Next Generation Website Launch by Fox Valley Technical College
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Behind the Scenes: Fox Valley Technical College’s Next Generation Website Launch
Transcript of Next Generation Website Launch by Fox Valley Technical College
Behind the Scenes:
Fox Valley Technical College’s
Next Generation Website Launch
Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) is based in
Appleton, Wisconsin. For eight straight years,
they’ve been voted best Local College/University by
the Post-Crescent’s annual Best of the Valley
"People’s Choice" awards.
When FVTC’s website
originally launched in
2006, this device had
yet to be invented.
When FVTC’s website
originally launched in
2006, this device had
yet to be invented.
Back then:
The website was not
mobile-friendly.
When FVTC’s website
originally launched in
2006, this device had
yet to be invented.
Back then:
The website was not
mobile-friendly.
85% of pages were
viewed once or less.
When FVTC’s website
originally launched in
2006, this device had
yet to be invented.
Back then:
The website was not
mobile-friendly.
85% of pages were
viewed once or less.
The user experience
was inconsistent.
When FVTC’s website
originally launched in
2006, this device had
yet to be invented.
Back then:
The website was not
mobile-friendly.
85% of pages were
viewed once or less.
The user experience
was inconsistent.
Marketing made minor
content updates on the
site; however, all other
website changes were
implemented by IT, on a
home-grown CMS.
Most students will
access the site via
mobile devices, so make
the new site mobile-
friendly.
Most students will
access the site via
mobile devices, so make
the new site mobile-
friendly.
Focus on content first,
design second. Organize
content by audience
type.
Most students will
access the site via
mobile devices, so make
the new site mobile-
friendly.
Focus on content first,
design second. Organize
content by audience
type.
Empower the Marketing
team to manage site
content.
Most students will
access the site via
mobile devices, so make
the new site mobile-
friendly.
Focus on content first,
design second. Organize
content by audience
type.
Empower the Marketing
team to manage site
content.
Deploy new, interactive
site features.
Most students will
access the site via
mobile devices, so make
the new site mobile-
friendly.
Focus on content first,
design second. Organize
content by audience
type.
Empower the Marketing
team to manage site
content.
Deploy new, interactive
site features.
Select a Web CMS best
aligned to the above goals.
Let’s take a look at
how the FVTC team
planned and
launched their new
website.
The Web
Lead Team
Barb
Cody
Rose
Larry
* - Distinguishing viewers may be
able to spot a preview of the new
site!
Stakeholders review site concepts. The goal
was to nail down content first, then proceed to
design.
Prior to launching the new
site, numerous internal
feedback sessions were held.
Introducing FVTC’s
new site.
Ready…
Set…
Launched: May 2014
Responsive web design is used to make
all sections of the site mobile-friendly.
Implementation
Details
FVTC wanted a .NET-based
CMS. They considered DNN
Evoq Content, SharePoint and
Sitecore.
FVTC wanted a .NET-based
CMS. They considered DNN
Evoq Content, SharePoint and
Sitecore.
They selected DNN Evoq
Content:
FVTC wanted a .NET-based
CMS. They considered DNN
Evoq Content, SharePoint and
Sitecore.
They selected DNN Evoq
Content:
Evoq Content provides quick
“time to use” and “time to
value.”
FVTC wanted a .NET-based
CMS. They considered DNN
Evoq Content, SharePoint and
Sitecore.
They selected DNN Evoq
Content:
Evoq Content provides quick
“time to use” and “time to
value.”
FVTC developers loved that
minimal training was
required for the marketing
team.
FVTC wanted a .NET-based
CMS. They considered DNN
Evoq Content, SharePoint and
Sitecore.
They selected DNN Evoq
Content:
Evoq Content provides quick
“time to use” and “time to
value.”
FVTC developers loved that
minimal training was
required for the marketing
team.
FVTC liked the availability of
third-party modules in the DNN
Store (and little customization
needed to use them).
FVTC wanted a .NET-based
CMS. They considered DNN
Evoq Content, SharePoint and
Sitecore.
They selected DNN Evoq
Content:
Evoq Content provides a
more intuitive user interface
for FVTC’s Marketing Team.
Some of the key features of
Evoq Content that FVTC is
taking advantage of:
Some of the key features of
Evoq Content that FVTC is
taking advantage of:
Webfarms
(for scalability)
This DNN feature balances
traffic across (3) front-end
FVTC web servers.
Some of the key features of
Evoq Content that FVTC is
taking advantage of:
Webfarms
(for scalability)
This DNN feature balances
traffic across (3) front-end
FVTC web servers.
Page Caching (for
performance)
This DNN feature keeps
copies of commonly
requested pages in memory,
which boosts page load time.
Popular features on
FVTC’s website
When news
breaks, it’s
captured in the
NewsCenter.
It’s built with a
DNN Store module
called
EasyDNNnews.
The NewsCenter
provides an area
for rich content
that can also be
fed into other
areas of the site
quite easily.
MyFVTC is a student portal. It’s the one-stop-shop (online) for
students.
FVTC surveyed students to find out what areas of the old website
they accessed the most; then, they curated this collection of
links to match.
RESULTS
Website Metrics:
(During the first six months since launch)
100% increase in mobile visitors.
16% increase in organic traffic
from search engines.
One department received 200%
more inquiries (via the website)
since the new site went live.
Survey Result:
86% of survey respondents rated
the website “quite professional” or
“extremely professional.”
“One of the most
successful cross-
functional projects
in college history.”
-- Dr. Susan May, President, Fox Valley Technical
College
