Case study · Website design and SEO
Website design case study for a writers’ retreat
Writers Inc
Writers Inc runs bespoke, high-quality retreats in Herefordshire for emerging and established writers.
It is run by husband-and-wife team Jane Sanderson and Brian Viner. Jane is a published novelist whose work has been adapted into a BBC television series, and Brian is a novelist and journalist.
01
The problem
Jane and Brian had built their own website to launch Writers Inc, but it wasn’t helping the business grow. It was a single page, so it couldn’t be properly optimised for search. That is a serious problem for a new business relying on Google to fill its retreats.
With no SEO strategy and very little content, their reach was minimal and bookings were slow.
02
My approach
I started with two in-depth strategy sessions in person, exploring their short and long-term goals. Those conversations shaped a full rebrand and a completely redesigned website.
The project focused heavily on SEO: a multi-page site structured for targeted search engine optimisation from day one, with a design that reflects the quality of their retreats and makes clear what sets them apart.
To support their marketing, I set up MailerLite with an email sales funnel for new subscribers, and gave them tailored guidance on managing their Google Business Profile for visibility and bookings.
03
The transformation
Since launch, Jane and Brian have run fully booked retreats.
The new site is clean, engaging and built for search, helping Writers Inc reach the right audience quickly. The business has gone from fledgling to flourishing.
“Melissa has helped enormously in the development of our fledgling business, by working tirelessly and expertly to rebuild our website and really make it work for us. She has a huge amount of expertise and also, luckily for us, a huge amount of patience. She created a website that not only looks beautiful but also fulfils all the technical criteria we needed. We couldn’t possibly have managed any of this without her.”
Jane Sanderson and Brian Viner · Writers Inc, Herefordshire
Melissa Critchley
Founder of Wildcurrant Marketing, specialises in website design and search engine optimisation for small businesses. Based in Ludlow, Shropshire, she works with clients across the UK (and sometimes beyond!)
Great design is wasted if nobody finds it. Let’s talk.
Whether you need a new website, SEO on the site you already have, or both, start with a fifteen-minute call. Email me, ring me, or book a time that suits you.
Email: melissa@wildcurrant.co.uk
Call: 07771 623276
