Killer Web sites built on SharePoint 2013

Over the last few years Concero IT has seen an increasing demand to develop engaging and trendy Web sites for its clients that showcase the company's unique brand and ultimately emphasise that which sets it apart from its competitors.

In order to achieve this, you need to employ the latest technology, have good quality content and a simple yet well thought-out design. As Web technologies change and mature, users are continually demanding more in terms of the interactivity and user experience of Web sites, as well as how they interact with them.

In order for organisations to keep pace with these increased user demands, they require a platform that has a rich feature set and is extensible, allowing them to deliver engaging customer experiences.

Primary requirements from end-users include the following:

* The ability to easily find the most relevant Web sites utilising the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing. In addition, once on these sites, interface with and be able to find the relevant content they are searching for.
* A visually appealing and rich user experience that encourages the user to interact with the Web site in an intuitive manner.
* The ability to access the Web site regardless of the device that is being used, be it a mobile phone, a tablet or a PC. With this, they demand a consistent experience with the same functionality and features across all devices.

From an IT investment perspective, CIOs and IT managers are looking for a platform that allows them to meet all the end-user demands, both internally and externally, while enabling them to leverage technology throughout their organisation, thereby realising maximum value and getting the best return on investment. Products like SharePoint provide companies with a single platform that can address multiple business challenges like Web sites, intranets and customised business solutions that drive productivity, reduce costs and improve collaboration.

It is for this reason, the ADvTECH Group selected SharePoint 2013 as the platform to host many of its solutions, including its Intranet and most of its public facing Web sites. Vega School of Brand Leadership; an ADvTECH company and an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE); chose to leverage their SharePoint 2013 platform to develop a state of the art interactive Web site that improved the brands online Web presence, increased new student applications (sales and revenue) and facilitated a better-quality client interaction.

Vega needed a platform and solution that would provide their business with a competitive advantage and give them the ability to create and manage content themselves, rather than relying on third-party development companies. The new Web site had to be simple and easy to use, with a three-click rule to find anything. Iconography and visuals needed to be engaging and attractive, while facilitating easy navigation and ensuring registration was quick and seamless; whilst achieving maximum visual impact with minimal rendering hindrances. Due to the primary target market, i.e. students, the Web site needed to be accessible via mobile phones as well. From a search engine perspective, it was critical that the Web site ranked on the first page for specific keywords matching Vega's focus areas and courses.

The following key focus areas were identified as a requirement for the Web site platform:

* The ability to manage content themselves.
* Optimisation for search (in search engines and on-site).
* Mobile device rendering.
* The ability to manage various digital communication channels such as their social media and blogs.

Concero have a longstanding relationship with ADvTECH and were engaged to develop the new Vega Web site. "SharePoint 2013 allowed us to meet Vega's requirements because of the improved features in terms of SEO, WCM and mobile device rendering; enabling us to deliver a rich interactive Web site that drives student enrolments into the future," says Henri Fourie, CEO of Concero IT.

Other features and functionality that is not native to SharePoint 2013 but also forms part of the Vega Web site include:

* Analytics and reporting - Google Analytics to track how people interact with the Web site.
* Payment gateway integration allowing Vega to accept online payments.

"We are pleased and extremely satisfied with our Web site developed by Concero IT. Concero has accurately delivered on our brief and demonstrate service excellence and efficiency," says Nicky Stanley, National Marketing Navigator at Vega.

Concero IT has extensive experience in building Web sites on the SharePoint platform as well as providing the necessary maintenance and support. Some examples of these are listed in the table below.

SharePoint 2013