Having a mechanic for a big brother has saved my butt more than once.
After years of him dropping everything to come to my rescue for dead batteries, overheated radiators, and mysterious leaks, it was extremely exciting to finally be able to return the favor using my own unique skillset.
In the first month of release, the site had over 800 views and 573 visitors with referrals from a variety of relevant sources such as Google & autoevolution.com.
This website serves as a
- Point of contact
- Booking platform
- Payment processor
- Informational brochure
for Group B Motors, a mobile mechanic business based in Seattle, Washington.
Process
I began with a consultation with the client where we discussed project goals, visual design guidelines, and business requirements.
Overall, we determined that the site needed to feel simple, airy & intuitive with some bursts of color paying homage to the companies namesake, Group B racing.
We identified a few key features that needed to be present.
-About Us
-Description of Services
-Location Criteria
- Appointment Scheduler
-Contact Info
- Payment Processing
We considered some scenarios in which people might use this site.
- On the side of the road after an unexpected breakdown
- At a desk planning for some needed maintenance
- On the couch scheming up high performance modifications
Given these scenarios, it became clear that this site must work flawlessly on mobile devices.
We've all been there...
I chose Wordpress as the CMS because it is adaptable, learnable, and easily supports multiple media types & multiple devices. I especially enjoy the ease of customization available within the existing themes, which was perfect for this project.
I narrowed it down to a few themes that fit our needs and sent samples to the client to make the final call.
We decided to go with Alves due to its emphasis on photographic content, clear navigation, and overall lightweight feel.
I then created a shared Google Drive folder where the client could upload media for my use. I supplemented this with unlicensed photos from Unsplash and Pexels when needed.
After establishing a rough sitemap, I created the skeleton of the site, complete with actual photos & placeholder text.
Once I had completed the skeleton, I sent it off to the client to fill with copy. Given the nature of auto-mechanic work being based on highly specialized knowledge, we agreed it best for the client to write the bulk of the actual copy. I could then edit it for grammar and fluidity if needed.
I reviewed the copy and was reaffirmed that my brother is a man of many talents, writing included.
I identified a few grammatical errors and updated them accordingly.
Usability Testing
We conducted some casual user testing by sending the live site to a few family members, asking them to browse the site and submit a message through the contact form.
We found that 100% of users were able to complete this task successfully, but that the responses were going to me, rather than the client. I updated the form response routing and we tested once more to ensure the issue had been solved.
Release
After ensuring any usability issues were solved, we launched the site by sharing it to our respective social channels.
In the first month of release, the site had over 800 views and 573 visitors with referrals from a variety of relevant sources such as Google & autoevolution.com.
Thanks for reading!
