Web Development
Streetwise is a workforce development agency designed to help the homeless and those at risk of homelessness out of the crisis of poverty. StreetWise was in a need of a new website that would both better serve users information on their magazine and where their nearest vendors were located. From a marketing perspective, StreetWise also wanted to leverage an easy to use content management system that would allow them to quickly create, update, and remove content.
The Challenge
StreetWise needed a modernized website that was easier to navigate, more functional, and more reflective of its mission and brand. Alongside improving the overall user experience, Marcel Digital was tasked with creating a “Find a Vendor” map to help users quickly locate nearby vendors, support magazine sales, and strengthen community relationships.
Outdated Navigation and Functionality
The previous website made it difficult for users to find essential information or engage with the organization.
Lack of Clear Brand Representation
StreetWise needed a digital presence that better reflected its mission, values, and community impact.
No Easy Way to Locate Vendors
A searchable, map-based vendor locator was essential to help users buy the magazine and connect with vendors in their area.
The Solution
Marcel Digital worked with StreetWise to modernize its digital presence using Umbraco Cloud, creating a platform that was flexible, cost-efficient, and easy for the internal team to manage. By combining streamlined development workflows with thoughtful UX enhancements, the new site delivered both improved functionality and a more community-focused experience.
A Modern Foundation Built on Umbraco Cloud
Using Umbraco as a Service (UaaS), Marcel Digital rebuilt the StreetWise website on a scalable cloud environment that allowed StreetWise to maintain hosting control while benefiting from automated deployments and efficient development through Visual Studio Team Services. This setup ensured a smooth, reliable, and future-ready platform.
Improved Navigation for Faster User Discovery
The team simplified and reorganized the site’s menu into a cleaner, more intuitive structure. This streamlined navigation made it easier for users to find key pages quickly, improving overall usability and creating a more frictionless browsing experience.
A Custom “Find a Vendor” Map to Support Community Impact
Marcel Digital developed an interactive “Find a Vendor” map that allows users to easily locate local vendors in their neighborhood or near their workplace. This innovative feature has been praised by both StreetWise and Umbraco, helping users purchase the magazine more easily while strengthening community connections.
The Results
The redesigned StreetWise website delivered measurable improvements in engagement, usability, and internal workflow efficiency. With a more intuitive CMS and streamlined user experience, StreetWise saw immediate performance gains across key metrics.
22% Decrease in Bounce Rate
The new site structure and simplified navigation kept users engaged longer, helping them easily find relevant content and interact more meaningfully with the StreetWise mission.
7% Increase in Pages per Session
Improved usability and clearer pathways encouraged deeper exploration. Visitors viewed more content per visit, signaling a stronger overall user experience.
Faster, Easier Content & Vendor Management
StreetWise’s team found Umbraco exceptionally easy to use, making content updates, vendor management, and day-to-day site upkeep significantly more efficient. Umbraco Cloud’s automated upgrades and seamless deployments further streamlined operations.
