When Gretchen Coley, leader of luxury real estate team The Coley Group, launched the Best of Raleigh podcast, her vision was to celebrate local businesses and connect Raleigh residents with the people and places that make their city unique. The concept evolved into something larger—a dynamic online destination combining curated features, podcasts, blog posts, and business listings—and our team at WebSight Design was brought in to make that digital vision a reality.
Our longtime client and collaborator Jonathan Lack approached us with the opportunity to transform this growing idea into a fully realized platform. We saw immense potential to help The Coley Group build something that would not only showcase local businesses but also foster community and connection.
Partnering with The Coley Group and TRI Inc., WebSight Design led the technical development of BestofRaleigh.com. The result is a website and directory designed to list businesses and bring their stories to life, inviting users to experience Raleigh in an engaging, authentic way.
Building A Dynamic Business Directory Website
Businesses can join the directory as Partners at one of three levels: Gold, Silver, or Bronze, each offering different degrees of visibility.
Every Partner receives a dedicated listing page featuring their logo, business description, social media links, and up to six photos. If they’re mentioned in one of Gretchen’s blog posts, those stories automatically link back to their profile, creating a seamless connection between content and promotion. It’s an authentic way to merge storytelling with visibility, keeping the spotlight on Raleigh’s people, places, and stories.
Powerful CMS Functionality That Enables Connection
From the ground up, we built Best of Raleigh to be flexible, scalable, and easy to manage. Its custom content management system (CMS) allows Gretchen’s team to:
- Add and edit Partner listings
- Adjust Partner tiers and placement
- Publish blog posts
- Manage newsletter signups
- Update content quickly and confidently
Visually, the site strikes the right balance between sophistication and warmth. It aligns with The Coley Group’s established brand while giving Best of Raleigh its own modern, editorial feel. Clean layouts, intentional imagery, and thoughtful design decisions keep the experience fresh, inspiring, and user-friendly.
Turning a Vision Into a Digital Reality
Best of Raleigh is proof of what happens when storytelling meets strategy and design meets innovation. Our team is passionate about creating custom websites and digital platforms that not only look and perform beautifully, but also connect, engage, and inspire audiences. We work across industries ranging from residential and commercial real estate to ecommerce, legal and beyond.
Have a bold idea or growing vision? Partner with Websight Design to build a digital presence that brings your brand—and your community—to life. Contact us today!
