Context

Our current website is hard to navigate, is too busy, too basic to build (there is no WYSIWYG for this blog post, even), and is not really mobile-friendly.

It needs a fresh, new look that stays true to the character of our organization, which I think tries to be resourceful and fun while encouraging serious local action and community engagement. We did try out the theme that 350.org let us use, but found too many functionality issues and limitations due to having no control over plug-ins and various styles.

We have had difficulty with increasing membership diversity and with attracting a larger, dedicated group of volunteers. We should look, feel, and sound like the base we want to attract. This opens up a wormhole of re-branding items, but for now I just want to focus on building a new website with the potential for expanding our donations and membership base.

What I look for in themes:
• Could the look and feel be that of 350 Sacramento's outward facing website?

• How would it look without the really nice stock photography?

• Is it mobile-friendly?

• What features do you like? Which of those are customizable?

• What are its limitations?

• Can we integrate it with an online store and donation page(s)?

​• Would I like to read a blog in this style?

Format of my recommendations:
Option #: Name of Theme, Price to purchase theme*
Demo URL (click to explore website look and feel)
• Additional Information / Recommendations

*price does not include cost of additional plug-ins, hosting, etc.

Options

Option 1: Gaea, $59
http://ift.tt/1QdiJ1C
• It’s a little bit daunting with the number of features it has, but it’s great that it has so many features.

• The event calendar looks nice, but might actually be over-complicated.

• Donation page is not as cute as Advocator, but still good. Integrated with PayPal.

• Has cool mega menu, but I’m not sure that we would ever use.

• Integrates with WooCommerce in case we wanted to sell things online again.

• Cannot easily find documentation.

//I have included a link below to a design mockup with the Gaea theme as a base. This design could be implemented with the other themes as well.

Option 2: Advocator, $54
http://ift.tt/1oyU6GI
• Has a great donation form (not sure if they purchased an add-on for the demo), uses the Give plug-in, which doesn’t charge any fees, BUT we would probably need to purchase at least one upgrade for recurring donations, which is where they make their money (it’s $127). Also integrated with PayPal.

• Not big on their event calendar month-view and am not pleased about how they presented their week view.

• Integrates well with Mailchimp, if we ever wanted to switch over.

• Does not have any live/recent social media feed options.

• Not pleased that they didn’t present an Our Team page, even though they have a fake link displayed.

• Has decent and easy to find documentation.


Option 3: Eco Nature, $59
http://ift.tt/1QdiHHa
• They have 3 different demos and you should look through all of them.

• The Onepage layout would be great for large events like the Town Hall.

• Not pleased with their month or weekly event calendar views.

•I like how they presented their volunteers layouts. Cannot easily find documentation.

• Doesn’t seem to have live/recent social media feeds.

Overall
We are still probably going to have to shell out at least $150 for plug-in add-ons on top of purchasing a theme, purchasing hosting, and possibly purchasing a CRM (customer relationship management) to manage our membership base and donations, although the Give plug-in might do that for us.

Since all of them are about the same price, you should choose based on how you like the layout and how easy the website is for you to navigate. Please refer to http://ift.tt/1oyU6GJ for reference as to how the website will be organized, and please refer to the file below for the potential design.

Comments and votes are due by noon on Monday, January 29th.**

​**Submit your feedback along with any other suggestions below with your name and how long you've been involved with 350 Sacramento. 

from 350 Sacramento - Blog http://ift.tt/1oyU162