

• Streamlined Conversion Funnel:
  • Implement a clear and optimized conversion funnel to generate qualified leads.
  • Design a user journey that enables visitors to easily find the information they need.

After evaluating popular website platforms and content management systems (CMS), our team recommended building a fully custom WordPress website.

The choice was made based on carefully evaluated criteria:

• Credibility and Flexibility:
  • WordPress is used by some of the most recognizable enterprise names.
  • The platform offers flexibility, allowing for the addition of new modules like landing pages and an e-commerce shop.

• Compatibility with External Tools:
  • WordPress supports a wide range of external tools, including multilanguage support, AI integration, e-commerce functionality, page creators with drag-and-drop features, and advanced search capabilities.

• Versatility and Ease of Management:
  • WordPress is an incredibly versatile platform that allows for nearly unlimited customization.
  • Basic training can be completed in less than an hour, making it easy to manage and update the website.
  • Security is ensured through preapproved and tested plugins.

• Scalability and Multilingual Support:
  • The platform offers scalability, enabling future structural changes and easy content migration.
  • Adding other languages is straightforward due to WordPress’s multilingual capabilities.

Throughout the project, we delivered the following key components:

• Planning, Site Architecture & Wireframes:
  • Mapped out the user journey, story path, and conversion funnel for a seamless user experience.
  • Defined multiple call-to-actions (CTAs) to engage users along the conversion path.
  • Determined features and modules to enhance onsite engagement.

• Creative Designs & Mockup Iterations:
  • Created visually appealing designs and mockups for both desktop and mobile platforms, ensuring a consistent user experience across devices.

• Development, Quality Assurance Testing & Launch:
  • Developed the website with a focus on front-end and back-end performance, functionality, and security.
  • Conducted thorough quality assurance testing to ensure proper site performance and functionality.
  • Optimized site load speed for an enhanced user experience.

To meet Sonesta’s requirements, we implemented several custom features on the website, including:

• Multilanguage Capability:
  • Developed a multilingual website with support for three languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese).
  • Implemented a language switcher to enable users to easily switch between languages.
• Content Management System (CMS) Capability:
  • Created a user-friendly CMS with a backend login for convenient content updates.
  • Enabled easy management of resources, press releases/news, images/videos, downloadable materials (PDFs), and dynamic subpages.
• Brand Listing & Filtering:
  • Incorporated a brand listing and filtering functionality, allowing users to compare different franchise brands.
  • News/Resource Filtering:
  • Implemented a filtering system to enable users to find specific news and resources with ease.
• CRM Features & Integrations:
  • Developed custom form applications with CRM capture for effective lead generation.
  • Integrated a newsletter sign-up feature with CRM capture.
  • Implemented auto messaging and CRM integration for streamlined communication and management of leads.
• Social Media Integration:
• Integrated social media buttons to facilitate social sharing and engagement.

In addition to the custom features, we implemented advanced functionality to enhance the user experience and optimize the website’s performance:

• Multilingual WordPress Website:
  • Translated the website into Spanish and Portuguese, ensuring that key components followed the language switcher functionality.
  • Implemented language-specific content to provide a tailored experience for users in different regions.
• Compare Functionality:
  • Leveraged best UX practices by incorporating a compare functionality, allowing users to easily compare franchise brands and make informed decisions.
• Multi-Level Filtering and Elastic Search:
  • Created a multi-level filtering system that leveraged elastic search technology to provide users with prepopulated options based on their input.
  • Enhanced the user experience by enabling quick and efficient filtering of relevant information.
• WordPress Download Manager:
  • Utilized the WordPress Download Manager plugin to organize file storage and enable easy downloads of resources and materials.

The Sonesta Franchise website design project achieved the following outcomes:

• Enhanced User Experience and Lead Generation:
  • The website provided a seamless and streamlined user experience, allowing visitors to easily navigate and find the information they needed.
  • The optimized conversion funnel generated qualified leads, facilitating customer acquisition for Sonesta’s franchise services.
• Multilingual Support and Regional Relevance:
  • The multilingual website in English, Spanish, and Portuguese catered to diverse audiences and expanded Sonesta’s reach in different regions.
  • Language-specific content ensured a localized experience, increasing engagement and conversions.
• Efficient Content Management and Updates:
  • The custom CMS capability allowed for convenient and easy content updates, ensuring that resources, press releases, images, videos, and downloadable materials were kept up to date.
  • The ability to launch dynamic subpages facilitated flexible content expansion and improved website scalability.
• Advanced Functionality and User Engagement:
  • The implemented features such as brand listing and filtering, news/resource filtering, CRM integrations, and social media integration enhanced user engagement and interaction with the website.
  • The compare functionality, multi-level filtering, and elastic search improved the user experience, making it easier for users to find relevant information.