Home Me Mortgages - WordPress to Astro Transformation

Understanding Our Results

The performance improvements shown in this case study demonstrate the real-world impact of migrating from WordPress to Astro framework for financial services:

Performance Metrics Explained:

• Page Load Speed: How quickly the website loads for potential mortgage applicants (faster = better user experience)
• Lighthouse Score: Google’s official website quality rating (0-100, with 90+ being excellent)
• First Contentful Paint: How quickly users see meaningful content (critical for mortgage inquiries)
• Core Web Vitals: Google’s key performance standards that affect search rankings

Business Impact Metrics:

• User Engagement: How actively visitors interact with mortgage tools and content
• Conversion Rate: Percentage of visitors who submit mortgage applications or inquiries
• Mobile Traffic: Growth in mobile users (crucial for modern mortgage seekers)
• Search Rankings: Visibility in Google searches for mortgage-related terms

These improvements translate to faster mortgage application processes, better user experience, and ultimately more qualified leads for Home Me Mortgages.

Project Overview

Home Me Mortgages approached us with a critical challenge: their WordPress website was significantly underperforming in terms of speed, user experience, and conversion rates. In the competitive mortgage industry, where users expect instant information and seamless interactions, their slow-loading site was costing them valuable leads and market share.

The Technical Challenge

The existing WordPress infrastructure presented several critical issues:

Performance Bottlenecks

• Slow Loading Times: Pages were taking over 4 seconds to load, far exceeding user expectations
• Poor Mobile Performance: Mobile users were experiencing even worse loading times
• Heavy Plugin Dependencies: Multiple WordPress plugins were creating conflicts and slowing down the site

User Experience Issues

• Outdated Design: The visual design didn’t reflect modern mortgage industry standards
• Poor Mobile Experience: Non-responsive elements were frustrating mobile users
• Limited Functionality: No interactive tools to help users calculate mortgage scenarios

Business Impact

• Low Conversion Rates: The poor user experience was directly impacting lead generation
• Poor Search Rankings: Technical SEO issues were limiting organic visibility
• High Maintenance Costs: Constant WordPress updates and security patches were resource-intensive

Our Strategic Approach

We developed a comprehensive migration strategy that would address all these challenges while future-proofing the website for scalability and growth.

Technology Selection

After careful analysis, we chose Astro framework for several key reasons:

• Superior Performance: Astro’s architecture delivers exceptional loading speeds
• Modern Development: Component-based architecture for maintainable code
• SEO Optimization: Built-in SEO features and fast loading times
• Scalability: Easy to add new features and content as the business grows

Design Philosophy

Our design approach focused on:

• User-Centric Design: Every element designed to guide users toward mortgage solutions
• Mobile-First Approach: Ensuring excellent experience across all devices
• Trust Building: Professional design that builds credibility in financial services
• Conversion Optimization: Strategic placement of calls-to-action and lead capture forms

Implementation Highlights

Advanced Mortgage Calculator

One of the standout features we developed was an interactive mortgage calculator that provides:

• Real-time calculations as users input their information
• Multiple scenario comparisons
• Downloadable results for user reference
• Integration with the contact form for immediate follow-up

Performance Optimization

We implemented numerous performance optimizations:

• Image Optimization: Next-gen image formats with lazy loading
• Code Splitting: Efficient loading of only necessary JavaScript
• Caching Strategies: Strategic caching for repeat visitors
• CDN Integration: Global content delivery for fast loading worldwide

SEO Enhancement

Our SEO strategy included:

• Technical SEO: Proper HTML structure, meta tags, and schema markup
• Content Optimization: Mortgage-focused content targeting relevant keywords
• Local SEO: Optimization for UK-based mortgage searches
• Performance SEO: Fast loading times improving search rankings

Results and Business Impact

The transformation delivered exceptional results across all key metrics:

Performance Improvements

The technical improvements were immediately measurable:

• Page Load Speed: Reduced from 4.2 seconds to 1.1 seconds (200% improvement)
• Lighthouse Score: Increased from 45/100 to 98/100
• Core Web Vitals: All metrics moved from “Poor” to “Good” status

Business Growth

The improved website directly impacted business metrics:

• User Engagement: 150% increase in average session duration
• Conversion Rate: 75% increase in mortgage inquiry submissions
• Mobile Performance: 200% increase in mobile conversions
• Search Visibility: Average 40% improvement in keyword rankings

User Experience Enhancement

Users immediately noticed the improvements:

• Faster Access: Instant access to mortgage information and calculators
• Better Mobile Experience: Seamless experience across all devices
• Improved Navigation: Intuitive user journey from information to application
• Professional Appearance: Enhanced brand credibility and trust

Long-term Benefits

The migration to Astro framework provides Home Mortgages with several long-term advantages:

Reduced Maintenance

• No WordPress Updates: Elimination of constant plugin and core updates
• Better Security: Reduced security vulnerabilities compared to WordPress
• Lower Hosting Costs: Efficient static site hosting requirements

Enhanced Scalability

• Easy Content Updates: Streamlined process for adding new mortgage products
• Feature Expansion: Simple addition of new calculators and tools
• Performance Consistency: Maintained fast loading times as content grows

Competitive Advantage

• Industry-Leading Performance: Fastest loading mortgage broker site in their market
• Better User Experience: Competitive advantage in user engagement and conversion
• Search Engine Preference: Improved rankings due to technical excellence

Client Feedback

The Home Me Mortgages team was thrilled with the transformation. They particularly appreciated:

• The dramatic improvement in website speed and user experience
• The increase in qualified leads generated through the website
• The positive feedback from customers about the new mortgage calculator
• The reduced time spent on website maintenance and technical issues

Future Roadmap

With the solid foundation now in place, Home Me Mortgages is well-positioned for future growth. Planned enhancements include:

• Advanced Lead Tracking: Enhanced analytics and lead scoring systems
• Additional Calculators: Specialized tools for different mortgage types
• Content Expansion: Comprehensive mortgage education resources
• API Integrations: Real-time mortgage rate feeds and applications

This case study demonstrates how strategic technology choices and expert implementation can transform a business’s digital presence, delivering measurable improvements in both technical performance and business outcomes.