Northwestern launches redesigned website

Northwestern College’s website, www.nwciowa.edu, has a new look and content overhaul as the result of a yearlong redesign process.

The revised site is focused on providing information for Northwestern’s external audiences, particularly prospective students and their families. Packaged in a bright, bold design, the site seeks to convey Northwestern’s strengths and unique personality through compelling content and photography. Text emphasizes the college’s core values, national recognition and success of graduates.

“Based on advice from Web experts, our team has developed content that is less narrative and brochure-like and more accessible to scan-the-page browsing that is typical of Web users today,” says Duane Beeson, director of public relations. “We included more headlines, lists and numbers to draw attention to the content. In addition, the website will be even more timely and interactive, thanks in large part to the content management system built by Dan Robinson, our web development manager.”

The site allows users to subscribe to RSS feeds to receive constantly updated news and sports stories. The site also includes a “share this” feature that enables Northwestern constituents to easily forward Web content via e-mail or social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Digg. In addition, prospective students and employees have the ability to create personalized accounts for navigating the application process.

“We believe the redesigned site is much more user-friendly and better reflects the quality of Northwestern College to our constituents,” says Beeson. “Dan Robinson did an outstanding job of creating this site, and public relations staff members Tamara Fynaardt, Anita Cirulis and Teri Elgersma played important roles in writing and editing copy, selecting photos, and uploading material to the site.”