Rebuilt with WordPress for continuous progress.
CGLCC
Empowering Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs.
The Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) is a national member-based organization dedicated to creating a thriving and inclusive Canadian economy. Through their programs, advocacy initiatives, education and networking opportunities, they enable Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ business community to connect and grow.
We replatformed CQCC’s website, then embarked on a redesign to align with their new branding. Through ongoing optimization, accessibility and SEO improvements, the new site allows CQCC to update to their programs and resources with ease.
Reach
- 100,000 2SLGBTQI+ owned and operated businesses in Canada
Services
- Website Design
- WordPress Development
- UX Consulting
- Search Optimization
- Web Hosting
- WebOps
- Maintenance & Support
Year
- 2023-Present
Technology
- WordPress
- Full Site Editing
- Google Maps API
- Jetpack
- Cloudflare
- HubSpot
- Pantheon
Digital Strategy
Ready for a modern redevelopment.
CQCC went through a major scale-up and required iterative updates to create a more user-friendly, accessible and member-centric experience. They needed a solution to simplify their content management and integrate various marketing tools.
The previous CQCC website was built with WordPress, however it used the classic editor which made it very difficult for their team to make routine updates. We recommended sticking with WordPress as the foundation for the new website, implementing Gutenberg, and tailoring a custom hybrid theme to meet CQCC’s specific requirements. The new Full Site Editing theme preserves the existing website design while enhancing its functionality and flexibility. Preconfigured styles and templates ensure that all new content published on the website adheres to CQCC’s visual identity.
To guide users through their broad range of content, we implemented custom post types and taxonomies where appropriate. We also looked to optimize the site architecture and enable powerful search and filtering tools with the goal of better organizing CQCC’s content, allowing related topics from different post types to be linked together.
UX/UI Design
Creating an accessible online space.
With diversity being a pillar of the organization, CQCC wanted to ensure the website was inclusive and accessible for as many visitors as possible. This meant auditing the website to ensure it follows best practices that meet modern accessibility standards.
We reviewed the entire website with accessibility in mind, recommending and adding important accessibility features. This included tab targeting and keyboard navigation on the header, auto-focusing search boxes when opened, adding screen reader labels throughout the entire website, ensuring proper color contrast, and improving speed. We also actioned a variety of strategic UX updates and dramatically improved the mobile experience, providing an optimized experience across all devices.
Website design
A brand new visual era.
After our initial replatforming of the existing website, the organization underwent a rebranding and renaming process that required a full redesign. Using supplied brand assets, we developed a new digital style guide to establish the updated look and feel across the site. From there, we redesigned layouts for key pages to evolve the user experience and align with the new aesthetic.
The new design features vibrant colour blocks, bold typography and interactive interfaces that guide users through the benefits of CQCC’s programs. Every section is thoughtful and purposeful with plenty of visual variety to keep users engaged.
Member Management
Membership features at the forefront.
With a modern approach to WordPress, we greatly reduced the complexity of the platform, simplifying administrative workflow and most importantly, improving the member experience. This involved re-developing the member areas of the website, directory, and resources sections to be more user-friendly, filterable, and more easily updated via the website’s backend.
We also enhanced the membership system, while incorporating and adapting the organization’s existing processes, directories, and application functionalities to the new platform. This included revamping the approach to multistep applications and ensuring the new system provides a streamlined application workflow. We transferred all existing member data to the new platform, maintaining the integrity and continuity of CQCC’s digital presence.
WordPress Development
Optimization for members across the nation.
Improving the site’s performance was a major priority in development. We fixed a variety of technical issues to improve performance and create better workflows for admin and content. We incorporated several features from Jetpack, leading to a variety of improvements to SEO, website speed and script loading times. By implementing Fastly’s image CDN, we greatly reduce image loading times, serving properly sized images throughout the experience.
From an admin perspective, we greatly simplified the backend, reducing barriers for CQCC’s team to freely edit pages and posts. We also reworked their proprietary form systems into WordPress-friendly WPForms, allowing CQCC to more easily update forms. We also built a new customizable map block. This block has a number of configuration settings and nested advanced custom fields allowing CQCC to confidently create member groups and update individual pins.
Beyond optimization, CQCC required a seamless tracking and reporting solution to measure success. We incorporated Google Site Kit to build a comprehensive, unified dashboard. This solution brings together data from Search Console, Tag Manager, and Analytics, presenting it in an easily digestible format right within their WordPress dashboard. CQCC now has access to real-time data on their traffic, SEO and marketing efforts.
WordPress MultiSite Network
Spotlighting welcoming spaces with Rainbow Registered.
CQCC’s flagship program is Rainbow Registered – a national accreditation for 2SLGBTQI+ friendly businesses and organizations. Businesses across Canada can show their commitment to inclusivity by meeting a set of standards to ensure that their 2SLGBTQI+ customers feel welcomed. We developed the Rainbow Registered platform as a multi-site with CQCC, simplifying admin and updates with everything in one place.
The previous Rainbow Register website showcased the vibrancy and friendliness of the program but lacked much needed context about the program’s benefits and why businesses should apply. Before redesigning the website, we planned out a new content structure and layout with wireframes. We also applied a new look for the Rainbow Registered brand to be cohesive with the new CQCC rebrand. The new site places a greater emphasis on empowering businesses to become registered and walks them through the process to do so.
Member Directory
Mapping out an inclusive network.
The interactive map and directory of Rainbow Registered businesses was a focal point as we looked for ways to improve the user experience. The previous directory had technical and usability issues that we knew could be fixed with better UX. We created a prominent search and filtering interface that allows users to search for specific businesses or explore relevant categories and locations. The interface incorporates geolocation functionality so users can see the inclusive businesses near their current location. The map also uses clustering when there are many businesses in close proximity to keep the interface clean and easy to navigate.
Final Thoughts
Ongoing advancements that strengthen connections.
Our work with CQCC shows that there’s an alternative to building a new website from scratch. In this case, we leveraged foundational elements from the existing site, redeveloping and optimizing the most critical touchpoints for CQCC and their members. As we continue evolving the CQCC and Rainbow Registered sites, we are further optimizing the platform’s user experience, SEO, accessibility, and overall performance. What’s more, the tracking and reporting solution provides the vital data needed to guide future decisions.
