The Vancouver Island Trail Association is a dedicated group of volunteers who are passionate about developing the Vancouver Island Trail (VIT) and showcasing the diversity of Vancouver Island.
CHALLENGE: The VIT website was old and did not fully meet current needs. The design did not reflect the the Vancouver Island Trail brand and did not offer enough functionality or information. The website lacked Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and required a more exciting, organized, and fresh appearance.
Vancouver Island Trail Association (VITA) is a not for profit and registered as a charity. Focused on building new and linking existing trails from Victoria in the south to Cape Scott at the northern tip of the island, VITA partners with Indigenous Communities and private companies in creating the Vancouver Island Trail which showcases the spectacular West Coast landscape and communities.
SOLUTION: TechnoMedia started a deep dive into the VIT website and reorganized the content with first and foremost the User in mind. We incorporated all the trails into 7 Sections. These 7 Sections were applied throughout the website so that the users, and hikers, would not get lost in all the information.
We also focused on appealing to a range of audiences, by creating a VIT Section Overviews as well as in-depth Section Step-by-Step information about each of the 7 Sections. We implemented capitalizing on an informative blog for both attracting a younger audience and the benefits it brings re Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Buttons in the main menu were added to facilitate a clear path to Volunteering and Donation information. And Maps were presented in a more comprehensive fashion.
We knew that visual assets would be an integral part to telling the VIT story. We used available photography, and as much as possible, used imagery that included people. We believe that scenery sells the location, imagery that includes people sells the experience.
“Heather and the team at TechnoMedia made our new website design project proceed smoothly and with a lot of fun. They bring amazing expertise to the technical and marketing aspect of a trails/hiking focused site. Would definitely work with them again.”
Vandi Hill, Director Communications, Vancouver Island Trail
The new VIT website has great Search Engine Optimization and the best Content Management System available. It is responsive to provide an optimal viewing experience across a wide range of devices including mobile phones for hikers on the go, as well as tablets and desktop computers.
Happy hiking!