When I decided to return to teaching martial arts at the Metamora Park District in 2022, I realized one critical thing: I needed a website.
For years, my program operated without an online presence.
With limited time and budget for advertising, I wanted a platform that could both help prospective students find us and serve as a resource hub for current students.
The Challenge
Our program had no digital footprint, and I wanted to change that.
My goals were simple but important:
- Make the program discoverable for people searching for karate or tai chi in Metamora.
- Provide easy-to-access resources for students, from newsletters to tutorials.
- Do all of this without relying heavily on advertising.
Essentially, I needed a website that could attract new students while serving as a training resource for existing ones.
I also had to figure out how to manage building and maintaining this site as a solo operator balancing a full-time job and family commitments.
My Role
As the head instructor, owner, and sole designer/developer, I took on every part of this project myself.
Fortunately, my professional experience leading website redesigns gave me a strong foundation in planning, designing, and optimizing a site.
From writing content to creating tutorials, embedding videos, and setting up downloadable instructions, I managed everything.
The Process
I started by mapping out the site with a sitemap, but I leaned heavily on the flexibility of Salient and WPBakery Builder to structure pages quickly.
Student Resources
- Newsletters: I send out email newsletters with class updates every two weeks. To get better mileage out of this content, I integrated an XML feed from MailChimp so students and parents could view these updates directly on the site.
- Video Tutorials: I created YouTube videos organized by rank, starting from beginner white belts to advanced black belts.
- Written Instructions: Google Docs complement the videos with detailed, step-by-step movement guides.
Learning the tools—WordPress, Salient, and WPBakery—was part of the challenge, but my familiarity with them helped streamline the process.
I also incorporated basic SEO strategies, from metadata to blog posts, to increase visibility, though inbound leads remain a work in progress.
Despite balancing this project with full-time work and family life, the site came together in about a month.
I’ve also spent a month or so rebuilding other parts, like a revamped resources section I completed at the tail end of 2024.
Technical Highlights
- Platforms & Tools: WordPress, Salient, WPBakery Builder, MailChimp, YouTube, Google Docs
- Features: Resource pages with embedded videos and downloadable instructions, XML feed for newsletters, responsive design
- Customization: No custom coding beyond what WPBakery allowed, keeping the project manageable
Results & Impact
The website is actively used by students, helping them access tutorials and reference materials outside of class.
One student even assists by pointing out typos and asking for clarifications on movements, which has helped improve the content.
I also track metrics like page views, video plays, and newsletter engagement to understand usage patterns.
Key Takeaways
- Start small and build: Don’t try to launch everything at once. Begin with core features and expand gradually.
- Balance content and marketing: A website can serve both instructional and promotional purposes.
- Expect the unexpected: Building a site taught me more about WordPress and site design than I anticipated. Having a clear vision from the start is critical to avoid getting stuck.
This project reinforced an important lesson: a website can be more than just a digital brochure.
For a small program like mine, metamoramartialarts.com is a hub for learning, a resource center, and a way to connect with prospective students—all while being manageable for one person to maintain.