We created a completely new brand identity and logo for What’s in Hayling before designing and developing a powerful online directory for the local community. The new website brings businesses, events, news and local guides together within one easy-to-use platform, giving residents and visitors a simple way to explore everything Hayling Island has to offer.

A major part of the development involved creating advanced search and filtering functionality. Visitors can search business listings by category and use dedicated filters to find relevant events by date and event type. The website has been carefully structured around user experience, allowing people to reach the information they need quickly without having to search through large numbers of listings.

We built a flexible membership and subscription system for local businesses, with Free, Standard and Premium listing packages alongside featured homepage placements. Businesses can choose monthly payments or discounted annual subscriptions, with the website automatically controlling the features available within each package. These include enhanced contact details, opening times, social media links, image galleries, priority placement and advertising opportunities.

Users can submit their own business information and local events through simple online forms. These submissions are sent to the What’s in Hayling team for approval, allowing them to review and publish content without entering everything manually. This keeps ongoing maintenance to a minimum and makes it easier for the directory to grow. The next development phase will include individual business dashboards, allowing listing owners to update and manage their own information.

We also created a flexible blog and advertising system within the website. The team can publish local guides, news, useful information and business features, while built-in advertising spaces provide further promotional opportunities and potential income streams. Everything has been developed with an easy-to-manage backend, giving the website owners control over listings, events, subscriptions, payments, advertising and editorial content.

The website was designed with both SEO and user experience at the centre of the project. Its structure, content and technical foundations were carefully planned to improve search visibility, while the responsive design provides a smooth experience across desktop, tablet and mobile devices.

Since the rebrand and website relaunch, What’s in Hayling has already seen an increase in traffic. The combination of a stronger visual identity, improved usability and a more considered SEO structure is helping the website reach more people and build a stronger online presence within the local community.