Villa Maria College serves a diverse student body with a student-centered approach that spans the arts, technology and healthcare. The college wanted to reinvent how it communicates its message with prospective students. At the time, Villa’s website was trying to serve both current and prospective students, which made it less than helpful for either audience.
Villa Maria College
Inviting prospective students to see for themselves
Web Design
Strategy
Digital Marketing
Content & SEO
- Web Design
- Strategy
- Digital Marketing
- Content & SEO
The Project
Simplifying user experience with a redesign
Parkway sat down with Villa to work out a streamlined sitemap, copy and navigation that focused on reaching and connecting with potential students. We also needed to make sure Villa’s new site not only had a great design but also had the technical capacity to handle incoming application forms, PDF downloads of maps and course catalogs, and payment submissions.
Our Approach
Integrating technical upgrades with on-brand assets
Parkway integrated Google’s advanced Programmable Search Engine into WordPress’s existing interface for a search experience that looks like it’s part of the website while providing highly accurate results. We also added a refreshed PDF generator to give website visitors and campus employees access to inputs from form submissions and event registrations. Lastly, Villa’s website now includes PayPal Smart Payment Buttons for a simplified and secure checkout experience.
Villa’s new site features community-focused photography, vibrant collages and clearly defined calls-to-action specific to the needs of potential applicants. These elements are also included in Villa’s digital ads, which Parkway adjusts throughout the year to mirror what’s going on in the admissions office. We also create optimized blog content on key topics related to Villa’s programs to draw in readers just beginning to think about college.
