Riverside Pet Lodge

A website redesign and continuous social media strategy for Riverside Pet Lodge, a Northern Michigan boarding kennel, that I manage on a high-efficiency 10-hour monthly retainer.
Webite Design
Social Media
Riverside Pet Lodge
Date
September 23, 2024
Role
Website Designer

Riverside Pet Lodge: Redefining Local Trust with a User-Friendly Website and Authentic Social Storytelling.

The mission for Riverside Pet Lodge is to bring their genuine, family-owned values into the digital space, focusing on connecting with the local Northern Michigan community. I initiated this project with a full website redesign, moving them to a user-friendly platform that clearly showcases their services and commitment to animal care. This wasn't just aesthetic; I prioritized navigation to make booking and inquiries seamless. Since the launch, I maintain the website and execute the full social media strategy (content creation and analytics) within a highly efficient 10-hour retainer each month. My work consistently boosts their online visibility, reinforces their community ties, and drives qualified customer inquiries through a trusted digital presence.

Portfolio Showcase

The Final Design: I developed high-fidelity mockups that reflect the kennel's warm, family-owned values. Critically, I ensured the final design was fully mobile-optimized and built for fast performance, positioning the site to rank well and perform flawlessly for local Northern Michigan customers on any device.
Screenshot of the final, responsive Riverside Pet Lodge website design on a mobile device, showing the hero section and user-friendly layout.
The Blueprint for Trust: Before starting the visuals, I focused on streamlining the site’s information architecture. I created a clear, intuitive navigation system that immediately showcases services and rates. This structure ensures a frictionless experience from the moment a customer lands on the site, focusing on easy access to crucial booking information.
Screenshot of the contact page, visually highlighting the clear, intuitive navigation bar used to access services and booking forms.
The Family-Owned Narrative: I developed a social media strategy centered on authenticity and community ties. I defined content pillars that showcase the daily routine and staff commitment. The image assets I create, often featuring happy animals, reinforce the trustworthy, local narrative that resonates deeply with the Northern Michigan audience.
Screenshot of a social media reel shot list detailing content that reinforces local trust: Staff performing morning clean-up routines, a Northern Michigan location shot, and a close-up of a happy dog being dropped off by a local customer.
Mapping the User Journey: I produced a quick video walkthrough of the final site, specifically highlighting a key user flow—like how easily a customer can view services and submit a booking inquiry. This showcases how I prioritized UX to transform the site from a simple brochure into a true lead-generation tool.
Outline of an Apple iPhone
The Content Calendar as a Strategic Tool: To ensure maximum impact within my monthly commitment, I utilize a strategic content calendar as my primary planning tool. This means I pre-plan high-value posts and themes, focusing on family-centric and pet-care education topics. This systematic approach guarantees consistent brand messaging and efficient use of resources, driving engagement without constant daily effort.
Image of the social media content calendar, outlining the planned posts, dates, and content pillars for the Riverside Pet Lodge monthly retainer.
Showcasing Trust Through Video: I am responsible for producing all recurring video content—the heart of the social media strategy. This includes high-quality reels and short videos that capture the genuine, loving care the animals receive. I ensure all production quality is high and on-brand, building a level of trust with potential customers that simple photos cannot match.
Outline of an Apple iPhone