Website for AwardIT to Connect SBIR Grant Writers & Reviewers

AwardIT runs a digital platform that connects Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant writers to grant reviewers for a simulated agency evaluation of their application. The company needed a streamlined website with eCommerce features to deliver its service and facilitate transactions. Our team worked closely with AwardIT to develop a dynamic website with strong UI/UX and back-end functionality. The new website provides an intuitive user experience and leverages powerful technology to seamlessly match grant writers and reviewers.

Our team designed the website on WordPress, creating custom templates with a refreshing green and white color palette to convey the company’s energetic and innovative brand personality. The website is also fully responsive and mobile-friendly, allowing grant writers and reviewers to easily engage with the platform across devices.

Turning site visitors into AwardIT reviewers or applicants was a primary goal of the new website. To achieve this, the website needed targeted content and strategic calls-to-action to drive conversions. So, our team designed a content-rich homepage and supporting webpages with detailed information on the AwardIT service concept and review process. Every webpage has a clean, streamlined layout to allow for easy browsing.

By delivering personalized content on the purpose and benefits of AwardIT through the homepage, our team ensured that the company’s service resonates with both grant writers and reviewers as soon as they land on the website. The page opens with a vibrant banner that houses custom and accessible signup forms for each audience group.

AwardIT is all about creating a space where grant applicants and reviewers can be matched according to professional background, expertise, and other relevant factors, to maximize the chances for a successful award. So, our team implemented WooCommerce, API integrations, and custom keyword-matching algorithm to build a digital platform with the capability to facilitate seamless connections and transactions.  Applicants can self-onboard and create and/or load Grant Applications to their account. Reviewers can manage their profiles via a confidential questionnaire, supplied by AwardIT, that contains prompts for skillsets and keywords.

For reviewing, the reviewer fills out a confidential PDF form, supplied by AwardIT, that simulates a standard NIH Summary Statement PDF. Once the grant is reviewed, AwardIT will supply the simulated review doc(s) to the client so that the reviewer does not need to do this directly.

On the front end, the website delivers a frictionless user experience. Grant writers and reviewers can easily interact with the website to manage their user profiles and accounts, browse relevant matches, submit a review request, and exchange documents. Similarly, on the back end, the website ensures operational ease, allowing the AwardIT team to monitor and approve applications.  

We integrated a payment gateway into the website. This way, grant writers can pay for their AwardIT review through a secure and hassle free ‘checkout’ process. Our team set up notifications to alert the AwardIT team of new payments and implemented a transactional email delivery service ensuring clients receive a payment confirmation email.

Our team also designed an FAQ page that addresses questions on the company’s data security measures, compensation for reviewers, the review and matching process, among other topics. The content is organized using expandable blocks so site visitors can easily find and browse relevant information.

We’re thrilled with the final look and feel of AwardIT’s new website! The website provides a 360° overview of AwardIT’s innovative review process and how it benefits both grant writers and reviewers. Through efficient design and development, we created a compelling, user-friendly platform for AwardIT that grant applicants and reviewers can leverage to achieve their goals.

Besides web design and development, our team also provided AwardIT with email marketing support and facilitated a form W9 workflow integration. We look forward to working with AwardIT on future projects!