Title: Strategy & Research Author: GLIDE Support Published: September 21, 2026 Last modified: September 30, 2026 --- Strategy & Research # Know what to prioritize before you build We audit the site you have, interview your stakeholders, and research the people you serve. You leave with a sequenced improvement plan, priced by phase, with the reasoning your leadership asks for. [Book a Discovery Call](https://www.glidedesign.com/services/strategy/?output_format=md#form) ![Strategy & Research](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/strategy-hero- 1400x1316.png "Strategy & Research") What our clients say > “ > We had multiple sites, all built on custom platforms, that the GLIDE team tackled. > They were strategic and methodical with all recommendations. At every step, > they showed their expertise while explaining things in a way that was easy to > understand. > ” > ![Jennifer Garza – LONG – GOOGLE](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/ > jennifer-garza-300x300.jpg "Jennifer Garza – LONG – GOOGLE") > Jennifer Garza > Director of Marketing ## Research can change everything ![Strategy & Research](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/ccp-hero-image. png "Image") Center for Child Protection ### Personas changed the plan Refining their personas led to accessibility work and Spanish-language search for the families they serve. ![Parachute Health](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/parachutehealth- list@2x.webp "Image") Parachute Health ### A site for the old company They’d outgrown a startup site. Research set the positioning for a platform that matches their scale. ![Cut + Dry](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/cut-and-dry-List-Image. png "Image") Cut + Dry ### Three audiences, no path Their site spoke to three audiences at once. Research split it into three clear routes, each led by outcomes. ![davisphinneyfoundation-list@2x](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/ davisphinneyfoundation-list@2x.png "Image") Davis Phinney Foundation ### Fifty pathways lost visitors Hundreds of Parkinson’s resources, dozens of ways in. UX research sorted it into a few clear paths. ![Black Clutch Logo](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/logo- 05.svg) 17 Reviews ![Black Google Logo](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/logo- 04.svg) 31 Reviews ![Black HubSpot Logo](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/logo- 01.svg) Solutions Partner ![Black WPEngine Logo](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/logo- 06.svg) Agency Partner ![Black Clutch Logo](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/logo- 05.svg) 17 Reviews ![Black Google Logo](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/logo- 04.svg) 31 Reviews ![Black HubSpot Logo](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/logo- 01.svg) Solutions Partner ![Black WPEngine Logo](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/logo- 06.svg) Agency Partner Travis McAshan Founder & CEO Brooke Miceli Vice President Kimberly Yount Director of Client Services Jessica McDaniel Director of UX Drew Lyon Creative Director Marian Brchan Creative Director & Lead Designer Dan Raiani Senior Digital Marketing Manager Kate Bogue Senior Project Manager ⌊Jessie Ferris⌉ Jessie Ferris Senior Project Manager ⌊Madeline Seitz⌉ Madeline Seitz Project Manager Jeff King Project Manager ⌊Nebojša Milićević⌉ Nebojša Milićević SEO Specialist ## Senior talent, start to finish The strategists, designers, and search specialists who run your discovery are the same team that would design and build the site. What they learn in research doesn’t get lost in a hand-off. ### Our track record 500 + **Websites ** launched since 2003 6 **Phases named in your statement of work before you sign 1.3 **Months ** from kickoff to a roadmap 17 + **Specialists** across seven countries ### What's included: ### Stakeholder interviews We talk to leadership, frontline staff, and the people you serve, then build personas from their real words, not assumptions. ### Audience research Session recordings, heatmaps, and GA4 data show where visitors get stuck, and journey maps show what they came to do. ### Site & content audit We review your current site and content to see what’s working and what’s missing, so the new site keeps what already performs. ### Search & analytics We audit your content, search performance, platform, and competitors, so you know what to keep, what to fix, and where you stand. ### Site, search & market We audit your content, search performance, platform, and competitors, so you know what to keep, what to fix, and where you stand. ### Roadmap & investment A sequenced plan, priced by phase, that you can take to leadership. It’s yours to use internally, with us, or with another team ### The GLIDE Process Kickoff & alignment 1-2 weeks We set up your project tools and run a kickoff workshop to align on goals and expectations. We study your materials before we meet, so kickoff is a working session on goals, KPIs, and audiences, not just introductions. ![Travis McAshan](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Travis-1.png) ![Jessica McDaniel](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jessica-1.png) ![Drew Lyon](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Drew-1.png) ![Marian Brchan](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Marian-1.png) ![Dan Raiani](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Dan.png) ![Jessie Ferris](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jessie-Clark-1.webp) ![Kate Bogue](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/kate-bogue-headshot- resize.png) ![Madeline Seitz](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Madeline-Seitz. webp) ![Jeff King](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jeff.png) Interviews & surveys 2-4 weeks We talk to leadership, frontline staff, and the people you serve, then build personas from their real words, not assumptions. ![Jessica McDaniel](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jessica-1.png) ![Drew Lyon](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Drew-1.png) Audience research 2-4 weeks Session recordings, heatmaps, and GA4 data show where visitors get stuck, and journey maps show what they came to do. ![Jessica McDaniel](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jessica-1.png) ![Drew Lyon](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Drew-1.png) Site & content audit 2-4 weeks Tree testing and card sorting with real users prove a new menu works better than the old one before anything is designed ![Jessica McDaniel](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jessica-1.png) ![Nebojša Milićević](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Nebojsa-Milicevic. webp) Search & analytics 2-4 weeks We check how people find you today and what they do once they arrive, so rankings and traffic you’ve earned survive the move and we know where to improve. ![Nebojša Milićević](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Nebojsa-Milicevic. webp) ![Artem Sryvkov](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/artem@2x.png) Market & technology 2-4 weeks We audit your content, search performance, platform, and competitors, so you know what to keep, what to fix, and where you stand. ![Jessica McDaniel](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jessica-1.png) ![Dan Raiani](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Dan.png) ![Melissa De Oña](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Melissa-De-Ona. webp) ![Nebojša Milićević](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Nebojsa-Milicevic. webp) ![Artem Sryvkov](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/artem@2x.png) Roadmap & investment 1-2 weeks You walk away with a phased plan, priced stage by stage, that leadership can approve. Use it with us or with anyone else. ![Travis McAshan](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Travis-1.png) ![Jessica McDaniel](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jessica-1.png) ![Drew Lyon](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Drew-1.png) ![Marian Brchan](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Marian-1.png) ![Jessie Ferris](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jessie-Clark-1.webp) ![Kate Bogue](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/kate-bogue-headshot- resize.png) ![Madeline Seitz](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Madeline-Seitz. webp) ![Jeff King](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Jeff.png) ![Dan Raiani](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Dan.png) ![Nebojša Milićević](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Nebojsa-Milicevic. webp) ### Hear from our clients Thanks to their work and partnership, we have seen growth across all our key metrics. Noelle Buhidar Senior Content Marketing Manager, RetailMeNot What sets them apart is their ability to determine the essence of what a client really feels is important, even if the client can’t really verbalize it. Dan Vaughn Attorney at Law, W. Daniel Vaughn Legal Services We’re seeing much improved site load speeds, improved SEO performance, and an uptick in conversions. Communication was flawless, and everyone was informed, responsive, and ready to help. Andy Clutter Marketing Director, Sensource Words cannot accurately express our appreciation to the phenomenal team at GLIDE who poured their heart, soul, and expertise into the new website. They brought our vision to life in a way that amazed me. Rachel Russel Chief Marketing, Integration & Technology Officer, Allervie Health Impressions are up 90%, clicks 76.7%, and blog traffic has tripled year over year. Their co-management of SEO and web design integrates seamlessly and has made a massive difference for our team. Jennifer Garza Director of Marketing, National Breast Cancer Foundation GLIDE is the best partner we’ve ever worked with on our website. They are very thorough and knowledgeable. They performed audits on two of our web properties and delivered extensive lists of recommendations to improve our site performance, client experience, and many other items. John Curry Director of Technology, Urbanspace, LLP GLIDE clearly researched our company and outlined a proposal that they professionally followed-through with to every last point. Amy Filbin Head of Marketing, Redica ## Frequently asked questions It’s a research project that settles what needs to be fixed. Over two months we interview your stakeholders, study your competitors, research your audiences, and assess your site and platforms. You’ll receive a report, next steps, and pricing to complete it if you choose to move forward. Strategy is for the cases when you don’t know what your site problems are, and an audit is for when you do know what the problem is and need to find the steps to solve it. With strategy and research, we talk to your stakeholders and audience. An audit examines one discipline closely, like search or accessibility. You’ll get a report showing our findings, as well as a sequenced roadmap with a pricing for each step. Two months from kickoff to roadmap. You’ll see every phase and the timeline estimate in your statement of work before the project begins. No, the roadmap is yours either way. Many organizations use the engagement to decide whether to build at all. If you do move forward, the priced options become your proposal. ### Need something else? ##### Brand Identity & Design ![](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/brand-identity-preview.png) For rebrands, mergers, and growing pains: positioning, messaging, and identity every team and site can use. ![arrow](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/themes/glidedesign/assets/build/ images/arrow-right-icon.svg) ### Design & Development ![](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/web-design-dev-preview.png) UX-led design and custom builds for organizations that have outgrown their site or are managing several at once. ![arrow](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/themes/glidedesign/assets/build/ images/arrow-right-icon.svg) ### SEO & AI Search ![](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/seo-preview.png) Technical SEO, content, and schema that help you outrank competitors and show up in Google and AI answers. ![arrow](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/themes/glidedesign/assets/build/ images/arrow-right-icon.svg) ## Find a clear path forward