Case Study
Stout
Stout, a people-first global investment bank and advisory firm, specializes in corporate finance, transaction advisory, valuation, financial disputes, claims, and investigations. They came to Media Junction for help solving UX, workflow, and efficiency challenges following their recent acquisition of Secura.
Objectives:
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Migrate from WordPress/WooCommerce to HubSpot for seamless integration and management.
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Create a gated access portal that distinguishes between members and non-members, offering tailored access to resources.
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Improve the user experience by making content easier to find and access.
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Streamline administrative tasks such as membership and resource management.
Challenges
The acquisition of Secura posed significant challenges that jeopardized the efficiency and user experience of the newly combined entity. Stout inherited a fragmented technology stack consisting of WooCommerce and WordPress. The legacy system was misaligned with Stout’s brand identity and offered a cumbersome user experience.
Outdated Platform and Fragmented User Experience
Members struggled to browse events, download content, and read insights. The internal team faced difficulties managing the system, which was crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and increasing membership.
Non-members found the process of buying individual resources confusing and clunky.
For Stout, this meant losing valuable opportunities to build stronger relationships with their members and convert occasional users into loyal, long-term customers.
Manual Administrative Overhead
Managing the platform was labor intensive for the Stout team. Each new event required the creation of both an event page and an e-commerce product page essentially entering the same content twice.
This repetitive process took time away where they could be focusing on strategic initiatives to grow the business.
Lack of Data Visibility
One of the biggest struggles was the lack of actionable data. The old system was fragmented, with no clear way to track user engagement or see what was driving purchases.
Stout couldn’t easily measure which resources were performing well or understand how users were interacting with the platform.
Without these insights, they were flying blind when it came to improving the experience or tailoring their content to meet user needs.
This data gap also made it harder to create targeted marketing strategies, leaving growth opportunities untapped.
Solutions
To tackle these challenges, our agency implemented a comprehensive solution leveraging various HubSpot functionality. Our strategy was designed to streamline operations, enhance user experience, engage their audience, and facilitate easier management for Stout’s internal team.
All-In-One HubSpot Integration
Stout’s WooCommerce data was migrated to HubSpot, giving them a centralized hub for managing memberships and product purchases.
By eliminating the need for multiple platforms, we created a single, reliable source of truth for all user and product data.
A Tailored Membership Portal with Better Access Control
Stout’s Audience Includes:
- Members: Current annual subscribers who have access to all resources.
- Non-Member Purchasers: Non-members who have purchased at least one on-demand resource.
To meet the needs of both members and non-members, we built a custom portal with a two-tier permission system that leverages HubSpot’s CRM, CMS, Memberships and custom modules.
When logged in, members gain immediate access to all exclusive resources via a searchable content library and they’re no longer required to “purchase” each piece of content as the previous system required.
For non-members, we created an easy-to-use public view of resources with on-demand purchase functionality using HubSpot Products and payment links. Post sale HubSpot products are associated with each contact in the CRM, they are added to a specific access group and custom modules display their purchased content directly on their membership dashboard—no confusion, no extra steps.
This tailored approach ensures that members and non-members have a seamless, intuitive experience while interacting with Stout’s digital offerings.
Smart Automations
HubSpot automations tackle repetitive tasks such as sending emails to new users with instructions to set up their accounts and access their content.
Payment links tied to specific courses made the checkout process a breeze.
A Cleaner, Easier User Experience
The new platform aligns with Stout’s brand, is simple and visually appealing, and easy to use. Whether they are looking for a specific resource or just exploring, the intuitive navigation and polished layout saves time and makes the process enjoyable.
Efficiency That Saves Time and Effort
By automating tasks like membership management and access to content the Stout team is saving hours of work every month.
Results & Insights
More Engaged Users
The results speak for themselves: post launch user engagement has soared. Page views nearly doubled in an eight-month YoY comparison.
Even more striking, the average time on the site has jumped 345%! A clear indication that visitors are interacting with the available content.
Growing Membership Volume
Since launching, Stout memberships have increased 38%. While expanded marketing efforts are contributing to this growth, the revamped platform has played a key role.
The streamlined user experience and enhanced access to valuable resources has created an inviting space for both new and returning members.
Time Saved, Every Day
Tasks that used to take hours are now0 handled efficiently by Stout’s marketing team. From managing memberships to launching new webinars, the streamlined workflows and user-friendly interface mean faster turnaround times.
A Platform Built to Grow
With everything centralized in HubSpot, Stout has a scalable system that supports their current operations and future expansion. As needs arise, the platform is ready to handle the demand without adding complexity.
A Better Experience for Everyone
The new site isn’t just functional—it’s intuitive and enjoyable. Members have instant access to past webinars, upcoming events, and valuable documentation without jumping through hoops.
Non-members benefit from a smooth purchasing process that makes it simple to find and buy resources as needed.
This improved experience has boosted conversions, encouraged repeat visits, and enhanced the overall value of being part of Stout’s community.
We were a member of Secura prior to the merging with Stout. Utilizing the website today provides a much more robust user experience. The access to content has expanded tremendously with access to past webinars, upcoming events, and resource documentation. I was the primary user for my institution and as fraud has grown in all payment methods, we have opened access to many more users to access the valuable information. From payments, BSA, to fraud we find this site to be a very valuable resource."Longtime Secura Member
The Bottom Line
Partnering with Media Junction transformed how Stout delivers access to its digital resources.
The new platform has not only improved engagement but is driving measurable growth in membership and efficiency.
With a scalable, future-ready foundation, Stout is now set up for long-term success, empowering their team to continue delivering exceptional value to their audience.
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