Cranaleith

Overview

Cranaleith, a retreat and conference center in Philadelphia, has provided a safe, welcoming space to over 65,000 people in the last 25 years. Despite their profound impact, their marketing was inconsistent and their website was outdated and cluttered, with years of unprofessional collaborations leaving the backend bloated and inefficient. We took on the challenge of equipping Cranaleith with a new modern and accessible website that better reflect’s their mission and boosts online visibility. Over 12 months, we delivered a 52.7% increase in page views and improved search visibility for core keywords like “retreat centers near me” and “retreat center Philadelphia.”

Top Analytics

• Total Clicks: ↑ 12.7% Increase
• Total Impressions: ↑ 53.5% Increase
• New Users: ↑ 19.4% Increase
• Sessions from Google: ↑ 49.4% Increase
• Mobile Clicks: ↑ 15.9% Increase

Project Goals & Strategy

During the discovery process, we held in-depth meetings with staff, conducted client, competitor, and market research, and connected with longtime volunteers, board members, and others to gain a clearer understanding of what they were hoping for in a new website. These were the key goals that emerged:

Increase Website Traffic

We needed to build a platform that was easy to discover, intuitive to navigate, and engaging for both prospective visitors and supporters.

Establish Branding Consistency

The previous website used outdated colors, logos, and typography that no longer reflected Cranaleith’s current brand identity.

Overhaul the Backend

Years of inconsistent website management had resulted in hundreds of unused pages and outdated plugins. This unnecessary bloat severely impacted site performance and created friction for both frontend users and backend administrators.

Position the Site as a Trusted Resource Library

We aimed to provide categorized articles, videos, and stories aligned with Cranaleith’s critical concerns. The former blog lacked structure and made it difficult for users to find relevant content.

Improve PageSpeed Insights Scores

Performance, accessibility, SEO, and best practices scores were significantly low due to the outdated and poorly built structure of the old website.

Optimize for All Devices

The user experience needed to be consistent across desktop, tablet, and mobile. The old site was not responsive, making mobile browsing especially difficult.

Create a Visual Storytelling Experience

Cranaleith’s greatest asset is its community. We made it a priority to highlight their stories through compelling photos, videos, testimonials, and impact-driven statistics.

Website Redesign

The Cranaleith website underwent a complete redesign. Our focus was to elevate the user experience, align the site with modern standards, and reflect the heart of the organization in a clear, engaging way. Each change was intentional, ensuring the site felt both mission-driven and professional while removing the clutter and confusion that had built up over years of neglect.

Design Overhaul

The old design was outdated and inconsistent with Cranaleith’s branding. We introduced a cleaner layout, modern typography, and intentional use of color and imagery to create a more welcoming and accessible interface. Every page was rebuilt from scratch with clarity, hierarchy, and conversion in mind.

Device Responsiveness

The previous site lacked proper mobile and tablet support. We built the new website to be fully responsive, ensuring every visitor, no matter the device, has a smooth, optimized experience. Navigation, layouts, and content all adjust seamlessly across screen sizes.

Performance Optimization

Before the redesign, the site scored poorly on key performance metrics, creating frustrating experiences for users and hurting performance. We optimized every layer of the site, from image compression and plugin cleanup to accessibility improvements and semantic structure, resulting in near-perfect scores across the board.

Analytics & Measurable Results

Following the launch, the results spoke for themselves. Cranaleith saw significant growth across all key performance areas—from traffic and engagement to visibility and search rankings. Website visits from Google increased nearly 50%, while email and social media traffic also surged, including a remarkable 467.5% jump from Facebook. Search Console data showed major improvements in impressions and clicks, with high-intent keywords like “silent retreats near me” and “retreat center Philadelphia” seeing exponential growth. User engagement also rose dramatically, with page views, session starts, and average engagement time all climbing. Across the board, the data confirmed that the new site wasn’t just more visually appealing, it was significantly more effective.

Website Growth & Traffic

• Active users: ↑ 20.5% Increase
• New users: ↑ 19.4% Increase
• Returning users: ↑ 22.5% Increase
• Sessions from Google: ↑ 49.4% Increase
• Sessions from Bing: ↑ 17.1% Increase
• Sessions from Email: ↑ 25.5% Increase
• Sessions from Facebook: ↑ 467.5% Increase

Search Console Performance

• Total Clicks: ↑ 12.7% Increase
• Total Impressions: ↑ 53.5% Increase

Top Query Growth (Example terms):

• “cranaleith spiritual center” → +30.8% clicks, +47.2% impressions
• “silent retreats near me” → +133% clicks, +211% impressions
• “spiritual retreats near me” → +70.6% clicks, +79.5% impressions
• “retreat center philadelphia” → +160% clicks, +55% impressions

Device Search Performance

• Mobile clicks: ↑ 15.9% Increase
• Desktop clicks: ↑ 8.3% Increase
• Tablet clicks: ↑ 19.6% Increase

Engagement Metrics

• Event count: ↑ 37.5% Increase
• Page views: ↑ 52.7% Increase
• Session starts: ↑ 121.8% Increase
• User engagement events: ↑ 32.7% Increase
• First visits: ↑ 119.4% Increase
• Average engagement time: 1m 52s — ↑ 15.7% Increase
• User stickiness (DAU/MAU): ↑ 43.7% Increase

Marketing Materials

Alongside the website redesign, we created a cohesive suite of print materials to strengthen Cranaleith’s offline presence. This included professionally designed booklets and brochures that mirrored the visual identity of the new website while clearly communicating key offerings, mission, and upcoming programs. Whether it was an overview of the center’s vision or a seasonal program guide, each piece was crafted to feel intentional, informative, and aligned with Cranaleith’s renewed brand direction.

Booklets

We designed many booklets targeting donors, supporters, and future visitors. Specifically, the general booklet, which highlights Cranaleith’s mission and offerings, has been printed and distributed throughout Philadelphia. The second was a 60-page booklet created specifically for the 25th Anniversary Gala, a milestone event that successfully raised over $300,000.

Brochures

Seasonal four-panel brochures were developed to promote Cranaleith’s programs and events. Each edition features a thoughtfully organized layout of offerings, allowing guests to easily explore upcoming opportunities and stay connected with what’s happening at the center.

Digital Marketing

To support the redesigned website and extend Cranaleith’s reach, we developed a comprehensive digital marketing strategy focused on increasing visibility, nurturing engagement, and driving action. Our efforts included optimizing email marketing campaigns, strengthening local SEO through the Google Business Profile, and building an organized, team-friendly social media calendar. Each initiative was grounded in research and built for long-term impact—connecting Cranaleith more deeply with its community both online and offline.

Email Marketing

We helped Cranaleith grow their email list to over 4,000 subscribers while maintaining an exceptional open rate of 40%. We redesigned their email templates to reflect the updated brand and made strategic decisions based on audience and competitor research—including shifting from weekly to bi-weekly sends to double exposure, clicks, and engagement. Currently, we’re implementing advanced segmentation strategies to tailor content based on user behavior and demographics. For example, someone based in California won’t receive emails about in-person events in Philadelphia but will be prioritized for virtual offerings.

Google Business Profile Optimization

We fully optimized Cranaleith’s Google Business Profile by updating hours, descriptions, categories, and regularly posting updates. The biggest improvement came from our review acquisition campaign, which doubled the total number of reviews—reaching 70 in just two weeks—while maintaining a 4.9-star rating. These updates led to a 22.7% increase in profile interactions over the most recent 3-month period compared to the previous one.

Social Media Calendar

To streamline social efforts across the team, we built a collaborative social media calendar. Posts were categorized by type (photo, video), platform (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and content theme (events, holidays, testimonials, volunteers, etc.). This shared calendar gave Cranaleith’s staff a clear, filterable roadmap for consistent posting, cross-platform alignment, and proactive planning.

What’s Next?

The result is a modern, visually rich website that tells Cranaleith’s story in an authentic and compelling way. The new build not only meets their needs but exceeds expectations—delivering a digital presence that resonates deeply with their community. Our work doesn’t stop at launch; we continue to support their mission through ongoing management and targeted email campaigns to a growing list of over 4,000 engaged subscribers.

Looking ahead, we’re expanding Cranaleith’s digital strategy even further:

• PPC Advertising: Launching Google Ad Grant campaigns to drive awareness, registrations, and donations with high-ROI keyword targeting.
• Advanced Email Segmentation: Refining audience segments to deliver more relevant, personalized messaging that increases opens, clicks, and conversions.
• Event Presenter Media Kit: Creating a branded toolkit that empowers guest presenters to promote their programs while elevating Cranaleith’s reach and consistency.
• Virtual Tours: Developing immersive virtual experiences of the grounds, allowing anyone—anywhere—to explore Cranaleith’s 10-acre property and sacred spaces.
• Donor & Volunteer Video Series: Producing story-driven videos that showcase the impact of giving and volunteering, helping deepen engagement and inspire new supporters.

Each next step builds on the strong foundation we’ve created—continuing to position Cranaleith as a vibrant, visible, and mission-driven organization in the digital world.