KMC Southampton (Kadampa Meditation Centre) offers meditation classes, courses, workshops and retreats for all, regardless of experience or beliefs.
A match made in heaven
We were approached by Brighton based 05creative to partner with them to deliver a new website, brand and digital marketing for the Kadampa Meditation Centre (KMC) in Southampton.
Being old friends of 05creative, and meditators ourselves, we were delighted to be involved. Shout out to Chris at 05creative who did a great job creating a unified look-and-feel for this site.
Above and beyond standard packages
KMC had transitioned away from in-person meditations due to Covid-19 and their website had grown organically over time, making it a little hard to find things. This is something we see a lot, especially when a website begins to grow. It’s important to keep track that the structure and organisation of the pages doesn’t become unmanageable. Their WordPress website also uses WooCommerce and they had over 40 other plugins installed.
This meant that on top of our standard New Website Package we needed to do a fair bit of consulting to first understand the client’s needs and also ensure they were only using what they needed. We also delivered our Brand Strategy Package, SEO Package and Website Updates Package for this client.
Getting started
In our kick-off workshop we identified some quick wins that would make the existing website easier to use and the client decided to go ahead with these while we were in the development of the new site.
The joys of a new website
Besides a new logo, colour palette, fonts and design we also installed our favourite WordPress page builder, Thrive Architect. This meant we could quickly build out the new pages and it was also a cinch for the client to update content and add new pages down the line. After all, one of the main benefits of a WordPress website is being able to update the content yourself.
Creating a clear journey for visitors
We also helped the client reorganise their content and the overall structure of the site so that it was easier for visitors to find the important information about upcoming meditations. We used a Start Here page to help signpost visitors to what they can do on the site and give them clear options of what to do next depending on their needs.
We also helped categorise the all-important Meditate With Us section where people browse and book onto upcoming meditations. During lockdown this was online only, but we helped the client transition to a blended offering of online and in-person as lockdown restrictions eased.
Blogging for better SEO
We also encouraged KMC to start a blog, focusing on the benefits of meditation and spiritual community. Google loves changing content so this is a great way to improve the organic (non-paid) traffic of the website. It also shows that KMC really knows their stuff and understands the challenges.
Creating a spiritual community
The idea of spiritual community is central to Kadampa Buddhism and we reflected this through the use of monthly membership options. Whilst not compulsory (people can still buy one-off sessions), KMC wants to encourage people to meditate regularly and the best way to do this is to be part of a group. The design and options around the membership form a vital decision page on the website and it was a real process to simplify the offering as much as possible.
Need to get your website under control?
Our New Website Package will wipe the slate clean and give you a great foundation from which to continue to grow your business. Combining this with the Website Updates Package is a great combo to help destress the process of running your business.
Before and after video
Client feedback
“I think our website looks gorgeous! I’m sure it will be much easier and more attractive for people to browse now. Let’s hope we can keep all your good work going. It was very good to work with you, Guy – your understanding, enthusiasm and wish to help us was very uplifting. Hannah also was so helpful and easy to work with. Although of course I’m delighted the site is up and running, I am slightly sad that we won’t have any reason to pick your mind and hear your ideas! Many thanks for all the work, thought and endless hours.”
– Gen Kelsang Lekma