Friends of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum

The Friends' website serves as a crucial connection to the public, showcasing the extensive history they protect. The challenge was that their existing WordPress site was outdated and difficult for visitors to navigate, meaning this connection was failing. The fascinating historical resources and information about their important preservation work were often hard to find.

The organisation needed a modern, user-friendly platform that would not only showcase their mission effectively but also encourage new memberships to support their cause.

Our first step was a thorough assessment of the existing website. We identified key areas for improvement in the site structure, content organisation, and overall user experience.

The project focused on a few core objectives:

• A full WordPress upgrade. We brought the site up to the latest version of WordPress to improve security, boost performance and speed, and ensure it could support modern web technologies. This provides a stable and secure foundation for the future.

• A contemporary and intuitive design. We created a new design that feels both modern and respectful of the historical subject matter. The new interface prioritises clear navigation, making it simple for users to find information about the organisation, membership benefits, and the museum.

• Improved content structure and search. We reorganised the website’s content into logical categories, making it easier for visitors to explore. An advanced search function was also implemented, allowing users to quickly locate specific information within the site’s extensive archives.

The new website provides a professional and engaging digital 'shop window' for the organisation, transforming their online presence from a simple archive into a dynamic hub for members and the public. This is reflected in early engagement metrics, which show a clear increase in the average time visitors spend on the site and a significant decrease in bounce rates.

Key outcomes include:

• A faster, more secure platform. The technical upgrades provide more than just a better user experience. They give the Friends peace of mind with a secure, stable platform that is built to last, providing a stronger foundation for search engine visibility to attract new audiences interested in naval history.

• Greater access to historical resources. By making the site's content intuitive to navigate, we have unlocked the value of their extensive historical archives. This improved access has translated directly into tangible results, with the Friends reporting a noticeable increase in membership enquiries and greater participation in their events.

• An asset for future growth. The website is now a powerful and sustainable tool that supports the Friends' core mission. It empowers them to continue their vital preservation work, ensuring the UK's submarine heritage can be shared with a wider audience and remain accessible for generations to come.