customer project Westland Accountancy
A site with a recognizable identity and clear back end
Ferry Zuiderwijk is co-owner of Westland Accountancy. for which Buro Staal created the new website. "I started when I was 17 and have now been active in accountancy for about 25 years. 12 years ago we started Westland Accountancy with the three of us, now we have 17 people in the office. And number 18 and 19 are on their way. With a successful and fast-growing company comes a professional website."
The assignment
"Even though we are growing fast, we remain involved and close. That philosophy is very much in demand. Especially in this area, because many smaller offices have merged into large organizations," Ferry says. "Westland is an entrepreneurial region and we want to be close to our clients and take care of them."
Westland Accountancy came to us for a new website.
"We offer a full-service package and also assist the entrepreneur himself," Ferry says. "Our clients are mostly SMEs with up to 50 employees, but without a financial director. Potential clients need to get a good picture of our company and what we stand for."
The situation
"We are ahead of our competitors in offering automated solutions. In this way we can really unburden the client and save a lot of time, allowing the entrepreneur to focus on what he is good at. This does really set us apart from other accounting firms," Ferry explains.
We felt that their story could be done better with a new look. "Basically, we were happy with our old website, but the back end was outdated and could not be updated. Buro Staal has been a client of ours for some time and we asked them to build a new site for us. Annemieke quickly came up with an idea for the color scheme. We were very excited about that and then the new look was implemented everywhere."
"Buro Staal's sites always look different than calibrated. We are very happy with this look."
Ferry - Westland Accountancy
The goal
"We are by no means a boring office," Ferry says proudly. "We have a very nice team here of all Westlanders. And we mainly work for Westland entrepreneurs. Well, then your site is allowed to stand out, be different and stand out."
The approach
"We didn't think in advance that it would go this way," Ferry says. "The old site was very white. I thought that was fresh and modern. When Annemieke suggested a new color scheme I had to get used to it. But the more you look at it, the nicer the look. Then we went with it."
The old website was indeed a bit 13 in a dozen. It was nice to be able to offer advice on this that was well taken. It gives the site a very own, recognizable look. We also made the site easier to use, put all content in a solid WordPress environment and built it for long-term use. The backend is clean and uncluttered. This site will last for a long time.
"The rest of the process went smoothly. At least, we did have a lot to do. Getting new photos and videos taken, writing texts, making decisions. It was a lot of work, in between the day-to-day business. But I'm glad we did it."
For the to-do lists, we used Asana. "We also had an outside marketing person working with us. It was handy that she could get into it, too."
"You can clearly see the developments in WordPress on the backend."
Ferry - Westland Accountancy
The result
"Internally and externally, we have received positive feedback. Okay, our existing customers don't visit the site easily, except sometimes on the news page, but news we share in other ways. The site is primarily for potential clients. And in every acquisition conversation we hear back that the site looks good."
"In terms of functionalities, the site hasn't changed much. We can post news items more easily, but otherwise the site mainly tells who we are. Customers choose us anyway. The pictures and look have to be good. That has succeeded."
"I am very happy with Buro Staal and how it went. Nothing but praise!"
Ferry - Westland Accountancy
"I am very satisfied with the cooperation with Buro Staal and with the result. Annemieke was my regular contact and occasionally I spoke to Rick for technical issues. Hosting and maintenance run at Buro Staal. Questions or adjustments are handled quickly. I don't have to do much to the site myself. It is just fine."
