Case Study: ND.edu

The nd.edu site you see today is the product of a year’s worth of research.

“The Notre Dame Experience”

ND.edu Screencap

The strategy developed for the new nd.edu website was based on extensive market research provided by an outside consulting firm. That data guided our goals for the site and now provides the metrics against which we’ll measure the site’s success over the coming months and years. Built-in analytics also provide constant feedback that will guide our efforts at modifying the site as it evolves. We studied analytics, organized focus groups, and conducted internal and external reviews of the site. Once we completed the research phase, our in–house creative team began working on a concept for the site. The result? The Notre Dame experience, brought to life by the interactive Flash–powered carousel featured on the home and audience pages of the site.

Challenge

  • Follow our research that indicated we should tell stories about our renewed focus on research, the traditional excellence of our undergraduate programs, and the unique nature of a Notre Dame education.
  • Deliver the Notre Dame experience in an immersive, compelling way, while also addressing the needs of our own community.

Approach

  • Converted the original site from a link portal (static links presented in list form) to one that tells the Notre Dame story with copy, imagery, and video that can be updated on a continuous basis to keep the site timely and fresh. (Follow on Twitter)
  • Created an interactive Flash video carousel —the first of its kind among higher education websites—to showcase academic, research, and student-life stories.
  • Built in a custom analytic tool that analyzes feedback and visitor data on an ongoing basis and helps guide future development efforts.

Outcome

  • Delivered on deadline: August 28, 2007
  • Increased page visit duration by nearly 500%
  • Doubled number of hits year to year
  • Decreased bounce rates by one third
  • Thousands of daily video views
  • 2008 Webby Award Official Honoree
  • Selected as an Adobe Showcase feature.
  • Adobe “Site of the Day” in October 2007

Ongoing

Design, technical development, and content writing and editing are produced by an in–house team. A substantial portion of featured video has and will continue to be produced by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications.