Alicante Like a Local

Introduction

Alicante Like a Local is a platform built around local knowledge and personal guidance. With over 20 years of experience in Alicante, it helps people get more out of their stay, from insider tips to practical support with bigger plans such as relocation.
The brand stands for personal, stylish and well thought out solutions.

The existing website no longer reflected that promise. What started as a practical WordPress site had grown into something that lacked structure, consistency and scalability. A solid foundation was needed to support future growth.

The situation before the migration

The old website had been online for around three years, possibly longer. Over time, it had grown organically, page by page, without a clear overarching structure.

This resulted in several issues:

The website was not properly responsive. On mobile and tablet, elements shifted or overlapped.
There was no visual consistency. Color blocks did not work well together and created a restless look.
Alignment and spacing were inconsistent, which made the site feel chaotic.
There was no clear menu structure, making it difficult for visitors to find information.
The overall page flow lacked logic and psychology. Visitors were not guided naturally through the content.

It was clear that the website had not been built from a strategic or structural perspective, but rather assembled piece by piece without a solid framework.

read also the blog about: Common design mistakes and how to avoid them

Multilingual setup and SEO limitations

The website was technically multilingual, but the translations were handled through automatic Google Translate. While this seemed convenient at first, it caused serious limitations:

Only the Dutch pages had real SEO value.
English pages were not properly indexed or optimised.
Translations were inconsistent and sometimes incorrect.
Content was not adapted to different audiences per language.

The challenge

This project was not about a simple redesign. The challenge was much broader:

A full migration from WordPress to Sanity.
Restructuring content instead of copying it one to one.
Setting up multilingual content properly from the ground up.
Creating a consistent and calm design structure.
Building a scalable website that could grow with the platform.
Preserving the personal tone and identity of Alicante Like a Local.

This required a strategic approach, not quick fixes.

The approach

The process started with analysis, not development.

First, the existing content was reviewed to understand its purpose and value. Then a clear content structure was defined, focusing on logic, hierarchy and user flow.

The website was rebuilt using reusable content blocks, with a clear separation between content and design. This makes the site easier to manage, easier to expand and more future proof.

Multilingual content was set up manually and strategically. Each language now has its own content, structure and SEO value. No automatic translations, but deliberate choices per audience.

The migration itself was done in phases to minimise risks and ensure stability throughout the process.

From chaos to structure

The biggest difference is not just visual, but structural.

Every page now follows a clear and logical layout.
Navigation is predictable and easy to understand.
Content blocks are consistent and reusable.
The design feels calm, professional and balanced.
The website communicates trust and clarity.

This benefits both visitors and the site owner, making the platform easier to use and easier to maintain.

The result

Alicante Like a Local now has:

A professional, structured website.
Proper multilingual setup with SEO value per language.
A consistent design that matches the brand.
A platform that can grow with new content and ideas.
A website that supports the business instead of limiting it.

The website now reinforces the expertise and story behind the brand.

Why this approach works

Instead of choosing short term solutions, the focus was on building a strong foundation. A website should be a business asset, not just an online brochure.

By prioritising structure, clarity and long term thinking, the result is a platform that will remain relevant and usable for years to come.

About this project

This case study reflects how I work. First understanding, then structuring, then building. Always with attention to both the visitor and the entrepreneur behind the website.

If you are unsure whether your current website still supports where your business is heading, it is often worth reviewing the structure before starting a redesign.

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Case Study | From an unstructured WordPress site to a professional multilingual platform