Brief
NSCG asked us to redesign and rebuild their website to improve accessibility, boost search performance and increase course applications. A core part of the project was restructuring the site using SEO data, simplifying internal content workflows, and integrating all course listings and applications into Craft CMS.
What we did
Outcome
The new website led to record-breaking full-time applications, increased engagement across mobile and key user groups, and measurable growth in visibility for core course pages. Our relationship with NSCG continues to grow through long-term collaboration across web and digital marketing.
Craft CMS. Web Development. Custom Projects.
Web Design & Development
With Craft 3 reaching end-of-life, we worked closely with NSCG to rebuild the site using the latest CMS technology, without requiring extra capital investment. Our focus was on improving search visibility, application journeys and accessibility for all users. Course discovery was made faster and more intuitive, and admin processes for managing content were streamlined across departments.
Engagement rates
A primary objective was to make the website more accessible, providing a smoother user experience for all users. This increase in engagement rates shows that more users are staying on the website and are engaging with the content.
+153%
Full-time applications
For the first time in their history, full-time applications had to close early in May 2024 due to the courses reaching capacity. They had seen increases across multiple areas, from what had already been a successful recruitment in the previous year (2022-23).
+10.41%
University & adult applications
Through refining the SEO and conversion strategies within the new website development, the university level and adult applications also saw a successful increase.
+19.21%
SEO. Paid Social.
Digital Marketing
We manage always-on and seasonal campaigns across paid social and Google Ads, tailored to each audience and campaign goal. From Open Events and Adult Learning to Clearing, every strategy is underpinned by data. Platforms include Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, LinkedIn and Google, with creative and targeting refined for each audience.Â
Total users
This figure shows the total users on the website during a Newcastle Open Event, and is a comparison of the same period for the previous year.
+131%
Newcastle Open Event pre-register clicks
The purpose of the campaign was to lead users to the website, to the specific event page to pre-register for the event. This figure shows the comparison to the previous year on the success of the event sign-ups.
+168%
Sessions
Overall user sessions on the website had increased during the same Newcastle Open Event campaign, once again based on the previous year.