The Matt Leinart Foundation is an organization dedicated to helping children led by Arizona Cardinals quarterback and 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. The Foundation stays busy with monthly events and multiple football camps through the summer so they require a website to connect with their community and build lasting relationships with donors and fans. Fasturtle helped by creating a modern site with optimized code that facilitates many avenues of experience.

Challenge

The Matt Leinart Foundation came to us with a deprecated table-based site and completely static content. Fasturtle recommended rewriting the structural code from scratch using web standards, and streamlining their news and events into a Content Management System (CMS) equipped with RSS technology. We also had an eye on creating some search engine friendly URIs which aid in usability and calling attention to an introductory video and message from Matt that help communicate the purpose of the organization, at the same time reworking their online Gift Shop and donation forms.

Fasturtle knew the importance of the Foundation’s community, so we wanted to foster it with special messages, easy-to-use registration forms and information about upcoming events, as well as dozens of pictures from events. The Foundation is very focused with their goals and always have plenty of content to add.

Solution

• Standards compliant XHTML & CSS
• Full-width engrossing images using JavaScript
• WordPress CMS
• Specialized gift shop and donation form for e-commerce
• Custom iPhone-optimized site using AJAX; accessible on other smart phones like Android, Palm Pre and BlackBerry
• Integrated Flickr, enabled comments and established RSS feed to provide benefactors and fans easy access to information

Technology Used

• WordPress CMS
• XHTML 1.0 Strict
• CSS
• jQuery

Credits

• Project Management: Paul Redmond
• Developers: Jay Robinson & Paul Redmond
• Design, Markup and Style: Jay Robinson

Conclusion

Matt’s a guy with a big heart so we went with something big and bold for his design. We feel the rich background images of Matt during his events communicate the message that “Children are the future” without saying a word. The photo galleries support metadata, are search engine friendly and accessible. Intelligent video streaming technology detects connection speeds and serves the proper video file — desktop users see high-quality 640×480 video while mobile users get a quick download in a more portable file.

The crucial solution was building an infrastructure for a teeming community of fans and followers to keep up with Matt and allow him to connect in many different ways. Comments allow fans and friends of the Foundation to stop by and share their thoughts. Fasturtle aided the Matt Leinart Foundation in realizing fundamentals of social media and built them something they can be proud of for years to come.

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USRoute50.com is the newest media outlet in the Garden City and Dodge City, Kansas markets. USRoute50.com wanted to create website with a newspaper feel and an online community where local companies could advertise and join a marketplace. Their goal is to become the go to location for user-generated news, comments and communications and for the marketplace to showcase every business listing for the entire Garden City-Dodge City Market. Fasturtle provided USRoute50.com with a custom website design, client controlled Content Management System (CMS), complete database integration to include active records, e-commerce integration, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and a Professional Hosting Package.

Challenge

USRoute50.com wanted to build a website that would give each visitor an interactive, live newspaper experience. The key challenges were creating a unique application that fit USRoute50.com’s exact requirements, including a custom marketplace with a custom advertising module that provided even distribution between each advertiser. Fasturtle needed to deliver USRoute50.com on time and under budget.

First, the Fasturtle team needed to develop a custom design and platform that is easy to navigate and in which users quickly adopt. The public can sign up and become members. This allows them to become part of the USRoute50.com community. Users will be able to search through all articles with categories and Keyword searches, leave comments with spam preventing measures, and RSS Incorporated for users to be able to be auto fed news articles.

The marketplace was an essential element and serves as a place for businesses to have a listing like the Yellow Pages within USRoute50.com with free and paid options. Some of the essential requirements for Fasturtle to develop were predictive search, search by city, and listing of main and sub categories with google map incorporation.

Another significant and revenue generating component was the ability for companies to advertise on USRoute50.com. USRoute50.com needed to have unlimited combinations of tags and advertisers, and the ability to have complete control over which ads are served and where they are served.

For administrative purposes, the content management systems (CMS) would need to be user friendly in order to easily manage articles, users, advertising, advertisers, forums, comments, and business listings. Developing a CMS with an ease of use will ultimately save USRoute50.com time and the expense of making updates that their team can make.

Lastly, since USRoute50.com was emerging as new multi-media site, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) was truly mission critical. Fasturtle analyzed key words or keyword phrases to ensure a better chance of recognition and ranking.

Solution

• Flexible website architecture and design to allow for future enhancements and expansion. All HTML was coded using web standards and an XHTML Doctype.
• Interactive website design and streamlined navigation to increase usability and customer satisfaction.
• Content Management System for website maintenance, integrated with MySQL and CakePHP for ease of updating information.
• Complete Search Engine Optimization to establish high rankings and drive traffic to the site.
• A Yellow Pages type of business listing, with search capabilities.
• Adaptable tag-based advertising campaign system that allows the application to serve ads based on article tags.

Result

USRoute50.com is an emerging force for news and information on the web. Fasturtle developed many of the key features specifically for USRoute50.com producing revenue generating as well as cost savings opportunities. USRoute50.com has the ability to update information easily without the knowledge of code and without the added expense of hiring a website company to make the changes. The opportunity for advertising revenue is limitless and with SEO efforts advertising has increased as traffic and businesses find USRoute50.com. Fasturtle implemented USRoute50.com well under project timelines, remaining within the budget.

Technology Used

• Linux
• MySQL 5
• PHP 5
• XHTML Transitional
• CSS
• AJAX

Credits

• Project Management: Tonya Sprinkle
• Developers: Brian O’Neill and Paul Redmond
• Markup and Style: Paul Redmond
• Design: Heidi Claunch

Conclusion

Fasturtle continues to provide support USRoute50.com for content-related enhancement and additional features.

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Habitat 360 is an interactive, online marketplace and directory for residential and commercial real estate, rentals and related services worldwide. The innovation of a local international real estate expert, Habitat 360 connects buyers and sellers directly via the internet, allowing for access to listing information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Challenge

The Fasturtle team needed to create a state of the art website, combining true dynamic functionality, database integration, online payment processing, and award winning design to launch this new organization’s online presence.

Solution

• All-inclusive, easy to use website showcasing international real estate properties
• Professional, interactive use of Flash technology
• Content Management System integrated with MySQL and PHP for ease of updating information (Client training included)
• Google Map integration on individual property listing pages
• Complete Search Engine Optimization to establish high rankings and drive traffic to the site
• Member Database (Log In) to allow users to complete predetermined

Result

This innovative website allows subscribers to register and create a professional listing in a matter of minutes, without the expense, time, and hassle of designing, developing and advertising their own website. Fasturtle provided Habitat 360 with a sleek and comprehensive design which emphasizes the assets of the subscribers’ property, while still allowing them to showcase their property using their own words and images. Buyers will be amazed by Habitat’s advanced search and sort functions, as well as their interactive mapping feature, to help them find exactly what they’re looking for, where they’re looking for it. Habitat360.net also includes a Local Services Directory through which buyers have the necessary tools to facilitate their purchase; including local weather, currency conversion, mortgage calculations, and listings for local businesses and services like realtors, mortgage brokers, lenders, property managers, developers and more.

Technology Used

• Flash 8
• MySQL
• PHP w/ CMS capability
• MS Access Database
• Online Payment-Processing

Credits

• Technical Director: Paul Redmond
• SEO Specialist: Ken Davidson
• Design: Heidi Claunch
• Programming: Brian O’Neil

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Rocky Point Reservations is a privately owned Phoenix, AZ based travel agency that offers short and long term vacation rentals in Rocky Point, Mexico. They have been renting hotels, condos and houses in this quaint Mexican town for the past 21 years. This website had to accomplish more than just offering the look and feel of a postcard. Fasturtle provided Rocky Point Reservations with a complete website redesign, client controlled Content Management System (CMS), complete database integration, e-commerce integration, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and a Professional Hosting Package.

Challenge

Rocky Point Reservations’ previous website needed to be updated and optimized for today’s competitive online market. They wanted to take advantage of the increased reservations, visibility and branding that an online presence would create. The Fasturtle team needed to create a custom platform with a straight forward, user friendly CMS that increased the speed of uploading new properties to the website. The client would often have rate changes for their existing properties and the CMS gave them the ability to make text and picture changes to each individual property in a matter of minutes. This was a drastic change that saved Rocky Point Reservations time and made it easier to showcase their properties and services.

The goal was to streamline the navigation standards to increase user satisfaction and loyalty, and develop a flexible architecture to allow for future enhancements and growth. Users also needed to be able to check the availability of properties and book reservations online. As Rocky Point, Mexico has grown so has Rocky Point Reservation’s competition. The client was concerned about driving new traffic to the redesigned site and establishing high rankings to better compete in the online vacation rental market.

Solution

• Simple straight forward informative website showcasing the properties and services of Rocky Point Reservations
• Streamlined navigation to increase usability and customer satisfaction
• Flexible site architecture and design to allow for future property and service enhancements
• Professional, interactive use of Flash technology to boost marketing efforts for individual properties
• Content Management System for website; integrated MySQL and PHP for ease of updating information – including 2 hours of client training
• Complete Search Engine Optimization to establish high rankings and drive traffic to the site
• Ongoing development of a network of linked sites that includes pertinent information about Rocky Point, Mexico including restaurants, scuba diving, deep sea fishing and accommodations

Result

The Rocky Point Reservation online experience provides both existing and future customers ease of use and a wealth of information, giving users the ability to check the availability of properties and book their reservations online. The structure and backend programming of the website allows the company to easily manage and update information in real time, as well as capture and manage information about customers for future marketing efforts.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Results

Rocky Point Reservations has seen a significant increase in visitors to their site from Fasturtle’s ongoing SEO efforts. The straight forward design of this site also increased page views by two and half times.

Technology Used

• Flash 8
• MySQL
• PHP w/ CMS capability
• MS Access Database

Credits

• Technical Director: Paul Redmond
• SEO Specialist: Samantha Davidson
• Design: Heidi Claunch
• Programming: Jeff Coolen

Conclusion

Rocky Point Reservations continues to rely on Fasturtle to keep them up to date on the latest internet and website trends. Fasturtle keeps in contact with Rocky Point Reservation’s site administrator to add features, keywords and content as needed and is proud to be Rocky Point Reservations online marketing partner.

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