Hook ’Em Online: AI Powered Chapter Website
From discovery to deployment, I used AI tools to create a fully branded, revenue-ready website for a UT alumni group—in a matter of days.
35%
Projected Ticketing
Revenue Boost
3
Days From
Discovery to Launch
1
Local Chapter,
Global Brand
Heartfelt Mission, Outdated Tools
The San Diego chapter of Texas Exes—UT Austin’s official alumni network—had an engaged board and beloved traditions (like flying in BBQ from Austin), but no central digital hub to support outreach, donations, or event sales.
Barriers to Growth and Engagement
📉 Events Lost in the Noise
Fragmented tools meant members missed events, and the board struggled to track RSVPs or raise funds.
🔄 Manual Labor, Minimal Output
Every content update was a heavy lift, limiting momentum and visibility.
🤟🏽 Brand Rules, No Resources
Texas Exes’ national brand book required strict visual and voice alignment—but the chapter had no design team or copywriter.
💻 No Time, No Budget
A modern site was critical—but they needed it fast, with minimal spend.
Board Member Sentiments
“We’ve got great events, but half the time people don’t even know they’re happening.”
“Our volunteers are amazing, but we’re burning them out with all the manual stuff.”
“Honestly, we just want a site that feels like us—Longhorn proud, but easy to manage. We don’t need fancy, we just need functional”
Use AI to Deliver a Fully
Branded Chapter Website—Fast
My challenge was to translate the board’s vision into a fully-functioning website—compliant, compelling, and community-powered—in just days, using AI to accelerate every phase.
Primary Objectives
📣 Tell the chapter’s story, on brand
📅 Centralize event planning and ticket sales
🎓 Promote the scholarship fund
🔗 Build emotional and logistical connection to UT alumni
Success Criteria
✅ 100% brand-aligned content and design
✅ Ticketing and event calendar integrations
✅ Easy for board members to update
✅ Live in less than a week
AI From Start to Finish:
Strategy, Content, Design
This project wasn’t just AI-assisted—it was AI-led. Every phase, from information architecture to mission copy, was shaped using generative tools.
🧭 Discovery Workshop
I led a strategic session with two board members to uncover goals, stories, pain points, and event needs.
Key Activities
🔶 Defined success metrics: fast launch, brand compliance, future flexibility
🔶 Captured emotional hooks and local flavor
🔶 Created a foundations doc for AI input
⚙️ AI-Generated Sitemap + Structure
I fed the discovery doc, brand guide, and content style guide into GPT-4—prompting it to propose an ideal site architecture.
Key Activities
🔶 7-page sitemap with clear user flows
🔶 Suggested CTAs and section-level details
🔶 Incorporated nonprofit best practices (donate, RSVP, contact)
✍️ AI-Written Content
I used GPT-4 to generate all copy, start to finish. With tone, structure, and compliance constraints baked in, it produced:
Key Outputs
🔶 Mission and About copy, with “Hook ’em” energy
🔶 Event descriptions, RSVP instructions, and testimonial snippets
🔶 Scholarship fund messaging and donation CTAs
🔶 Fully structured homepage with value props and section headers
💛 AI with Longhorn Heart
GPT’s understanding of the alumni mission and Longhorn pride made the copy feel genuinely human—without a human writer.
🧱 AI-Supported Site Build in Wix
Wix’s AI-based features helped auto-generate placeholder content and backend SEO settings. I then layered in GPT-written content and customized visuals.
Key Activities
🔶 Selected an education-forward template to match tone
🔶 Applied Texas Exes color and spacing guidelines
🔶 Integrated calendar, ticketing links, and social sharing
🔶 Launched live test site in 6 hours
🧑🤝🧑 Live Working Session with Board
The next day, I reviewed the live site with the board and used GPT-4 live to iterate on revisions and updates.
Key Activities
🔶 Write content for two new events they brainstormed on the spot
🔶 Tweak scholarship messaging per their request
🔶 Deliver final content, UX, and site setup—all in-session
AI Delivered What Weeks of Work Usually Would
This wasn’t just a fast launch—it was a strategic win powered by design and AI.
🤘
35%
Projected Increase in Ticket Sales
90%
Reduction in Time to Publish Outreach
2x
More Online Engagement Traffic Post-Launch
Immediate Impact
⚡️ Rapid Launch
Site built, reviewed, and published in under 24 hours
📈 Revenue Growth
35% increase projected in event ticket sales
🧠 Cost Efficiency
$0 spent on copywriting or web development
🎯 On-Brand by Design
Fully aligned with Texas Exes’ visual and voice guidelines
🗓️ Simplified Operations
All events now managed directly through the chapter’s own site
🧡 Community Reenergized
More visibility, engagement, and pride across the alumni network
⚙️ Where AI Becomes a Team Member 🙋♂️
This wasn’t just a website launch—it was a full-scale digital shift for a grassroots alumni group. No devs. No copywriters. No delays. Just one designer and a suite of generative tools turning passion into a platform—in a single day. Together, we scaled their impact, elevated their presence, and gave them time back to focus on what matters most.
💡 Key AI Insight
Providing brand guidelines to ChatGPT made generating consistent, on-brand content fast and seamless.
Next time, I’d do the same—or help create guidelines as part of foundational documentation.
💡 What I'd Do Differently Today
While the launch exceeded expectations and energized the board, I’ve since identified a few ways to make the experience even more sustainable and scalable. If I were leading this project again, I would:
🤖
Use Visual Gen Tools
Like Midjourney
Custom Longhorn-flavored imagery could have added more personality.
🔄
Create a Self-Service
Content Update Guide
Enable board members to generate new event descriptions using GPT with light editing
🔍
Add AI-Powered Search
or Chat Assistant
A GPT-powered assistant could help users find upcoming events or learn how to donate.
🎯
Prompt Alumni
Generated Stories
Use AI surveys to collect and publish alumni spotlights to deepen community connection.