National Eisteddfod of Wales
An age-old tradition that's leading the way online
The Client
The Eisteddfod has been a Welsh institution for 150 years, providing a vibrant annual showcase for the language and culture of Wales.
Every year produces an eclectic mix of music, literature and visual arts, along with activities for all generations, cultures and nationalities.
With over 200,000 visitors pouring in every year, the event is fixed as the cornerstone of Wales' cultural calendar.
The Challenge
Organisers had embraced the web way back in the '90s. But their original site was hard to use, frustrating staff at the back end and visitors at the front end. So by 2002, they felt it was time for an upgrade - and that's where we came in.
Our brief was to create a new website that would raise awareness, provide information and create a rich, rewarding experience for online visitors.
The Solution
We developed a lively bi-lingual site, to be managed in-house by Eisteddfod staff. Our solution included:
- An attractive, youthful design, with consistent branding and simple navigation
- An enhanced technical backend, with user-friendly modules: a media gallery, contact forms, plus databases for managing events and competitions
- An e-commerce system, selling tickets, exhibition space and campsite accommodation
- A primary business tool, for communication with key user groups: site visitors, festival regulars and cultural audiences worldwide
And over the years, as the web has evolved, the site has quickly adapted. Today, with Web 2.0 interactivity, visitors can add their own images and share their Eisteddfod experience right across the web.
We've also added video streaming, an online store and a multimedia archive, documenting past events.
The Results
With 12,000 visits every month and 2.5 million page views in the last 4 years, the new website is bringing the Eisteddfod to a wider, global audience.
The online marketing system has produced a wealth of time and cost efficiencies.
And crucially, visitors now have a fully immersive experience that meets the demands of a new generation...and extends the Eisteddfod from a single week to an all-year online event.
