A retired teacher wants to read old newspapers. A fourth grader needs a local figure for a school project. A visitor off the highway wants to know if the museum is open. Historical societies serve all three, usually with a few volunteers and a modest budget, and the website is where most of them first meet you.
Open hours go first
The most common failure is missing hours. We put them on the home page, with the address and any appointment-only note. If you open seasonally, say which months and what happens outside them. A visitor driving fifty miles should never have to guess.
Right beside the hours, a short line on what they will see: a main exhibit, a small archive room, a walking tour.
What the collection page highlights
- ✓Featured objects or exhibits — a few, with photos and short stories
- ✓The local periods you cover — so searchers know your scope
- ✓Archive holdings — described by type, not an exhaustive list
- ✓Photos and maps — with permission to publish
- ✓Donate or loan an item — a short, careful note
Volunteers are the lifeblood
Historical societies run on docents, archivists and event helpers. The volunteer form lists the roles you need, such as greeting visitors, cataloging, digitizing photographs and helping with the annual event, and asks which weekdays are open. We keep the form short and say that orientation happens in person.
Anything involving collection handling rules is explained by your team, not by the site.
Research requests without chaos
- ✓What you can look up — names, property, local history
- ✓What the requester should include — a name, dates, a street
- ✓How long it may take — a plain estimate you choose
- ✓Fees if any — the amounts are yours to state
- ✓Where to send it — the short research form
Seasons and anniversaries
Summer tourism brings walk-ins and fall brings local-history talks. Local anniversaries create bursts of interest. A banner for the event of the month is easy to swap in and out.
What to expect, honestly
- ✓No digital archive or catalog database — we do not build searchable collections
- ✓Photos need your permission — you confirm rights before they appear
- ✓Donations through your giving tool — processor fees belong to that provider
One example of what your site could look like
This is one sample we designed. Yours is built around your business, your photos and your words, and we have more examples if you want to compare directions.
What it costs
Websites are priced one-time by size, plus Website Care at $30/month for hosting, HTTPS, backups, weekly checks and A/B testing. Every package includes a consultation, mobile-friendly design, copy we write for you, a contact form, essential search setup and 10 revision rounds. Monthly SEO is an optional add-on when you are ready for it.
Optional add-ons, billed separately
The prices above are for your website. These two are separate monthly products you can add now or later. Neither is part of the website price.
Monthly SEO, from $50/month: new pages published on your site every month. See Monthly SEO →
Business Spotlight, from $30/month: articles about your business, labeled as paid, published on The Company Chronicle. See Business Spotlight →
How it works
1. Consultation
We learn your services, customers and goals, in English or Spanish.
2. We write and design
We draft the words and build the site around your business.
3. 10 revision rounds
You review and request changes until it is right.
4. Launch and care
We launch, then Website Care keeps it hosted, backed up, checked weekly and A/B tested.
Keep reading
Volunteer sign-up websites · Websites for historical societies · A website without a logo or photos
