Case study: A faster, warmer home for JaneTeresa.com

Client

Jane Teresa Anderson is a dream analyst, dream therapist, mentor and author of eight books, and the creator of The Dream Academy online courses. Based in Tasmania, her website, JaneTeresa.com, showcases her podcasts, media appearances, books and services.

The challenge

The existing site leaned heavily on a black and white palette and used small type with limited control over font size. Visitors reported that text was hard to read. The look felt dated, and it no longer reflected current design trends or the warm, human tone of Jane Teresa’s work. We needed to modernise the presentation without disrupting the content or the site’s search visibility.

Goals

We set three clear objectives. Improve presentation and font size for readability. Maintain the site’s fast page loading speeds. Lift the presentation of blog posts and podcast episodes to better serve readers and listeners.

Approach

The platform remained WordPress. To minimise cost and disruption, we rebuilt the front end using Elementor and the Hello theme, then installed the new theme into the existing site. Content, URLs and analytics stayed in place, so there was no loss of search ranking. This approach delivered a modern skin with a clean, maintainable template structure, without a full content migration.

Audience and tone

The site serves three groups. Curious consumers looking for help with their dreams, casual enthusiasts, and more serious learners who want to deepen their understanding. The visual language needed to feel warm and human, while still reflecting expertise. We kept the existing logo and aligned the look and feel with The Dream Academy to create a consistent brand experience across properties.

Design decisions that made a difference

Readability came first. We reset the base font size, refined typography, and improved contrast. We reviewed focus states and heading hierarchy to support accessibility and clear scanning. The result is a calmer reading experience that suits long-form posts and podcast show notes. We designed dedicated templates for blog posts and for podcasts. Naming and metadata respect the format, so podcasts use episodes, while posts remain posts. This small detail gives visitors the right cues and helps the content team keep things tidy.

Speed and performance

The site runs on a modest shared hosting instance, so every optimisation counts. We used Elementor’s Theme Builder to centralise reusable elements like the site logo and header components. This improves cacheability and reduces page weight. Images were resized and optimised to hit better page load metrics. The outcome is a modern interface that remains quick across desktop, tablet and mobile. While there are no formal metrics to publish yet, the site is set up to pass common performance checks, with a structure that will scale as content grows.

Build and installation

From brief to launch took three weeks. We handled design, theme build, testing and installation within that window. Cutover required a short planned outage of about two hours to install the theme and complete final checks. Because we retained content, URLs and site structure, there was minimal risk and no SEO shock. Training needs were low. The back end and content workflow remained familiar for the client.

Homepage refresh, content intact

We rebuilt the homepage to deliver a stronger first impression and better signposting to core journeys, including podcasts, books, services and The Dream Academy. All other pages retained their content, but now inherit the new global styles and layouts through Theme Builder. This approach keeps maintenance simple and ensures a consistent look across the site.

Client feedback

Jane Teresa shared the update on LinkedIn:

“Delighted to announce my redesigned website at JaneTeresa.com, with huge thanks to Justin Tabari and James Williams at Asporea Digital who also designed and built my online learning platform, The Dream Academy, eight years ago. How time flies!

“JaneTeresa.com began as Dream.net.au in 1998. Yes, last century! While I’ve had a continuous web presence since then, the site has evolved over the decades in myriad ways none of us could have foreseen in 1998.”

What this means for the brand

The refreshed design reflects the warmth and credibility of Jane Teresa’s work, and it makes the content easier to read and navigate. Episodes and posts are clearly presented, the site feels modern and fast, and the brand now looks consistent across JaneTeresa.com and The Dream Academy. With a template-driven foundation, future updates are faster and safer, and the site can evolve without heavy rebuilds.

In short

A three-week template rebuild delivered a modern, accessible, and speedy site that keeps the content and search equity intact. Readers can settle in, listen, and learn with less friction. The brand now has a crisp, welcoming home that will serve for years.

Case Study: Boats and Yachts Website Rebuild

Client

A yacht sales business in Hong Kong led by Managing Director, Edward Coeburgh. The site is a core sales channel for buyers who want to browse inventory, compare options, and enquire with confidence.

The challenge

Edward asked Asporea Digital to rescue an ageing WordPress site that had slipped behind the times. Key functions no longer worked. The site had been compromised. Performance was slowing buyers to a crawl. The brief was clear. Keep the platform. Modernise the experience. Harden security. Restore trust without putting the business through a risky rebuild.

Goals

We set measurable targets to keep everyone aligned. Largest Contentful Paint under 2 seconds on typical mobile connections. Total Blocking Time well under 100 ms. Uptime at 99.9 percent or better. Remove existing malware, introduce daily off-site backups, and add protective layers to prevent a repeat incident.

Approach

We kept WordPress and rebuilt the front end with Elementor to accelerate delivery. The existing listings data model stayed in place, which avoided a painful migration and kept the sales team working. We fixed and modernised the legacy search and filtering code for current PHP versions. Visual standards were lifted while respecting the brand. Hosting moved to Asporea Hosting with Cloudflare in front for CDN and DDoS protection.

Design and user experience

The interface was refreshed with a dark blue and amber palette that fits the brand, and the existing logo was retained. Global navigation was simplified to reduce clicks to listings. The home page now puts the full inventory within easy reach straight from the hero so buyers can move from interest to browsing in one step. Listings present a clean grid with visible pricing and type filters to support quick comparison. Detail pages prioritise photography and core specs, with a simple enquiry path that removes unnecessary friction.

Engineering and data choices

We used WordPress with Elementor for theme building and quick iteration. The original data structure stayed intact, which cut downtime and eliminated migration risk while we focused on performance and stability. The legacy custom filtering code was deconstructed, audited, and rewritten for modern PHP. We added input validation and basic rate limiting on filter requests, ensured price and boat type filters perform reliably under real buyer flows, and implemented query-level caching to reduce repeated database work during common browsing sessions.

Performance optimisation

Media bloat was a major drag. We introduced an automated resizer and compression pipeline, served responsive image sizes, and lazy loaded galleries so buyers get speed without losing quality. On the front end we minified and deferred non-critical scripts, reduced plugin overhead, and consolidated style assets. Delivery was pushed to the edge using Cloudflare CDN so both Hong Kong buyers and travelling clients see fast response times.

Security remediation and hardening

We followed a disciplined clean-up process. The site went into maintenance mode while we took a verified clean backup of content. We scanned file systems and the database, removed malicious payloads and backdoors, and reinstalled core WordPress files. Admin credentials were rotated and unused accounts removed. We then updated core, themes, and plugins, locked file permissions, enabled two-factor authentication for administrators, and enforced least-privilege roles. Recovery is covered with daily off-site backups and retention, plus uptime monitoring. Cloudflare adds a protective layer for DDoS mitigation and CDN caching. The result is a stable stack that is tougher to breach and easier to recover.

Hosting and reliability

We moved the site to Asporea Hosting with Cloudflare in front. External uptime checks and basic application health checks run continuously. The target was 99.9 percent uptime. The observed result was 100 percent in the first 90 days.

Timeline

From brief to launch took one month. We completed discovery and a technical audit, delivered a light design refresh in Elementor for quick sign-off, rebuilt search and filters for current PHP, tuned performance and media, executed the security clean and hardening, then cut over to Asporea Hosting with Cloudflare.

Challenges and resolutions

Broken legacy filters were the biggest usability blocker. Ten-year-old code depended on deprecated functions. We reverse engineered the logic and rebuilt with supported PHP and sanitised inputs. Heavy historical media crippled load times. An image resizer, responsive variants, and compression fixed payloads without sacrificing visual quality. The compromise required a full clean and a disciplined rebuild of the software stack to close the door on reinfection.

Results in the first 90 days

• Largest Contentful Paint: 1.9 seconds.
• Total Blocking Time: 68 ms.
• Uptime: 100 percent.
• Security: Zero incidents reported.

Ongoing ownership

The client manages routine maintenance and engages Asporea for occasional content updates and assistance. With a hardened stack, disciplined media handling, and a CDN in front, the site is set up for steady, low-drama growth.

Lessons worth sharing

You do not always need a new platform. A pragmatic rebuild on the existing CMS can deliver speed, security, and reliability when you target the right bottlenecks. Fixing search and filters first pays off. Buyers forgive a lot, but not a broken path to the right boat. Media discipline matters. Right-size images and you unlock instant gains for mobile buyers.

 

Case study: Silverstrand Executive Recruitment

Client

Silverstrand is a Hong Kong based boutique executive recruitment firm with deep pan-Asian experience. The website is a primary channel for engaging C-suite candidates, mid-career professionals and hiring managers.

The challenge

Silverstrand’s existing site was dated and constrained by its platform. Publishing new roles was slow. There was no structured way for recruiters to move candidates through internal workflows. The site did not support multiple languages, which limited reach in the Hong Kong market. The brief was clear. Modernise the experience on WordPress, introduce role listings and recruiter workflows, add resume capture, and deliver a site in English and Traditional Chinese.

Goals

We aligned on three objectives. Move to WordPress for flexibility and speed of iteration. Add features that matter to recruitment operations, including role listings, applications and recruiter workflow tools. Make the site multilingual with English and Traditional Chinese, with simple language switching and consistent layouts in both scripts.

Approach

We built a fresh front end on WordPress using Elementor and the Hello theme for rapid iteration. We introduced a structured roles module that supports job listing, filtering and applications. We created authenticated recruiter tools so each consultant has an identity in the system, which allows candidates to be assigned and moved between recruiters without friction. Multilingual content is managed through a dedicated plugin so every page and role can be presented in both English and Traditional Chinese with a single click to switch.

Design and user experience

The tone is pan-Asian, confident and discreet. We retained the existing logotype to anchor brand recognition. The palette was refined using cues from current brand imagery, and typography was modernised across the site to complement the logo. Navigation was simplified so hiring managers can reach capability content fast, while candidates can jump straight to current opportunities. Role cards highlight title, location and seniority with a clear apply path. Detail pages keep the copy readable in both scripts, and the language toggle is visible without stealing focus.

Recruiter workflows

Each recruiter has a secure login and profile. Candidates captured via role applications or the general resume form are attached to a recruiter by default, then can be reassigned between consultants as needed. We implemented simple states to support internal movement without the overhead of a full ATS. The goal was to enable day-to-day collaboration while keeping data entry light. All of this sits inside WordPress so the team can work without switching tools.

Role listings and applications

Filters help candidates find the right roles quickly. Search supports common needs like keyword, function and location. Applications collect essential details and a resume upload, then route to the right recruiter for follow up. Admin users can publish, expire or duplicate roles to keep the board current.

Multilingual delivery

Every public page and every role supports English and Traditional Chinese. Editors can translate content side by side, and the plugin manages language pairs and menus. URLs remain clean in both scripts. The language switcher is consistent across desktop and mobile so users can swap context without getting lost.

Performance and security

We kept the build lean, reduced plugin overhead, and consolidated theme assets. Images are responsive and lazy loaded to keep mobile quick. Caching is enabled at the application layer, with page output tuned for WordPress on Asporea Hosting. Admin access is locked behind strong credentials and least-privilege roles. Routine updates and daily backups are in place so the site stays healthy without drama.

Hosting and reliability

The new site was built directly on Asporea servers, tested, then moved to Asporea Hosting at go live. There was no downtime at cutover. External checks watch availability and basic application health so issues are caught early.

Timeline

Key milestones were design sign-off, build, multilingual setup, workflow testing, and go live. The phased approach kept content work and technical setup moving in parallel, and allowed early review of English pages while Traditional Chinese translations were completed.

Challenges and resolutions

The biggest lift was designing recruiter workflows that help collaboration without adding the weight of a full ATS. We solved this with clear ownership, lightweight states and secure reassignment between recruiters. Delivering consistent readability in both scripts required careful typographic choices, especially base sizes and line height, so the experience feels premium regardless of language. The team also needed a simple way to keep roles current. Duplicating and expiring roles inside WordPress keeps that process fast.

Ongoing ownership

Silverstrand’s team manages day-to-day publishing. Asporea provides hosting, routine updates and occasional assistance. The site is set up to add deeper integrations later, should the firm introduce a dedicated ATS or CRM.

Tools and stack

CMS: WordPress

Builder: Elementor with Hello theme

Features: Role listings, applications, recruiter identities and reassignment

Multilingual: Plugin based English and Traditional Chinese with site-wide switcher

Front end: Optimised theme assets, responsive images, lazy loading

Security and care: Security roles, routine updates, daily backups

Hosting: Asporea Hosting

Lessons worth sharing

You can get a premium, multilingual recruitment site without jumping straight to a full ATS. Start with the workflows that matter, keep the build lean, and give recruiters simple tools that fit the way they work.