21st May 2008 – EIBS Ltd, one of the UK’s leading content management providers, is delighted to announce that the new site for the NAHT has now been launched using EasySite CMS.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) is a trade union and professional association for school leaders, primarily serving head teachers, deputy and assistant head teachers, but also with a growing remit to encompass other leaders within the educational arena. Established in 1897, its current membership is approximately 28,500 and comprises mainly of education leaders in primary, secondary and special schools and FE Colleges in both the state and the independent sector. There are also approximately 10,000 life members.
As a professional association, NAHT offers its members support, advice and guidance on a full range of educational issues, as well as being a trade union. This dual role demands a level of involvement beyond that of other similar but single-focus organisations.
Following a rigorous tender exercise which included the testing of shortlisted systems, NAHT chose EasySite CMS as the content management system to power their website www.naht.org.uk.
NAHT wanted to embrace key Web 2.0 technologies such as:
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Blogging
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Podcasting
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RSS
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Discussion forums
Another key success factor for the project was to integrate the CMS with their back office membership management CRM system – Integra. With a combination of bespoke development and the rich functionality already available with EasySite’s plug-in modules these vital requirements have been met.
Providing a wealth of information on educational issues, up-to-date content is imperative for NAHT. EasySite enables authors to update the site from anywhere in the world meaning that NAHT Regional Officials can easily update their content whenever needed. In addition using EasySite’s Blogging module non–technical authors can instantly publish RSS enabled blog content at any time, such as at NAHT conferences, helping to keep members abreast of vital information.
With the EasySite Banner management module, NAHT are able to manage paid-for advertising campaigns, both time-based and click-through based, with full reporting on campaign success.
EIBS were contracted to provide a total solution that included:
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Information architecture consultancy – utilising focus groups to define user personas; develop a content categorisation taxonomy and create wireframes for key content types.
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Design consultancy & integration – working with the NAHT to create a new look and feel for the site in keeping with the NAHT branding guidelines.
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Bespoke development – to provide new functionality for EasySite to meet NAHT’s web objectives.
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CRM integration development – to allow NAHT members to access ‘members only’ content and features; as well as allow new members to join via the website and automatically be entered into the CRM system.
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Hosting – the new site is hosted within EIBS’ secure managed service hosting environment.
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Support & maintenance.
On the launch of the site Julie Cully, NAHT Website Manager said:
"We selected EIBS to be our web site development company for this new project after a detailed and rigorous process involving many of the leading companies in the field. We were very impressed with the EasySite CMS software, particularly its drag and drop features for template and page building, and this has proved to be a very flexible and adaptable tool. We were also attracted by EIBS' open and willing approach to developing or adapting tools and features specifically for our needs, a real partnership. EIBS personnel have been professional, helpful, responsive and supportive all the way through our phase-one project and their technical knowledge; ability to deliver solutions to us and fix problems has been impressive. NAHT are very pleased with the relationship that has been built between ourselves and EIBS and we are looking forward to entering into phase 2 of the project in the knowledge that there will be a successful outcome."
Commenting on the new site, EIBS Head of Business Development, Bruce Groves said:
“The new NAHT site has been a fantastic team effort between NAHT and EIBS. The site is a beacon for all school leaders and has really embraced key web 2.0 technologies such as Blogging, RSS, Podcasting and Discussion Forums. The project is proof that EIBS is differentiated within the Content Management marketplace as being far more than ‘just a software house’. Our Information Architects, Design Consultants and Integration Specialists have worked hand in hand with the NAHT to create the framework for the new site. NAHT have been terrific to work with and we’re really looking forward to continuing the effort into the planned Phase 2 and Phase 3 launches over the next 12 months.”
Visit the site at www.naht.org.uk.
