The Jam Up! App
Upgrading and Launching a New WordPress Website
“Business Think took the time to truly understand our journey, our story, and our vision. They never rushed us, were patient through every decision, and constantly brought fresh ideas to the table. Their creativity, dedication, and enthusiasm made the whole process enjoyable.
Thanks to Business Think, we now have a website that truly reflects Jam Up!—a space that connects with families, shares our mission, and supports our growing community. Their hard work has given us a platform we’re proud of!"
"Elliot is engaging, fun, and full of creative ideas. With an upbeat attitude and commitment it made the entire experience a pleasure. We can’t recommend highly enough! A huge thank you to Business Think for all their hard work—we couldn’t have done it without you!” - Rachael Malthouse at Jam Up!
The Challenge
This project involved migrating and upgrading a WordPress.com website, moving the business onto the advanced WordPress software. This provides greater functionality, scalability, and design flexibility for the future.
The first challenge was transferring the existing content from WordPress.com to the Business Think server, where we could install the upgraded version of WordPress. DIY platforms like WordPress.com, Squarespace, and Wix offer simple start-up solutions but can be restrictive when it comes to migrating. It was crucial to create an exact replica initially to preserve the site structure and protect search engine rankings. After technical adjustments and thorough testing, the site was successfully installed on our test server.
Next, we removed around 30% of the plugins that were unnecessary, helping to improve site speed and SEO performance. With only the essential components remaining, we began rebuilding the user experience.
Strategy and User Experience (UX)
Several sessions were held with Rachael and her team to review the marketing strategy and clarify the ideal user journey.
Jam Up! has three key audiences: parents/carers, professionals, and supporters—each requiring tailored messaging in both tone and content.
The website was therefore structured to offer three distinct user pathways, allowing visitors to self-identify and follow a customised journey.
This approach improves engagement and increases conversion.
Project Summary
A unique aspect of this project was the need to ensure that autistic users could easily understand and navigate the site. This involved careful consideration of layout, use of white space, boxed content, and appropriate reading age.
Research was carried out before development began to ensure the user experience would be accessible and inclusive. This blueprint was agreed with Rachael and her team before the build commenced.
The challenge was to create an engaging experience while knowing that overly dynamic design features might compromise accessibility.
Rachael’s positive feedback confirmed that we met the project's goals despite those design constraints.
On a personal note, this has been one of the most rewarding projects Business Think has undertaken in its 25-year history. The mission of Jam Up! is incredibly meaningful, and working alongside someone as passionate and dedicated as Rachael was both inspiring and humbling. I’m proud to have played a small part in supporting the important work Jam Up! does with parents, carers, and—most importantly—autistic children.