NASSAU BOCES
Future-Ready and User-Focused Website Transformation
A website migration is more than just moving content—it’s about creating a user-friendly experience that prioritizes accessibility, intuitive design, and long-term sustainability. Nassau BOCES sought to redefine their content strategy, reorganizing it to better align with users’ search habits and navigation preferences. Looking to a partner to guide them through this transition, CEL ensured that the new site not only met the needs of their diverse audiences but also accurately reflected their brand and collective values. The result is a streamlined, user-friendly digital experience that moves beyond the “file cabinet” approach, properly showcasing the vital services Nassau BOCES provides to its school districts and community.
A Website for the User
As a service-driven organization rather than a traditional school district, Nassau BOCES required a site that served multiple audiences, including educators, administrators, families, and employees. Over time, their previous website became cluttered, with nearly 6,000 pages, some floating individually within the structure or buried ten clicks deep. After careful planning and restructuring, CEL reduced their site to just over 1,200 pages—eliminating outdated content while preserving essential information. This achievement underscores the success of the redesign in simplifying and enhancing the user experience for Nassau BOCES’ diverse groups.
Winning Website Metrics
Data-driven website strategies leads to better performance, visibility, and user experience. Through strategic improvements, we streamlined content, enhanced searchability, and strengthened SEO fundamentals. From an elimination of 58.1% duplicate page titles to 41.46% improved readability, these wins drive engagement, accessibility, and higher rankings. Here’s how we transformed website performance with measurable impact. 🚀
Building a Site For the Future
Building a user-first experience requires careful planning and research in the preliminary stages. While content migration may seem straightforward, aligning information with user needs takes strategic thought. For example, a new user may not expect benefits details to be housed under individual departments rather than a centralized HR section. By mapping content logically and eliminating duplication, CEL made content updates easier and improved overall navigation.
To better align with audience habits, Nassau BOCES implemented quick access shortcuts based on real user data, making the most-searched resources easy to find. Interactive features like filtering tools and improved internal linking enhance navigation across the site. With a flexible content management and navigation strategy, Nassau BOCES can continue evolving its web content with minimal upkeep.
Creating Accessible and Visual Design
No website redesign is complete without accessibility at the forefront. A critical aspect of the migration process was expanding Nassau BOCES’s brand with an ADA-compliant color palette with refined typography. While the organization had an extensive photo library, the previous website lacked an effective way to showcase it within the previous structure and lacked robust alt text. Thoughtfully integrated photography, paired with rounded elements, added warmth and approachability to the brand, enhancing its professional yet welcoming aesthetic.
The successful migration of Nassau BOCES’s website is more than just a technical upgrade—it’s a comprehensive shift toward a user-centered digital experience that is scalable for the future. Through careful planning, accessibility considerations, and strategic design, CEL helped create a website that meets the diverse needs of their audiences. From simplifying content and improving navigation to ensuring ongoing adaptability, the new site empowers Nassau BOCES to maintain a dynamic and user-friendly online presence. By aligning their content with real user behaviors and offering continued training and support, Nassau BOCES is poised to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape, making it easier for their community to access the valuable resources they provide.
Content was simplified, and new formatting structures improved overall usability. The internal search function was optimized, and the previously cluttered link lists were reorganized for faster access to key information. Outdated pandemic-related content and other excess data were removed, keeping information current and relevant. Friendly URLs enhanced both internal search and external linking. The employee portal was relocated to a dedicated subdomain, streamlining navigation and improving access to critical resources. By prioritizing accessibility and restructuring content, Nassau BOCES’s new website offers a more intuitive, inclusive experience for all users.
Nassau BOCES Communications Team joined CEL to present the new website design and features to the Board.
Transforming Web Management into a Team Effort
Beyond the redesign, CEL facilitated post-migration training, empowering the Nassau BOCES staff to manage the new website effectively. This included affirming best practices, accessibility guidelines, and strategies for updating internal processes to break old content habits. The renewed website design is built with flexibility in mind and set up for long term success, not just the BOCES’s current needs. Transitioning from a department-first content structure to a user-first approach is challenging, but CEL supports communications teams and web managers in navigating through technical conversations, elevating existing training resources, and bridging department goals for a cohesive digital experience.
