Tablet displaying a website for tax preparation and consulting services, with images of a calculator, documents, and people working at desks.
Laptop and tablet displaying a website about tax preparation and consulting with images of a calculator and people working.
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Creating a Digital Presence and Branding Identity from Scratch

Background

WP Enterprises started by assisting local individuals and businesses in Richardson, Texas, with tax consulting and preparation. At the time, the company only had an outdated Facebook profile for its digital presence and relied entirely on local word of mouth to attract clients.

Challenge

The company had an outdated Facebook profile before the project. The client wasn't sure what they wanted; they just knew they needed help. The client was also not technically savvy, and we used phone calls and email in order to manage the project.

Tools

  • Figma

  • Photoshop

  • Squarespace

Impact

  • Website tailored for the client’s specific purpose and services.

  • Improved client communication and outreach.

  • Increased company visibility through SEO management.

  • Created unique branding for the company to stand out.

Guiding the Client

The initial interview with the company owner helped identify the pain points to be addressed and clarify the website's goals. The next task was building the website's structure, ensuring that the initial designs effectively conveyed the company's message and services to potential clients. The sitemap below was utilized to illustrate the structure before any wireframing or design work began.

Initial Designs

Several concepts were tested to determine the most effective way for clients to access information about the company and its services without being overwhelmed by excessive content on the screen. Additionally, the client wanted to integrate a booking system similar to Calendly.

A website homepage mockup for a tax preparation and consulting business. Features a logo placeholder, a navigation menu with Home, Services, Pricing, About, Contact, and icons for search and menu. Main headline: 'Tax Preparation and Consultation' with a subline about services offered. Call-to-action buttons for booking a consultation and contact form. Sections include services like hassle-free tax preparation, organized bookkeeping, secure file handling, disaster recovery, and over 10 years of experience. Footer provides contact info, company details, and list of tax services.
Webpage displaying services comparison for WP Enterprises and competitors, focusing on competitive pricing for tax and bookkeeping services.
Webpage showing tax and bookkeeping services with sections titled 'Helping You Navigate a Complicated System,' 'Bookkeeping Made Simple,' 'All Your Files Safe and Secure,' and 'Be Prepared For Anything.' Includes a 'Book a Consultation' button and footer with contact info.
Webpage layout for WP Enterprises with navigation menu, company introduction, a 'Meet The Owner' section with placeholder image, contact prompts, and footer with company details and services.
Webpage with contact form for WP Enterprises, featuring a navigation menu, company logo, and contact details at the bottom.

Developing a Brand

WP Enterprises lacked a strong brand identity, such as a logo or other elements that clients could easily recognize. To address this, research was done on other tax consulting and accounting firms for ideas, and also on LinkedIn for insights. The goal was to create a cohesive brand identity that could be consistently used on the website and easily adapted for different platforms, including mobile devices and physical objects like signs.

Sign for WP Enterprises providing professional tax services, organizing and filing, bookkeeping, and serving individuals and businesses, mounted on the exterior of a red brick building.
Smartphone on a stand displays a website for WP Enterprises, placed on a beige desk with notebooks, a pen, and pencils nearby.

Responsiveness and Accessibility

The website design was crafted to be adaptable across various devices—desktops, laptops, and phones—catering to a diverse target demographic. Accessibility was a top priority, specifically for individuals with physical disabilities, including visual impairments. The site incorporates SEO features and includes alt text for images. User feedback prompted us to test the site at different magnifications and on mobile devices, ensuring a seamless experience for all visitors.

Website homepage for WP Enterprises offering tax preparation and consulting services, with sections highlighting free consultations, tax prep, and bookkeeping support.
Screenshot of a website for WP Enterprises, showcasing their services including navigating complex systems, bookkeeping made simple, with images of a world map with pins, stacked notebooks, and a laptop with a security image.
Mobile website homepage for WP Enterprises featuring a cityscape image, company information, services, contact details, and navigation menu.
Mobile screenshot of WP Enterprises contact webpage with a form for name, email, business, subject, message, and options to book a consultation, office hours, and company information.
Homepage of WP Enterprises home page with a banner image showing a person using a calculator and documents, and sections detailing services like tax prep, bookkeeping, file handling, disaster recovery, and booking a free consultation.
Screenshot for WP Enterprises displaying their services, including navigation system, bookkeeping, file storage, and disaster recovery, with images and descriptions for each service, a comparison chart, and contact information.
Screenshot of WP Enterprises, featuring a navigation bar with links to Home, Services, About, FAQ, and Contact. The page includes sections titled 'About WP Enterprises', with a paragraph about their history and services in Texas, an image of a city skyline at sunset, and a contact section with a form button. Footer includes contact information, social media icons, and links to services and company information.
'Contact Us' page with a contact form, office hours, and options to book a consultation. The page has a navigation menu with links to Home, Services, About, FAQ, and a Contact button. There is a footer with company information and social media icons.

Key Learnings

  • Conduct market research on branding, website functionality, and messaging.

  • Continuously test the website across platforms and for accessibility; redesign if it does not cater to everyone, especially those with disabilities.

  • Don’t hesitate to eliminate elements that aren’t effective. For instance, the pricing page was cut from the final design because pricing can vary significantly in this industry.

  • Keep the client informed about changes in structure and direction to continuously receive feedback and iterate.