#United States #American Legion #Des Plaines #Americaneagle.com #Kentico

Americaneagle.com Revamps The American Legion's Website

Americaneagle.com, a renowned global digital agency, has recently unveiled a significant transformation of The American Legion's digital landscape by launching a cutting-edge, scalable website built on the Xperience by Kentico platform. This vital digital overhaul amplifies the organization’s capacity to engage users, manage extensive content, and prepares its team for sustained success in a rapidly evolving digital age.

Founded in 1919, The American Legion is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to veterans' service in the United States, boasting around 1.6 million members. As a voice for veterans, active-duty military, and their families, the organization actively advocates for their rights and benefits across the nation. This legacy website needed modernization to reflect The American Legion's vibrant spirit and extensive service offerings.

The previous website had fallen behind, which posed challenges for users and the organization alike. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive redesign rather than a mere update, The American Legion sought a solution that aligned with its Microsoft-based ecosystem while addressing the site's scale, which includes over 85,000 content pages. The urgency for a modern approach could not be overlooked, prompting selection of Americaneagle.com as the ideal partner due to its stellar reputation for delivering tailored digital solutions and expertise in robust .NET environments.

Key objectives for the new website included simplifying backend processes, improving the site architecture, and providing a flexible, user-friendly platform to adapt to the diverse and evolving needs of its audience. As Mike Svanascini, President of Americaneagle.com, stated, “We’re excited to unveil The American Legion’s new website, which represents a significant step forward in its digital evolution. The new platform empowers content teams, enhances user engagement, and provides the tools the organization needs to deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for its audience.”

Strategic Digital Integration

The redevelopment project utilized the latest version of Kentico, selected for its advanced Content Hub capabilities enabling seamless content creation, management, and repurposing. This transition was crucial for migrating 23,000 news articles, preserving SEO value, and ensuring content coherence. Additionally, an integration with Woodwing allowed for the retention of established editorial workflows, to facilitate the publication of around 10 news articles daily along with videos, podcasts, and various media products.

The backend was notably simplified, with the reduction of 68 disparate content types down to just eight standardized types. Additionally, flexible widgets and reusable content blocks were introduced to ensure visual and functional consistency across different pages. This dramatic overhaul not only expedited content and campaign rollouts but also introduced robust user engagement features, including forms for submitting memorials, reunions, and events, alongside a structured approval system ensuring high content quality.

Dean Kessel, Chief Marketing Officer of The American Legion mentioned, “The previous website’s complexity affected user experience. Thanks to Americaneagle.com, our website has been modernized to improve usability while emphasizing what truly makes our organization vital to veterans and their families.”

Enhanced User Experience and Engagement

Significant features of the revamped site encompass:

• - User-generated Content Capabilities: Visitors can submit events and stories, reviewed and published through a seamless approval process, specifically showcasing Legion Baseball Centennial contributions.
• - Enhanced Content Management Tools: Kentico's Content Hub ensures efficiency and consistency in content reuse across the platform.
• - Comprehensive Training Sessions: Americaneagle.com conducted extensive training for the client’s marketing and media teams, ensuring they are well-equipped to effectively manage the new site.

The project's launch signifies a paradigm shift in The American Legion's digital strategy, focusing on measurable conversions such as boosting memberships, increasing event participation, and enhancing content engagement. With a new high-performing scalable platform, The American Legion is positioned to further its mission and engage its audiences effectively.

Through strategic partnerships, Americaneagle.com continues to establish itself as a trusted Kentico agency, committed to delivering exceptional end-to-end digital solutions across diverse sectors, helping clients unlock their full potentials.

For more information about Americaneagle.com and its Kentico development services, visit Americaneagle.com. The new website for The American Legion can be explored at www.legion.org.