115. Web Development and Design › case studyDesign should enhance user experience and guide a visitor seamlessly througha website, as opposed to distracting visitors from their goals. 4.9 the bigger pictureWeb development and design can be seen as the thread that holds digitalmarketing together. After all, websites are the first thing we think of when wethink of all things “Internet”!Whatever campaign is being run, there is no doubt that it will involve a website.The fundamentals of website development and design, particularly designingfor users first and foremost, should form the foundation of any campaign.With the crucial role that search engines play in the way that people access theInternet and visit websites, web development and design goes hand in handwith SEO. And of course, campaigns such as PPC campaigns, email marketingcampaigns and even affiliate campaigns often require custom landing pages.That’s the web design jumping into the mix again.Website owners want their website to be talked about, and linked to, for all theright reasons. Sometimes the best way to know what parts of your website areand are not working is to listen to the online chatter. That’s ORM stepping intothe mix.Successful website development and design is all about foundations, and theresulting website usually forms the foundation of any digital marketing tofollow. Make sure you understand your users’ needs, and you’re building on astrong base.Almost all digital marketing is designed to get users to a website where theyconvert into customers, so web development really is at the centre of all youronline marketing activities. 4.10 case study: Happy Cog and Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation In 2010, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), an organisation geared toward creating awareness around and promoting the city of Philadelphia in the United States, needed to refresh their website and general digital presence. The original website, created in 1997, had become a key marketing tool for the organisation but due to its outdated design, was facing some major problems: • The design’s DNA did not encourage a high degree of engagement with content. • Excessive navigation and a fragmented architecture meant users were often confused. • There was no strategy for the social web. 107