🧩 Case Study: NewsBuddy.org

Rebuilding a National News Aggregator with Speed, Structure, and Scalability

Client:

NewsBuddy.org
A U.S.-based independent news aggregation platform focused on delivering headlines from verified sources in a simple, accessible format.

The Challenge

When NewsBuddy.org first approached Synistar, their website was outdated, unresponsive, and cluttered with unnecessary design elements. The original layout suffered from:

• Poor mobile responsiveness
• Heavy Divi shortcode bloat that slowed page speeds
• No content hierarchy or visual consistency
• A confusing user experience for readers trying to navigate across categories
• Zero SEO optimization and weak metadata structure
• Lack of a cohesive brand or identity

The site was also structurally bloated with deprecated builder elements, making maintenance expensive and inefficient.

Our Approach

Discovery & Audit

We evaluated the existing post library and identified every shortcode-heavy post built using Divi. The client approved a full redesign that preserved all core content while eliminating unnecessary bloat.

Theme Implementation

Using a high-performance ThemeForest theme, we built a lightweight, responsive layout designed to scale with future content expansion. The design emphasized legibility, modern typography, and visual hierarchy.

Automation Tools

We used a custom-built internal plugin—Synistar Shortcode Cleaner—to convert all legacy posts into clean HTML. This preserved the content while drastically improving load speed and SEO health.

Client Control

The new platform was designed for ease of use. We trained the NewsBuddy team on how to update articles, manage categories, and handle SEO basics through a simplified backend experience—empowering them to run their platform independently.

SEO & Structure Optimization

• Semantic HTML markup
• Proper H1/H2 heading use
• Dynamic breadcrumbs
• Improved meta descriptions and social previews
• Sitemap generation and indexing setup

Finalization & Migration

The site was finalized in a staging environment and then migrated seamlessly to production using Hostinger’s “Copy Website” feature. All final files and documentation were uploaded to the client portal for permanent access.

Before vs. After: Menu Redesign

Old Menu

New Menu

Before vs. After: Layout Redesign

Old Layout

New Layout

Before vs. After: Footer Redesign

Old Footer

New Footer

New Feature: INFORMER Digital Shelf

To expand NewsBuddy’s community impact, we added a brand-new page to showcase digital versions of The Dawson County INFORMER — a local publication now viewable online in a virtual bookshelf format. Each edition is displayed with its cover and title, encouraging regular reader engagement while preserving publication history.

Results

• Site Speed Boosted: From 48 to 94 on Google PageSpeed (Mobile)
• Post Structure Improved: 100% of posts converted from Divi to clean HTML
• Mobile Responsiveness: Fully optimized for all devices
• SEO Foundation: Meta, structure, and sitemap now compliant with Google standards
• Content Scalability: Built for rapid growth with category expansion and improved CMS structure
• Maintenance Ready: Fully documented, with an active maintenance plan in place
• Client Empowerment: NewsBuddy now fully manages their own content and updates with ease

What We Delivered

• WordPress development using ThemeForest theme
• Full shortcode-to-HTML conversion (over 100+ posts)
• Custom plugin development (Synistar Shortcode Cleaner)
• Domain, hosting, and plugin management
• SEO foundation and analytics setup
• Mobile-optimized redesign
• Onboarding and backend training for self-management
• Ongoing maintenance and technical support plan
• INFORMER bookshelf archive with visual publication display

From the Client

“Synistar took a tangled mess and turned it into a clean, fast, and usable site. We didn’t lose a single article, and now the platform is ready to grow. Couldn’t be happier with the transformation.”
— NewsBuddy Editorial Team