The Golden Mushroom was a small business in Malaysia involving in restaurant business. I had the opportunity to develop the website of the restaurant. This case study will expose the process of developing the website that was rated ‘Great’ by the guests of the restaurant.
About the client
The Golden Mushroom was established in 2017 to bring founder Mr. Shahriar Iqbal’s passion for food and beverages to life through an authentic fine dining experience. Located at 29, Golden Triangle 01, 48 & 49, Jln Paya Terubung, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia, The Golden Mushroom became a place where culinary artistry met innovative management.
The Golden Mushroom operated on the belief that success stemmed from listening to diverse ideas and encouraging bold thinking. By fostering an environment where team members could express their opinions freely, the restaurant created exceptional teamwork and extraordinary culinary creations.
Visitors to The Golden Mushroom experienced a commitment to excellence that ensured an unforgettable dining experience every time.
Problem statement
The Golden Mushroom, established in 2017 in Penang, Malaysia, had no website. This made it difficult to present its food to a wider audience. The restaurant could not take online reservations. As a result, it missed opportunities to attract new customers. The lack of an online presence also made it hard to engage with customers effectively. Solving this problem was essential for the restaurant to modernize and stay competitive.
Objective of the project
- Create a website for The Golden Mushroom.
- Showcase the restaurant’s food and menu online.
- Enable online reservations for customers.
- Improve customer engagement and communication.
- Enhance the restaurant’s digital presence and competitiveness.
Goal (Performance indicator)
Visitor Satisfaction: 50% of website visitors must rate the website as “great” in the survey conducted on the website.
Engagement Rate: Ensure at least 60% of visitors engage with the website (e.g., browsing multiple pages, viewing the menu, making a reservation).
Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure that 80% of users report a positive experience on mobile devices in feedback surveys.
My Journey Developing The Golden Mushroom’s Website
Developing The Golden Mushroom’s website was an exciting and rewarding experience. Using WordPress as the foundation, I aimed to create a site that captured the essence of the restaurant’s fine dining experience. From the beginning, I knew that effective communication with the client would be crucial to the project’s success.
Throughout the development process, I maintained close communication with Mr. Shahriar Iqbal and his team. We held numerous discussions to understand their vision and requirements fully. I presented initial drafts and prototypes, which were meticulously reviewed. Their feedback was invaluable, helping me refine the design and functionality to perfectly align with their brand and objectives. Each iteration brought us closer to a website that not only looked beautiful but also offered seamless navigation and functionality.
Incorporating SEO best practices and ensuring mobile responsiveness were key priorities. We selected high-quality images, crafted engaging content, and implemented an efficient online reservation system. This collaborative effort resulted in a website that effectively showcases The Golden Mushroom’s unique offerings and enhances their digital presence. The project highlighted the importance of client collaboration and clear communication in achieving a successful web development outcome.
Assessing the Target Vs Achievement
Website visitors’ experience survey:
| Rating | Percentage of Visitors | Number of Visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Great | 62% | 217 |
| Good | 20% | 70 |
| Average | 10% | 35 |
| Below Average | 8% | 28 |
| Total | 100% | 350 |
62% of users rated the website as ‘great’ (vs. our target of 50%), exceeding the target by a significant margin. Additionally, 20% of users rated it as ‘good,’ resulting in a total of 82% positive responses.
Users’ Experience On Mobile responsiveness
| Rating | Number of Responses | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Great | 100 | 40% |
| Good | 95 | 38% |
| Average | 30 | 12% |
| Below Average | 25 | 10% |
| Total | 250 | 100% |
In this survey, 78% ( vs our target 80%) of visitors rated the mobile responsiveness as either “Great” or “Good,” while the remaining 22% rated it as “Average” or “Below Average.” The total number of participants was 250. I was almost there to achieve the target user experience in terms of mobile responsiveness.
User engagement
The client game me positive feedback on the engagement rate. I asked him question about the bounce rate after 6 months of the deployment. However, he could not provide me any specific number. However, he was overall happy with the engagement of the users with the website.
Learning and Key Takeaway
Developing The Golden Mushroom’s website taught me the importance of clear communication and iterative feedback in web development. Collaborating closely with the client allowed me to align the website’s design and functionality with their vision, resulting in a user-friendly and visually appealing site.
A key takeaway from this project is the significance of user satisfaction and responsiveness. By focusing on mobile optimization and engaging content, I was able to exceed user expectations, with 82% of users providing positive feedback. This experience reinforced the value of adaptability and client collaboration in achieving successful outcomes.
