I’ve known Steve Sturdevant for years. We went to the same church while I was growing up. I worked for Sturdevant Air for a summer while I was a teenager. The old fashion hard work installing AC systems helped me to realize that perhaps I was a bit more suited to web developer life.
Sturdevant’s site was one of the first sites I created after the onset of the pandemic. Creating this site came with new challenges for both the business and myself.
About the Client
Sturdevant Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Inc. have served Hawaii for over 40 years. Currently, they have a staff of around 50 who mostly have stock shares in the company providing exceptional retirement. Their technicians are EPA Certified.
What was the old site like?
The old site was built with WIX. Many would assume that I would recommend against using platforms like WIX since I am such a strong advocate in the WordPress community. Platforms like WIX and Squarespace are great for starting a new business. I recommend WIX or Squarespace for low-budget projects.
After a business has created its website, said business will have little difficulty seeing the value I bring to the table. That being said, Sturdevant Air had far outgrown the design and features of their WIX site, and some updated digital marketing was more than warranted.
Services that Helped Sturdevant
1. Embedded chat widget, texting communication, and payment option
I implemented a system that allows members of Sturdevant’s team to communicate with customers via text. Potential customers can even send texts to the business from the website. This is also useful to update customers if a service technician may arrive early. They also can receive payments through this system and request reviews on Google.
2. Increased Google Reviews 8 to 41
Yelp and Facebook reviews are great, but their importance is minimal compared to reviews from Google. I always set businesses up to get as many Google reviews as possible. From 2016 to 2021, Sturdevant received 8 Google Business reviews. After my website at review request system was implemented in their business, they received 32 reviews over a year. That’s a 2000% increase in review generation, and I predict this amount will increase.
The site also automatically embeds five-star reviews from Facebook, Yelp, and Google into the site’s testimonials page. I also embedded reviews on the site’s front page with a slider. This is great for SEO because Google checks sites for frequent updates. The Google algorithm assumes websites with regular updates to be of higher quality. Higher quality sites are given priority in Google listings. So embedding reviews is a passive way to increase your site’s visibility (SEO).
3. Mobile Optimization
The previous site did not work well on mobile. It’s 2022, and smartphones have been around since 2004. When a site could only build for a desktop has come and gone long ago.
4. Generally Stronger Brand and Aesthetic
All I’ve spoken to have been quick to say that Sturdevant’s new site is beautiful. The site showcases a corporate and branded layout, with beautiful photos and videos by world-class photographer Sean M. Hower. The media on the site is so specific to the business, featuring the actual business location and members of the Sturdevant family. It brings a feeling of establishment to the company.
May 15, 2025 @ 12:51 am
Interesting read! It’s cool to see how your personal history with Sturdevant Air shaped your career path. I’m curious, though, what specific challenges did you face when transitioning their site from WIX to WordPress? It seems like a big leap for a business with such a long history. Also, do you think platforms like WIX still have a place for established businesses, or is WordPress always the better choice in the long run? I’d love to hear more about how the updated digital marketing strategies have impacted their business. What’s your take on the balance between simplicity and scalability when it comes to website platforms?