The Thinking Behind the War on the Rocks Request for Proposals

Summary

Ryan Evans, CEO of War on the Rocks, and Aaron O'Brien, Membership Editor, discuss the need for a website redesign to better serve their community focused on strategy, defense, and foreign affairs. They highlight issues with the current site's overwhelming design and poor search functionality, and emphasize the importance of a robust, customizable, and member-centric platform. The video aims to address RFP questions and clarify the project's scope, timeline, and desired media experience, seeking proposals from select countries due to cybersecurity concerns.

Takeaways

• 📢 Ryan Evans and Aaron O'Brien are seeking a redesign for the War on the Rocks website, which they feel falls short of their needs.
• 🗣️ They have received numerous questions about the redesign and are addressing them in a video to save time due to their high volume of emails.
• 🏢 War on the Rocks is an organization founded by Ryan almost 11 years ago to foster better conversations on strategy, defense, and foreign affairs.
• 📘 The publication serves a community of individuals involved in national security, including military, government, students, academics, and industry professionals.
• 🔄 The current website is seen as overwhelming and lacking in search and customization features, which are critical areas for improvement.
• 📅 The redesign project is expected to take most of the year, indicating the scale and importance of the task.
• 💼 Past media experience is crucial for potential vendors due to the unique needs and technologies associated with media outlets.
• 💰 The budget for the project is not specified but is suggested to be significantly more than $20,000 and less than $500,000.
• 🌐 Proposals are only accepted from firms based in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom due to cybersecurity concerns.
• 🛠️ The membership tech stack is fragmented, involving multiple services that do not integrate well, leading to a suboptimal user experience.
• 🎨 The brand identity, including the logo and core elements, will remain mostly the same, but there is a desire to update the font and improve the site's aesthetics.

Q & A

Who are Ryan Evans and Aaron O'Brien, and what are their roles at War on the Rocks?

Ryan Evans is the founder and CEO of War on the Rocks, and Aaron O'Brien is the membership editor. They are both involved in the process of redesigning the War on the Rocks website.

What is the purpose of the video mentioned in the script?

The purpose of the video is to address frequently asked questions regarding the request for proposals (RFP) for redesigning the War on the Rocks website, as the team has received many emails and can't answer them all individually.

What is War on the Rocks and what does it aim to achieve?

War on the Rocks is an organization founded by Ryan Evans to provoke and stimulate better conversations on strategy, defense, and foreign affairs. It serves as a publication and a hub for a community of people who are passionate about national security.

Who are the target audience for War on the Rocks' content?

The target audience includes people in the military, government, students, academics, civil servants, defense industry professionals, and anyone who is interested in or affected by national security issues.

What is the War on the Rocks membership program and how does it contribute to the organization?

The membership program is a key revenue-generating initiative for War on the Rocks. It offers members access to premium content such as podcasts, newsletters, an app, and a forum, and it aligns with the organization's mission to create value for its readers.

What is the timeframe for the website redesign project?

The project is expected to take most of the rest of the year, indicating that it is a significant effort due to the organization's decade-long history and the complexity of the task.

Why is past media experience important for the firms submitting proposals?

Past media experience is important because media outlets have unique needs and work with specific technologies. Having that experience is crucial for understanding and meeting the requirements of a media site redesign.

What is the budget range for the website redesign project?

While a specific number is not provided, the script indicates that a budget of $20,000 would be too low and $500,000 would be too high, suggesting a substantial but not excessive budget for the project.

Which countries are eligible to submit proposals for the project?

Due to cybersecurity concerns, only firms from the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom are eligible to submit proposals.

What are some of the current issues with the War on the Rocks website that the redesign aims to address?

The current website is considered overwhelming and has a poor search function. The redesign aims to improve the homepage balance, search capability, customization, and overall user experience.

What is the vision for the new website's aesthetics and brand identity?

The new website should maintain the core brand identity, including the logo, but may consider updates such as a new font. The aim is to keep the brand recognizable while improving the overall aesthetic and functionality.