Silicon South
The brief
Silicon South (SiSo) is a not-for-profit entity that aims to raise the recognition, ambition and capabilities of the people and companies in the Digital, Creative and Tech sector in Dorset.
As part of their growing success and to meet the aims of the organisation, SiSo required an update to their existing website. The project had two key aims; firstly to showcase the digital sector across Dorset and secondly, to evolve from principally delivering publicly-funded programmes, to becoming a body that can host a network driven by the local sector wanting to develop their own goals but also wanting Dorset to become nationally known as a centre of digital excellence.
As part of their growing success and to meet the aims of the organisation, SiSo required an update to their existing website. The project had two key aims; firstly to showcase the digital sector across Dorset and secondly, to evolve from principally delivering publicly-funded programmes, to becoming a body that can host a network driven by the local sector wanting to develop their own goals but also wanting Dorset to become nationally known as a centre of digital excellence.
Our response
The site development needed to address different user groups including the creative, digital and tech community to help showcase their agency; as well as client-side business owners who might be looking for reliable and skilled partners to work with or are purely seeking to find out more information about the sector and the companies in Dorset.
The existing site was a simple static content site. Therefore a completely new structure and design was created. The new site is built in WordPress with woo-commerce functionality and includes; an online searchable database addressing the supporters network; an interactive map which signposts businesses/ organisations; and jobs and contract board showcasing what is available within the industry.
The directory is a searchable ‘List type’ database showcasing companies/agencies in the Dorset area. The directory only shows results for fully-paid members/supporters. A searchable interactive ‘Google Map’ feature is linked to the directory and specified by postcodes; showing where businesses are located is incorporated for the visual appearance.
Members must create an account either free or paid for and depending on what membership level they select will determine whether they are featured in the Directory. The account area which is password protected allows users to create company profiles. For paid members, the account access is tiered and allows further rights including edit account details, post news and jobs and upgrade and renew their membership options.
News and Events pages are a significant feature of the site. The events category page is inclusive of a series of individual Event Posts posted by SiSo and the news page is articles listed under categories that are posted by SiSo or by individual members through their logged-in accounts.
The contracts and jobs sections are desirable features of the site. Contracts is a searchable project contract board showcasing individual project briefs and the jobs board is a job feed showcasing available jobs in the Dorset area. Both features are feeds which are only posted by members that are listed within the directory.
The site has been developed using data feeds so that generic pages are content managed by the Silicon South team but the majority of the site is automatically filled with content generated through the database and directory.
The existing site was a simple static content site. Therefore a completely new structure and design was created. The new site is built in WordPress with woo-commerce functionality and includes; an online searchable database addressing the supporters network; an interactive map which signposts businesses/ organisations; and jobs and contract board showcasing what is available within the industry.
The directory is a searchable ‘List type’ database showcasing companies/agencies in the Dorset area. The directory only shows results for fully-paid members/supporters. A searchable interactive ‘Google Map’ feature is linked to the directory and specified by postcodes; showing where businesses are located is incorporated for the visual appearance.
Members must create an account either free or paid for and depending on what membership level they select will determine whether they are featured in the Directory. The account area which is password protected allows users to create company profiles. For paid members, the account access is tiered and allows further rights including edit account details, post news and jobs and upgrade and renew their membership options.
News and Events pages are a significant feature of the site. The events category page is inclusive of a series of individual Event Posts posted by SiSo and the news page is articles listed under categories that are posted by SiSo or by individual members through their logged-in accounts.
The contracts and jobs sections are desirable features of the site. Contracts is a searchable project contract board showcasing individual project briefs and the jobs board is a job feed showcasing available jobs in the Dorset area. Both features are feeds which are only posted by members that are listed within the directory.
The site has been developed using data feeds so that generic pages are content managed by the Silicon South team but the majority of the site is automatically filled with content generated through the database and directory.
Results
The directory now has over 100 companies listed on the site with additional non paid supporters who have created accounts. Silicon Souths’ pledge and ambition is to do all they can to make sure Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset’s Digital, Creative & Tech (DCT) Sector is still very much on top in April 2021 and the site and directory have contributed to the ongoing success of SiSo.
Digital Storm were really attentive throughout the project development. They provided great client support and made sure we always had someone available to discuss progress and respond to changes as they developed.
Anthony Story
Director
Silicon South
The brief
Silicon South (SiSo) is a not-for-profit entity that aims to raise the recognition, ambition and capabilities of the people and companies in the Digital, Creative and Tech sector in Dorset.
As part of their growing success and to meet the aims of the organisation, SiSo required an update to their existing website. The project had two key aims; firstly to showcase the digital sector across Dorset and secondly, to evolve from principally delivering publicly-funded programmes, to becoming a body that can host a network driven by the local sector wanting to develop their own goals but also wanting Dorset to become nationally known as a centre of digital excellence.
As part of their growing success and to meet the aims of the organisation, SiSo required an update to their existing website. The project had two key aims; firstly to showcase the digital sector across Dorset and secondly, to evolve from principally delivering publicly-funded programmes, to becoming a body that can host a network driven by the local sector wanting to develop their own goals but also wanting Dorset to become nationally known as a centre of digital excellence.
Our response
The site development needed to address different user groups including the creative, digital and tech community to help showcase their agency; as well as client-side business owners who might be looking for reliable and skilled partners to work with or are purely seeking to find out more information about the sector and the companies in Dorset.
The existing site was a simple static content site. Therefore a completely new structure and design was created. The new site is built in WordPress with woo-commerce functionality and includes; an online searchable database addressing the supporters network; an interactive map which signposts businesses/ organisations; and jobs and contract board showcasing what is available within the industry.
The directory is a searchable ‘List type’ database showcasing companies/agencies in the Dorset area. The directory only shows results for fully-paid members/supporters. A searchable interactive ‘Google Map’ feature is linked to the directory and specified by postcodes; showing where businesses are located is incorporated for the visual appearance.
Members must create an account either free or paid for and depending on what membership level they select will determine whether they are featured in the Directory. The account area which is password protected allows users to create company profiles. For paid members, the account access is tiered and allows further rights including edit account details, post news and jobs and upgrade and renew their membership options.
News and Events pages are a significant feature of the site. The events category page is inclusive of a series of individual Event Posts posted by SiSo and the news page is articles listed under categories that are posted by SiSo or by individual members through their logged-in accounts.
The contracts and jobs sections are desirable features of the site. Contracts is a searchable project contract board showcasing individual project briefs and the jobs board is a job feed showcasing available jobs in the Dorset area. Both features are feeds which are only posted by members that are listed within the directory.
The site has been developed using data feeds so that generic pages are content managed by the Silicon South team but the majority of the site is automatically filled with content generated through the database and directory.
The existing site was a simple static content site. Therefore a completely new structure and design was created. The new site is built in WordPress with woo-commerce functionality and includes; an online searchable database addressing the supporters network; an interactive map which signposts businesses/ organisations; and jobs and contract board showcasing what is available within the industry.
The directory is a searchable ‘List type’ database showcasing companies/agencies in the Dorset area. The directory only shows results for fully-paid members/supporters. A searchable interactive ‘Google Map’ feature is linked to the directory and specified by postcodes; showing where businesses are located is incorporated for the visual appearance.
Members must create an account either free or paid for and depending on what membership level they select will determine whether they are featured in the Directory. The account area which is password protected allows users to create company profiles. For paid members, the account access is tiered and allows further rights including edit account details, post news and jobs and upgrade and renew their membership options.
News and Events pages are a significant feature of the site. The events category page is inclusive of a series of individual Event Posts posted by SiSo and the news page is articles listed under categories that are posted by SiSo or by individual members through their logged-in accounts.
The contracts and jobs sections are desirable features of the site. Contracts is a searchable project contract board showcasing individual project briefs and the jobs board is a job feed showcasing available jobs in the Dorset area. Both features are feeds which are only posted by members that are listed within the directory.
The site has been developed using data feeds so that generic pages are content managed by the Silicon South team but the majority of the site is automatically filled with content generated through the database and directory.
Results
The directory now has over 100 companies listed on the site with additional non paid supporters who have created accounts. Silicon Souths’ pledge and ambition is to do all they can to make sure Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset’s Digital, Creative & Tech (DCT) Sector is still very much on top in April 2021 and the site and directory have contributed to the ongoing success of SiSo.
Digital Storm were really attentive throughout the project development. They provided great client support and made sure we always had someone available to discuss progress and respond to changes as they developed.
Anthony Story
Director
Silicon South
The brief
Silicon South (SiSo) is a not-for-profit entity that aims to raise the recognition, ambition and capabilities of the people and companies in the Digital, Creative and Tech sector in Dorset.
As part of their growing success and to meet the aims of the organisation, SiSo required an update to their existing website. The project had two key aims; firstly to showcase the digital sector across Dorset and secondly, to evolve from principally delivering publicly-funded programmes, to becoming a body that can host a network driven by the local sector wanting to develop their own goals but also wanting Dorset to become nationally known as a centre of digital excellence.
As part of their growing success and to meet the aims of the organisation, SiSo required an update to their existing website. The project had two key aims; firstly to showcase the digital sector across Dorset and secondly, to evolve from principally delivering publicly-funded programmes, to becoming a body that can host a network driven by the local sector wanting to develop their own goals but also wanting Dorset to become nationally known as a centre of digital excellence.
Our response
The site development needed to address different user groups including the creative, digital and tech community to help showcase their agency; as well as client-side business owners who might be looking for reliable and skilled partners to work with or are purely seeking to find out more information about the sector and the companies in Dorset.
The existing site was a simple static content site. Therefore a completely new structure and design was created. The new site is built in WordPress with woo-commerce functionality and includes; an online searchable database addressing the supporters network; an interactive map which signposts businesses/ organisations; and jobs and contract board showcasing what is available within the industry.
The directory is a searchable ‘List type’ database showcasing companies/agencies in the Dorset area. The directory only shows results for fully-paid members/supporters. A searchable interactive ‘Google Map’ feature is linked to the directory and specified by postcodes; showing where businesses are located is incorporated for the visual appearance.
Members must create an account either free or paid for and depending on what membership level they select will determine whether they are featured in the Directory. The account area which is password protected allows users to create company profiles. For paid members, the account access is tiered and allows further rights including edit account details, post news and jobs and upgrade and renew their membership options.
News and Events pages are a significant feature of the site. The events category page is inclusive of a series of individual Event Posts posted by SiSo and the news page is articles listed under categories that are posted by SiSo or by individual members through their logged-in accounts.
The contracts and jobs sections are desirable features of the site. Contracts is a searchable project contract board showcasing individual project briefs and the jobs board is a job feed showcasing available jobs in the Dorset area. Both features are feeds which are only posted by members that are listed within the directory.
The site has been developed using data feeds so that generic pages are content managed by the Silicon South team but the majority of the site is automatically filled with content generated through the database and directory.
The existing site was a simple static content site. Therefore a completely new structure and design was created. The new site is built in WordPress with woo-commerce functionality and includes; an online searchable database addressing the supporters network; an interactive map which signposts businesses/ organisations; and jobs and contract board showcasing what is available within the industry.
The directory is a searchable ‘List type’ database showcasing companies/agencies in the Dorset area. The directory only shows results for fully-paid members/supporters. A searchable interactive ‘Google Map’ feature is linked to the directory and specified by postcodes; showing where businesses are located is incorporated for the visual appearance.
Members must create an account either free or paid for and depending on what membership level they select will determine whether they are featured in the Directory. The account area which is password protected allows users to create company profiles. For paid members, the account access is tiered and allows further rights including edit account details, post news and jobs and upgrade and renew their membership options.
News and Events pages are a significant feature of the site. The events category page is inclusive of a series of individual Event Posts posted by SiSo and the news page is articles listed under categories that are posted by SiSo or by individual members through their logged-in accounts.
The contracts and jobs sections are desirable features of the site. Contracts is a searchable project contract board showcasing individual project briefs and the jobs board is a job feed showcasing available jobs in the Dorset area. Both features are feeds which are only posted by members that are listed within the directory.
The site has been developed using data feeds so that generic pages are content managed by the Silicon South team but the majority of the site is automatically filled with content generated through the database and directory.
Results
The directory now has over 100 companies listed on the site with additional non paid supporters who have created accounts. Silicon Souths’ pledge and ambition is to do all they can to make sure Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset’s Digital, Creative & Tech (DCT) Sector is still very much on top in April 2021 and the site and directory have contributed to the ongoing success of SiSo.
Digital Storm were really attentive throughout the project development. They provided great client support and made sure we always had someone available to discuss progress and respond to changes as they developed.
Anthony Story
Director
