Ecottage Canada

The primary concerns with the Ecottage site were that it be easy to find on Google and create a positive visitor experience once you get there. That meant getting optimum value out of the content—not trapping all the keyword-rich text in a database. FLUiD CMS was customized so that it would generate pages with a file-based property listing feature. New properties could be added to the system and all the information would be stored in accessible text so the search engines could index it. And, most importantly, the system had to be easy to use so that visitors would return often to the site.

Based on the Default FLUiD CMS Site

Ecottage's custom version of FLUiD CMS generates three-column Web pages, as well as pages with the custom property search feature.


Design and Branding Added

The system was given a 'sunset' theme, and a random image effect in the Web header so that if a particular property caught the visitor's eye they could browse right to it.


Easy-to-use Property Gallery

A powerful property listing feature was built into Ecottage's FLUiD CMS. This system does not use a database so the keyword-rich content is totally accessible to the search engines.


Automatic Image Sizing

To make the system even easier to use, FLUiD CMS was further customized with an image sizer so that the client could upload new property photos without  having to consider image size. These photos are then added to the random photo sequence that displays the images in the Web header.


The Challenge

  • Generate a Web site that is search engine optimized to attract new customers

  • Create a powerful site searching feature for property listings with multiple images

  • Enable images of properties to be easily resized to a standard dimension

  • Ensure that the user interface is easy to use even for non-technical authors

  • Customize FLUiD CMS so that it generates Web pages that carry Ecottage's professional, trustworthy look

  • Ensure that the Web site is a pleasure to navigate, and avoid any dead links, so that long visits are encouraged

  • Ensure that the content is in a format suitable for growth and upgrading as the business develops

  • Build in email marketing features

  • Accomplish these demands on a limited budget


Our Solution

  • The system was not database-dependent so that all the pages generated would be search engine optimized

  • The content is stored in XML so that it is totally flexible, ready for future growth

  • All the URLs are search engine-friendly

  • FLUiD CMS is totally user-friendly, WYSIWYG, and offers import from Word so that—now that the site is designed and operating—the site owner can maintain the system himself

  • User has full control over meta tags for search engine optimization

  • The system leverages existing MS index for fast searches


The Results

  • Increased online sales

  • Greatly increased traffic

  • Visitors spending more time on site, viewing more listings

  • The site is expanding rapidly, and smoothly

  • The client is satisfied; already planning the next customizations


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Visit Ecottage Canada at http://www.ecottagecanada.com/