The Junior League

Introduction to the Member Essentials Public Website Migration

Welcome to the Junior League Public Website Migration Mini Guide. This guide is designed to assist member volunteers of the Junior Leagues in navigating the process of migrating their League's website to the new Member Essentials Public Site platform using Wordpress. Whether you are tech-savvy or new to digital tools, this guide aims to provide you with a clear, step-by-step approach to making this transition smooth and successful.

Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively manage and update your League's website, ensuring it serves as a valuable resource for your members and the community.

Understanding the Website Migration Process

Website migration involves transferring your current League's website content and functionalities to the new Member Essentials Junior League Public Website platform. This process will help unify the online presence for all Leagues, improving user experience, and aligning your website with the updated standards and features offered by AJLI.

The migration process includes several key steps:

1. Initial Setup: You will be introduced to the new platform and provided with a demonstration using the AnyCity.jl.org or the AnyTown.jl.org demo sites. Your Public Site experience depends on your Member Essentials subscription.

2. Content Documents: Using the tools and instructions provided in the Content Documents, you will fill in your information using the answer key provided. AJLI is responsible for filling in your new Home, About, Community, Join Us, Support Us, and Contact pages.

3.  Site Migration Plan: You will gather and plan the content needed for the new site, including text, images, and other media. You are then free to add subpages using the content from your old website to the new platform. (See support article here.)

4. Develop Your Site Design Plan – Again, we will populate the Home, About, Community, Join Us, Support Us pages for you. As it relates to your current website content, your league will be responsible for creating, designing, editing more pages and subpages that you wish to display on the new site.

5. Finalization and Review: Before going live, you will have an opportunity to review the new site, making any necessary adjustments. 

6. Launch: Once everything is in place and verified, your new website will be launched, making it accessible to your members and the public.

Throughout this guide, we will delve into each of these steps in more detail, providing you with the knowledge to confidently manage the migration process.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used for creating and managing websites. It's a flexible and user-friendly platform that powers a significant portion of the web, from small personal blogs to large corporate sites.

At its core, WordPress provides a structure for website creation and management that is accessible even to those with limited technical expertise. Here’s why it's a preferred choice for many:

• Ease of Use: WordPress is known for its intuitive interface, making it easy for users to add, edit, and manage content on their websites.
• Customization: It offers a wide range of themes and plugins, allowing users to customize the look and functionality of their site to meet specific needs.
• Community Support: Being open-source and widely used, WordPress has a large community of users and developers. This community offers extensive support, tutorials, and resources.
• Scalability: WordPress sites can grow and evolve with your League’s needs. Whether you’re adding new pages, functionalities, or redesigning the site, WordPress can accommodate these changes.
• SEO-Friendly: WordPress is designed with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind, helping your site rank well in search engine results.

In the context of your Member Essentials Public Site, WordPress acts as the backbone, allowing you to create a dynamic, engaging, and easy-to-navigate website for your League. In the following sections, we'll guide you through logging into WordPress, adding content, and customizing your site.

In addition to the features mentioned, an important aspect of the Member Essentials Public Site using WordPress is its seamless integration with the Member Essentials app. This integration brings several key benefits to your website:

• Members Portal: The integration allows for 'Members Only' section on your website.
• Event Integration: Any events entered into the Member Essentials backend will automatically be displayed on your public site. This feature ensures that your League's events are easily accessible, increasing visibility and participation. Members and the public can view these events, and you have the option to specify whether an event is open to all or restricted to members only.

This integration is a powerful way to ensure your website is a dynamic, up-to-date reflection of your League’s activities, while also providing a streamlined experience for both your members and the public.

Accessing WordPress: Secure Login with OnePassword

Once the content documents have been successfully uploaded to your Member Essentials Public Site, the next step is to access your WordPress dashboard. To ensure the security of your login credentials, we utilize OnePassword, a secure password management tool.

How to Log in Using Credentials Sent via OnePassword:

• Receiving Your Credentials: After the completion of your site's setup, I will create a unique username and password for your site's admin access. These credentials are critical for logging into your WordPress dashboard.
• Secured Link Delivery: Your login details will be sent to you through a secure link provided by OnePassword. This link ensures that your sensitive information is transmitted safely and is protected from unauthorized access.
• Link Expiration: The OnePassword link I send will be set to expire 14 days after it is created. This gives you ample time to retrieve your credentials securely. It’s important to access this link and note down your login details before the expiration date.
• First-Time Login: Once you receive your credentials, visit your WordPress site’s login page and enter the username and password provided. It is recommended to change your password after your first login for added security. 
• NOTE: Please do not delete the AJLI login from the account.

After Your Migration: Support, Collaboration, and Training

Upon successfully migrating to your new Member Essentials Public Website, our commitment to your League's digital success continues. Here’s what you can expect in terms of support, collaboration, and training:

Support:

• Continuous Assistance: Post-migration, we provide ongoing support to address any issues or questions that arise with your website.
• Email and Consultation: You can reach out to us via email or book consultations for more in-depth assistance. Whether it's troubleshooting, updates, or general inquiries, our team is ready to help.

Collaboration:

• Working Together: Our relationship with your League is a collaborative partnership. We welcome your feedback and ideas to continually enhance the website's performance and functionality.
• Community Engagement: We encourage you to engage with the broader AJLI community. Sharing experiences and best practices with other Leagues can provide valuable insights and foster a supportive environment.

Training:

• Empowering Your Team: To ensure your League can effectively manage and update your website, we offer comprehensive training sessions. These can be tailored to the needs of your team, covering various aspects of the WordPress platform and Member Essentials integration.
• Scheduled Webinars and Workshops: Regularly scheduled webinars and workshops will be available, covering a range of topics from basic website management to advanced features. These sessions are designed to enhance your team’s skills and confidence in managing the website.
• Resource Library: Access to a library of resources, including how-to guides, video tutorials, and FAQs, will be provided to support your ongoing learning and development via our Knowledge Base.

The transition to the new Member Essentials Public Website is just the beginning. Our goal is to ensure that your League not only has a functional and aesthetically pleasing website but also the knowledge and resources to make the most of your online presence. We look forward to a fruitful and lasting collaboration.