---
title: VCEDC Success Stories & Business Minute Consolidation
type: article
created: '2026-04-05'
updated: '2026-04-05'
source_docs:
- raw/2025-11-25-vcedc-website-meeting-104341258.md
tags:
- content-strategy
- vcedc
- website
- consolidation
- video
layer: 2
client_source: null
industry_context: null
transferable: true
---

# VCEDC Success Stories & Business Minute Consolidation

## Overview

During the November 2025 content and design finalization session, the VCEDC team decided to simplify their website's content structure by merging two previously separate pages — **Success Stories** and **Business Minute** — into a single consolidated **Success Stories** page. This decision was paired with a deliberate effort to diversify the video content to represent all of Vilas County, not just Eagle River.

See also: [[clients/vcedc/_index]] | [[meetings/2025-11-25-vcedc-website-content-design-finalization]]

---

## The Problem

The site had accumulated redundant content across two pages that served essentially the same purpose: showcasing local business stories through short-form video. Additionally, the existing video lineup was geographically skewed — nearly every featured business was from Eagle River, failing to represent the broader Vilas County region that VCEDC serves.

> *"Every single one of those is Eagle River, except Conover Gardens on the bottom right. And I need to make sure I've got videos from throughout the county."*
> — Kathy Schmitz

---

## Decision: Consolidate into One Page

**What was decided:** The Business Minute page will be removed. All content — existing and new — will live under a single **Success Stories** page.

**Rationale:**
- Reduces navigation complexity for site visitors
- Eliminates duplicate content that served the same audience goal
- Creates a single, authoritative destination for business showcase content

---

## Video Content Strategy

### Diversification Goal

The consolidated page should feature videos representing businesses from across Vilas County — not concentrated in any single municipality. The target is **6 videos** on the homepage success stories section, selected to reflect geographic and business-type diversity.

### Confirmed Video Replacements

- Replace **Advanced Welding** with **Amanda Cowart**
- Add videos from the following businesses (provided by Kathy Schmitz):
  - Conover Feed Store
  - LOLA
  - Wander Wild Floral
  - Northland Pine School District
  - Windman
  - North Lakeland Discovery Center
  - Roots
  - Lakewood Market
  - Dollar Lake Retreat

Kathy will provide the final list of 6 selected videos with YouTube links.

### Technical Requirements

All embedded videos are sourced from YouTube. The developer (Aki) must:
- **Hide the YouTube logo/branding** on all embedded video players
- **Remove black bars** (letterboxing) from video embeds
- Ensure consistent visual treatment across all video cards

---

## Page Photo

The Success Stories page needs a new hero/header photo. Isalia Ramirez is tasked with directing developer Aki to source an appropriate replacement image.

---

## Action Items

| Owner | Task |
|---|---|
| Kathy Schmitz | Send final list of 6 success story videos with YouTube links |
| Melissa Cusumano | Update Success Stories page: swap Advanced Welding → Amanda Cowart, add 6 new videos |
| Isalia Ramirez | Task Aki with finding a new Success Stories page photo |
| Aki (developer) | Hide YouTube branding and black bars on all embedded video players |
| Melissa Cusumano | Remove Business Minute page from site navigation and structure |

---

## Generalizable Insight

When a client site has two content sections serving the same audience goal (showcasing community stories), consolidation into a single page reduces cognitive load for visitors and simplifies content maintenance. Pairing consolidation with a content audit — in this case, geographic diversity of featured businesses — turns a structural cleanup into a strategic content improvement.