Service Matters: What to Look for in a School Website Provider
What makes a great school website? Of course, it needs to look great—on any browser or device. It needs to be accessible for users with disabilities. It needs to present information in a way that is clear and easy to understand and navigate for all users.
To create and maintain a great school website, schools need to look beyond the mechanics of the CMS to something equally important: service. School webmasters need ongoing support and service to make sure their websites continue to meet their needs and the needs of their communities.
That’s why eChalk has made service one of the cornerstones of our school website offering. We recognize that most schools do not have professional web developers on staff. eChalk schools know they always have someone they can call when they have questions, need help solving a problem, or want to make a suggestion for future CMS development. Perhaps that’s why we maintain a 9.5/10 customer satisfaction rating for our onboarding process.
These are the elements of service that we believe are critical for a successful school website launch and ongoing relationship.
Fast, Easy Website Transition and Onboarding
Schools shouldn’t have to do all the work themselves when creating a new website or switching website providers. Our “white glove” transition services make creating a new website or transitioning from another provider fast and easy, with minimal effort on the part of school staff.
We can help schools with every stage of the transition process, from website planning and design to content migration and site optimization. We can even provide branding and writing services for schools who want some extra support to make their stories come to life. The entire process can be done in as little as two to three weeks. The result? A beautiful, modern website that fully complies with ADA requirements and showcases your school’s unique strengths and story.
“It was incredibly fast and efficient. I have already recommended it to my district leaders.” (Emma Lazarus High School for English Language Scholars)
Emma Lazarus High School for English Language Learners - Home Page
Knowledge and Expertise
Our team includes subject matter experts on website accessibility, website design, communication, and branding. We don’t just help our customers understand how to use our CMS. We build the capacity of your staff to maintain a great school website on their own over the long run. Our professional development, ongoing support, and in-platform tools (like eChalk GUIDE) are designed to instill website best practices. And if you have specific questions, our team is happy to talk with you to share our expertise.
“The eChalk staff overall has been very helpful and accommodating throughout the entire process. The facilitator was very patient and made the information very clear & easy to understand.” (The Walt Disney Magnet STEAM School)
Walt Disney Magnet STEAM School - About Us Page
Professional Development
We know that even though our CMS has been designed to be simple and intuitive for non-professionals to use, it is important to have effective training. We can provide professional development to make sure everyone on your staff who is responsible for website maintenance is confident in their ability to use the CMS moving forward. We allow plenty of time to answer your specific questions and can even tailor our training to your needs.
One the training is done, customers also have access to plenty of resources in the eChalk Help Center. The Help Center is organized for easy self-paced learning, with step-by-step instructions and video tutorials for site administrators, teachers, group managers, and trainers. Whether you need a quick-start tutorial for a new user or in-depth information on specific topics like adding video files or managing a group calendar, it’s all here.
“Everyone has been great to work with and so helpful. I especially enjoyed the professional development session with Dana and working with Tinsley. Thank you!” (Magnet Academy of Art and Science Exploration)
Magnet Academy of Art and Science Exploration - Home Page
Ongoing Personal Service and Support
We don’t leave you hanging when the transition is done. With eChalk, you always have someone you can call if you have questions, need help troubleshooting, or just want to talk through some ideas to make your site even better. And chances are, the person picking up the phone will be someone you know by name, and who knows you and your school, too. We take pride in offering service with a personal touch, so you know you always have someone at your side.
“Love our new website! Tinsley, Laura, Dana, and Jenny were so informative and helpful. I would recommend eChalk to anyone looking for a great service.” (Queens Explorers Magnet School for Global Conservation and Service Learning)
Queens Explorers Magnet School for Global Conservation and Service Learning - Academics Page