Refact

“We hired Refact's team to help us with several ongoing web development projects. The first was a series of email capture forms that needed to be designed, built and added to our blog. We continue to work with them on other projects too. Refact delivered the project on time, meeting our expectations. A team of consummate communicators led a productive feedback process and took the time to understand our vision for the project. Above all, they were highly efficient, responsive, and committed to excellence.” ?? A big thank you to @ethan brooks, Head of Content at Hampton for this five-start Clutch review. We were thrilled to be referred to Hampton to design, develop, and implement email capture forms as well as provide ongoing web development support. ?? Read the full review here: https://lnkd.in/dzr-WUnX? Hampton is a highly vetted peer network for founders of $1m+ startups. To learn more about them click here: https://joinhampton.com/

5 Things to check before launching with your new CMS ?? Migrating to a new CMS is an exciting milestone, but before you flip the switch and go live, there’s important groundwork to cover. In this fourth part of our migration series, we focus on auditing your content after the initial data migration—a step that can make or break your site's SEO and user experience. Here’s a quick checklist to ensure your new CMS is ready for prime time: 1?? URLs: The Backbone of SEO Your URLs impact rankings, bookmarks, and external links. Keep existing URLs intact wherever possible, and use 301 redirects for any changes. Tools like Screaming Frog can help map and test URLs for consistency and correct status codes. 2?? Content Audit: Nothing Left Behind Ensure every piece of text, image, and metadata migrates correctly. Look out for broken images, missing alt text, and duplicated pages. This step ensures your site is optimized for accessibility, SEO, and fast loading. 3?? Navigation & Menus: Don’t Lose Your Map Menus guide your users, so verify that links and third-party integrations are working seamlessly. Any broken navigation can frustrate users and harm your SEO. 4?? High-Value Pages: Handle With Care Your top-performing pages are vital for traffic and conversions. Audit them manually to confirm they look great, load fast, and retain their URLs and metadata. 5?? Third-Party Integrations: Double-Check Everything From newsletter sign-ups to e-commerce links, integrations must function smoothly. Test all forms, pop-ups, and tracking parameters before launch to ensure seamless operations. To read the full article click here: https://lnkd.in/dcvQyA8X ?? Pro Tip: Auditing may reveal gaps that require fixes or additional migrations, but catching these early prevents headaches post-launch. ?? Need expert guidance? At Refact, we’ve successfully navigated migrations for brands like Workweek, Stacked Marketer, and HubSpot’s Trends. Let us help you get it right the first time. https://refact.co/contact/ #ContentMigration #CMSTips #SEO #DigitalStrategy

?? How to prepare content for a CMS migration If you're preparing to migrate your website's content management system (CMS), you’re likely juggling a mix of excitement and concern. A migration isn’t just about moving data; it’s about setting your platform up for future success. Here's how to make the process smoother and more effective. ?? Start by understanding your content Before anything moves, take inventory. From posts and pages to taxonomy terms and user profiles, identify what needs to be migrated. But don’t stop there—custom content types with unique fields or display logic require special handling. For example: A buyer's guide may need custom CTAs or live pricing blocks. Sponsored content might involve secondary tagging that triggers partnership banners. ?? Declutter before you move A migration is the perfect time to clean up low-value or underperforming content. Analyze traffic: Identify articles with fewer than 5 visits in the past year. Assess quality: Thin content (low word count, little value) can hurt your site’s SEO. Removing this clutter improves Google rankings and boosts your domain authority. Pro tip: use 301 redirects to preserve SEO value when retiring outdated pages. ?? Watch your taxonomy Search engines love a well-structured site, so a thoughtful taxonomy is key. But don’t attempt a major taxonomy overhaul during the migration—it’s risky and hard to track results. Instead, migrate first and refine categories 60 days later. ?? Ready to migrate? Content migration is no small task, but it's also a huge opportunity to improve your site's foundation. At Refact, we’ve guided brands like Workweek and HubSpot ’s The Hustle through successful migrations. Need a partner to help you do it right? Let’s connect! https://refact.co/contact/ To read more on this topic click here: https://lnkd.in/dHGNVmpT #ContentMigration #CMSTips #DigitalPublishing #WebStrategy #SiteMigration #CMS

Import automatically and sync securely with beehiiv to WordPress ?? Are you using the best of both worlds, beehiiv and WordPress, for your newsletter but fed up with having to switch between them? Looking for a solution? Well, we have it!??? At Refact we recognized the growing potential of beehiiv and appreciate that some use a WordPress site with beehiiv as their newsletter platform. For this reason, we have created a tool to facilitate secure synchronization, and efficient importation, whilst saving you time between your beehiiv and WordPress site. Our tool is an open-source plugin developed as part of Refact’s attempt to support the newsletter community. To see how easy-to-use this tool is please check out this short tutorial:? https://lnkd.in/dddBBrVK To download this tool for free and learn more about its features, click here: https://lnkd.in/dzwTncHz #newsletter #WordPress #content

We couldn’t have put it any better Glide Publishing Platform! ?? It’s a pleasure to be partnering with you and we are thrilled to see where our partnership will take us. ?? To learn more about our partnership and what this means for your business, click here: https://lnkd.in/g9DPzZhv

Time for a new CMS? 3 key questions to ask first! ?? Migrating your website can be daunting—every story of lost content or declining traffic lingers in the back of our minds. But fear not! We are here to help.???? Is it time to change your CMS? ??? Recognizing when to migrate is crucial! Here are some signs it might be time for a change: 1?? Limited Capabilities: Your CMS should support SEO, user experience, and integrations. If it doesn't, you might be stifling your growth. 2?? Performance Issues: Slow load times? Frequent downtimes? These can turn readers away. 3?? Scalability Limitations: As you grow, your platform should keep pace without compromising performance. 4?? Security Concerns: Older systems might lack vital updates, leaving you vulnerable. 5?? User Experience Shortcomings: An inflexible CMS can slow your team's creative process. 3 questions to help you decide: ?? ?? Question 1: Does My Current CMS Meet My Business Needs? Align your CMS with your objectives—from content strategy to growth plans. If it’s not enhancing your workflow, it could be time for a change! ?? Question 2: What Limitations Are We Facing? Identify technical, functional, compliance, and user experience constraints. Understanding these barriers helps you strategize for improvement. ?? Question 3: How Well-Supported and Scalable Is the CMS? A robust support system is key! Seek out evaluations of help channels, community activity, and third-party ecosystems that can extend your CMS capabilities. Evaluating your CMS now will pave the way for your success later! Eager to delve deeper? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dME2V8NE Need expert guidance? At Refact, we've assisted brands like HubSpot and Workweek in upgrading their systems seamlessly. Let’s work together to ensure your migration is a game-changer! Contact us: https://refact.co/contact/ #CMS #DigitalTransformation #WebContent #Publishing #ContentManagement #TechSolutions #Migration

How are publishers building a “Feast” out of digital products? ?? What do The New York Times, The Guardian, and LinkedIn have in common? Each has explored digital products beyond traditional content. Publishers are tapping into new revenue streams by offering innovative apps, like cooking guides and games. These "secondary" products are far from extras—they’re strategic moves to diversify revenue and boost user engagement. ?? The New York Times pioneered this trend with its Games app, including the wildly popular Wordle, and its Cooking app, now integrated with Instacart for seamless ingredient shopping. The Guardian soon followed with “Feast,” a cooking app providing recipes and culinary stories. Scientific American and LinkedIn also launched games, showing that this strategy isn’t just for news giants. In today’s landscape, with AI-driven search tools and dwindling ad revenue, publishers are pivoting to subscription-based, user-engaging apps that foster brand loyalty and increase retention. These apps bring new demographics who might not otherwise pay for news content and keep users returning daily—just look at Wordle's success in expanding NYT’s audience. Developing these products requires added resources and expertise. Enter, technical partners.??? This way publishers can focus on core journalism while specialized partners bring expertise in digital product development. Refact, for instance, has worked with brands like HubSpot’s The Hustle to create high-conversion digital experiences. ?? For publishers ready to build their next digital product, diversifying with apps can be a strategic win, enhancing both revenue and engagement. Want to explore what this could look like for your brand? Let’s chat! ? https://refact.co/contact/ Learn more about how publishers can capitalize on digital products as new revenue streams: https://lnkd.in/dAPCuT9K #DigitalProducts #PublisherInnovation #AudienceEngagement #SubscriptionModel

?? "I believe that good journalism, good television, can make our world a better place." – Christiane Amanpour As we’re deep into election season, there’s no better time to recognize the role of journalism in shaping informed communities. But it’s not enough for newsrooms to create powerful stories; they also need the technology to ensure these stories reach audiences—quickly, reliably, and at scale. This election cycle, how confident were you in your digital product? Did you reach your audiences where it mattered? Were there any missed opportunities in digital or engagement channels? ????? At Refact, we’re committed to supporting news and media organizations in maximizing their tech. From delivering content faster to tracking engagement more effectively, we’re here to help get the most important stories in front of the people who need them. ?? Let’s talk about how the right tech can amplify your impact. Reach out, and let’s make sure your message hits home every time. https://refact.co/contact/ #Journalism #Elections2024 #TechForGood #NewsMedia #DigitalTransformation #AudienceEngagement

Pre-Migration Checklist: Avoiding Site Migration Nightmares ?? You’ve decided (theoretically) to migrate your site—awesome! Now let’s make sure you’re fully prepared before making the big move. Welcome to Part 2 of our “Disaster-Proof Your Site Migration” series! Taking Your Website’s ‘Before’ Snapshot Before a single file gets moved, you need to gather detailed “before” data to ensure you’re not flying blind post-migration. This data snapshot helps you: 1?? Benchmark: Know where you started to measure progress. 2?? Set Goals: Define realistic targets for success. 3?? Mitigate Risks: Spot problem areas to address before migration. Without it? You may end up in the dark about why your site speed changed or which metrics need fixing after migration. How to Capture ‘Before’ Data Start by tracking these key metrics: Engagement Metrics Views per Session: How much content users consume. Engagement Rate: % of engaged sessions out of total sessions. Average Engagement Time: User interaction duration with your content. Traffic Metrics Sessions from Organic Search: Shows SEO impact. Sessions from Referrals: Reflects backlinks and partner traffic. Sessions from Social: Indicates social media performance. Conversion Metrics Total Subscribers: Email or membership list size. Average New Subscribers per Week: How fast you’re growing. Total Purchases: Site-generated sales. Performance Metrics Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, CLS): Site load and interactivity measures. Lighthouse Scores: Offers insights on performance, SEO, accessibility, and more. Need our Pre-Migration Snapshot Template? Comment “Migration” for a ready-to-go template, inspired by migrations we’ve done for brands like The Hustle and Stacked Marketer. Prepare with Backups and a Staging Site Always set up a full backup of your site and use a staging environment to test migration steps without touching your live site. Steps to Follow: Full Backup Files & Databases: Back up all site elements. Version Control: Use Git or similar tools to track changes. Staging Environment Mirror Your Live Site: Create a duplicate of your live site for testing. Limit Access: Control who can make changes to prevent surprises. Identify Stakeholders & Decision-Makers Migrations require input from editors, devs, marketers, and sales teams. Identify everyone involved early on, and establish a clear chain of decision-makers to avoid conflicting priorities. Read the full article and discover more about site migration here: https://lnkd.in/d3cRzu_2 Feeling overwhelmed? No worries—our team at Refact has helped companies like Workweek and Stacked Marketer navigate migrations successfully. Just reach out for expert guidance to ensure everything’s covered. Ready to disaster-proof your migration? Connect with us today! https://refact.co/contact/ #WordPress #sitemigration

?? Choosing the Right WordPress Page Builder for Your Website. Building a website used to be a nightmare of coding, but not anymore! ??? Now, thanks to WordPress and its super user-friendly page builders, anyone can drag, drop, and design their perfect website! But… with so many options, which one should you choose? ?? Here’s a quick rundown of some popular choices to help you decide: ?? 1. Elementor- The Power Player Since 2016, Elementor has been a favorite! With its smooth, glitch-free interface and a free version packed with value, it's perfect for both beginners and advanced users. Elementor Pro offers incredible theme-building capabilities (for $59) and an extensive third-party ecosystem. ?? Best for: Those looking for flexibility and an extensive widget library (82+ in Pro!). ??? 2. Beaver Builder - Reliable and Stable If stability is a must, Beaver Builder delivers. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but with clean code and a solid track record, it’s the choice for users who prefer reliable tools over constant updates. Plans start at $99 and include unlimited sites! ?? ?? Best for: Devs who prioritize clean code and a steady, glitch-free experience. ?? 3. Bricks Builder- A Theme-Building Beast Bricks is unique—it's an entire theme with a visual builder, rather than a plugin for other themes. It’s loaded with advanced features (like the Query Loop Builder) but can be overwhelming if you’re new to WordPress. Starting at $79, it’s built for those who know their way around the WordPress ecosystem. ?? Best for: Power users and advanced WordPress devs who want control. ?? 4. Elegant Themes Divi Builder - Design Freedom From Elegant Themes, Divi brings extensive design options and a vast template library (2,600+). While its interface is unique, once mastered, Divi offers powerful customization and design flexibility. Available with an Elegant Themes membership for $89. ?? Best for: Designers and agencies that want the freedom to create. ?? 5. WPBakery - Familiar for Some, Limited for Others Once popular, WPBakery now feels a bit outdated. Still, it offers some flexibility and can work well if you’re invested in Envato products. Plans start at $59, but newer options like Elementor might be more appealing. ?? Best for: Users who prefer a familiar tool within the Envato ecosystem. ?? To read our full deep dive article put together by our very own Senior developer Asghar Mirzaie, click here: https://lnkd.in/dTsDfqwh So, which builder is right for you? ?? For a user-friendly start, Elementor is highly recommended. But if you're a seasoned developer and want maximum control, check out Bricks. ???? Need expert advice? We at Refact have helped brands like Workweek, HubSpot’s The Hustle, and Stacked Marketer. Reach out if you want an experienced perspective on choosing the perfect page builder for your WordPress site! ?? Contact us here to get started: https://refact.co/contact/