Approach
Stakeholder & User Interviews
Content Strategy & Site Map
Website Design
Launch

Goals
Implement design direction and build new marketing site
Show the platform in context so potential users can identify how to use the product
Highlight current business partnerships in well listed case studies
Increase platform sign ups and inquiries for partners, investors, and users
Stakeholder & User Interviews
To kick off this process I researched the history of Sou Sou. I was amazed to learn about the long tradition of women all around the world, banding together in small groups to systemize a savings plan.
These savings regularly provide large payouts toward funding dreams of financial independence. The founder of Sou Sou is a former US Ambassador and learned of the tradition on her travels. She was inspired to create a platform to empower users.
Creating a website to market this concept , I interviewed company stakeholders and potential users of the product. Creating a discussion guide I was able to uncover the following insights
Stakeholder Painpoints
- The concept of Sou Sou is not easily communicated
- A modern minimal website would excite visitors
- Increase analytical benchmarks and conversion rates
- Promote trust – credibility as a world class financial tool
- The traffic was not tied to searches or social media. SEO not properly integrated resulting in marketing team motivation to create a new platform strategy
User Painpoints
- Many Americans don’t know the history of Sou Sou, but find the concept interesting. They needed a simplified way to learn more
- Lots of first generation Americans prefer to Sou Sou within their own community, not digitally
- Second generation Americans have heard about Sou Sou but can’t imagine a digital version. They are interested in trying it out
- Current website displayed no trust, or transparency of buying into Sou Sou as an eCommerce product
Interview Synthesis
We want to create a marketing website that increases understanding and interest of our product
by giving site visitors an overview of the invest Sou Sou process, highlighting current partnerships
so that we can generate more partner relationships and raise investment dollars
Content Strategy & Sitemap
The existing site had great content, but to drive traffic it needed to be re-organized and simplified.
I began by listing the existing content and grouping into sections. Those sections then became site pages. Making columns with section labels, I organized the content and started to eliminate duplicated information and write bold headings for each page. Once the page tone was defined I listed content and order based on user and stakeholder feedback. Below is the final content structure and wireframes.
Home
- Banking for the culture
- Who we are
- Client uses cases
- What we do
- Product & services
- Careers
- Press & partners
How Sou Sou Works
- A global approach
- How it works
- 5 Step process
Careers
- We are hiring
- Company info
- List of open roles
- Link for email inquiry
Culture
- Inspired by tradition
- Banking for the culture
- Intro
- Sou Sou building blocks
- Our story timeline
- Awards & recognition
- Our reach
- Partners
Use Cases
- Case title
- Client name
- Project image
- Our approach
- How it works
- Value proposition
- Partners
Contact
- Intro
- Email links
- Locations
Wireframes

Design System
When constructing the design system I referenced insights received in the interview process. The wording that often came up was luxurious, minimal, sophisticated, inspirational, efficient, innovative. All elements were selected to invoke the visual language of these words.
Color pallet was kept simple to not distract from website content. I choose black, white and a pop color of turquoise.
Font roboto is clean and modern sans serif typeface that is flexible in all font weights, and colors.
Links & buttons were kept simple and clean to drive more user interaction.
Vibrant imagery to communicate the powerful tradition of Sou Sou and to connect the roots to the new visual language of the website refresh.

Imagery



Design
Now that the plan was in place it was time to move the design forward and launch.
The original website was build on Shopify, I recommended a re-platform to WordPress where the Sou Sou team felt more comfortable maintaining changes on their own.
After securing credentials I followed the content strategy and sitemap to build pages and sections. Pulling together the design elements of color, typography, icons, buttons and imagery. I created a visual language that communicated the brand and promoted trust through consistency.

Business Impact
After launch Invest Sou Sou has seen an increase in the performance matrix and increase to the number of unique visitors. Those visitors are spending more time on the site and viewing more pages. Visitor actions have increased with sign ups, inquiry emails and survey participation.
User Impact
After launch I tested with the same user group from the initial interview phase. The feedback was very positive in that they now had a full understanding of the concept and platform. 50% of users would engage once the platform launches. All said they would recommend the site to friends.