Revamp of Grand Magazine’s WordPress Website
Ebizon revamped Grand Magazine’s WordPress website with a modern, mobile-first design using the lightweight Generate Press theme. The project boosted performance, preserved SEO rankings, and delivered a seamless, zero-downtime launch.
Industry
Digital Media & Publishing
Technology
WordPress
Services
Website Design & Development, Theme Implementation, UI/UX Design, Plugin Optimisation
Project Overview
Grand Magazine, a leading online publication for grandparents and families, decided to revamp its existing WordPress website to enhance performance, modernize design, and improve the overall user experience. The initiative involved redesigning the site with a fresh look, implementing it using the lightweight Generate Press theme, and ensuring mobile responsiveness while retaining the site’s SEO value.
Project Objectives
- Deliver a modern, visually appealing, and user-friendly website.
- Improve page load speeds and overall performance.
- Enhance usability on mobile devices through a responsive layout.
- Retain and strengthen existing SEO rankings.
- Streamline backend functionality by optimizing plugins.
- Ensure a smooth transition without downtime for the current website.
Project Execution
1. Design and Discovery Process
The Ebizon team initiated the project with a discovery phase, focusing on understanding the client’s goals, audience needs, and brand identity.
Activities included:
- Sketching ideas for new layouts and UI improvements.
- Developing interactive Figma prototypes for stakeholder review.
- Gathering stakeholder feedback to refine the designs.
- Establishing a site map for optimal navigation flow.
Deliverables:
- High-fidelity Figma designs for:
- Home Page
- Article Listing Page
- Article Detail Page
- About
- Nicknames
- Advertise
- Contact
- GRAND Partners for GRAND Parents
- Responsive design considerations for multiple screen sizes.
2. Development and Customization
The development phase involved translating approved designs into a functional WordPress site using:
- Generate Press lightweight theme for performance optimization.
- Elementor Page Builder for flexible page template creation.
- Structured WordPress templates to support site-specific features.
Customisation efforts ensured:
- Retention of SEO rankings through URL structure preservation.
- Mobile-first approach to enhance Google indexing preference.
- Optimised images and use of viewport meta tags for better mobile rendering.
3. Key Design Enhancements
- Modern, intuitive layout with improved typography and branding alignment.
- Consistent use of colour palette and imagery reflecting the magazine’s identity.
- Clear categorisation of articles for better content discovery.
- Dedicated sections for unique features like Nicknames and GRAND Partners.
- Improved call-to-action placements for advertising and contact pages.
4. Testing and Deployment
Before deployment, rigorous testing ensured:
- Cross-device compatibility on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Validation of mobile responsiveness in both portrait and landscape modes.
- Functional testing for all navigation elements and interactive features.
- Performance checks to meet page speed benchmarks.
A staging environment allowed the client to review progress throughout development, with interim builds provided regularly.
5. Launch
The launch was executed with zero downtime, ensuring a seamless transition from the old site. Final SEO checks, plugin optimisation, and database migrations were completed before the live switch.
Results & Feedback
- Page load speed improved by 40%, reducing bounce rates.
- Mobile-first design boosted engagement and time on site.
- SEO rankings preserved, with some keyword gains.
- Reduced plugins improved site stability and maintenance.
- Consistent branding enhanced the site’s professional appeal.
Client’s Feedback
“The EbizON Digital team went above and beyond to support us and make the entire process smooth and stress-free. They delivered all key pages on schedule, managed the project efficiently, and maintained clear communication through regular online meetings. Their guidance throughout ensured we felt confident every step of the way.”
Christine Crosby
Editorial Director, GRAND Media
What Our Customers Says
reviewed by JOE WILLIAMS
Senior manager, Remedy Liqour
Head of Business Engagement, WRI
“Ebizon is one of the best in the business and they back this up with their quick and friendly support. The team is relentless to listen to our issues and come up with a solution. Have seen the team stretch beyond their knowledge to help us.”
reviewed by JOSEPH CURLEY
Vice President, Sokolin
Content Officer, Society for Science & Public
“My experience with this partnership has been positive. The support Ebizon extended towards us was commendable. It perfectly fulfils our requirements with their support we had no hassle.”
reviewed by Beat Walder
Manager, Forester Beauty
Chief of Staff, Strategic Dentistry
“I’m the owner of Forester Beauty in Switzerland. I’ve contacted Dee and he led me through the whole process of migrating our online shop to Shopify, including custom elements to enhance user experience. The whole Project Team at Ebizon has a very professional attitude and provide their support and insights promptly.”
reviewed by Wilma Pretorius
Managing Director, Cranimals
For fully managed WordPress installs, WPEngine is my Go-To
“The Team worked well with my company to migrate our Magento store to a new Shopify store. Ebizon was able to implement required applications to enable a near seamless transition. Thanks Team!
reviewed by Raul
Senior Manager, Emporium Embroidery
Head of Business Engagement, WRI
“Emporium Embroidery – customization module / Magento upgrade Thank you Ebizon and a great thank you to the team who was always very helpful on this journey.”
reviewed by Alexandre Salem
eCommerce Manager, Ada Cosmetic
Chief of Staff, Strategic Dentistry
“Thanks to EbizON solution, the platform enabled the company to sell products efficiently. The team worked in sprints and held weekly meetings, ensuring accurate outcomes.”
reviewed by Po Ming Lam
Manager, Avec Plaisirs Chefs Traiteurs
For fully managed WordPress installs, WPEngine is my Go-To
“Ebizon is helping our Magento development needs. Their customer oriented approach has made our experience very pleasant and efficient. We are definitely sending more work to them and recommend others to try them out!”
