I've decided to hit close to home for this comparison.
Southern Adventist University or Southwestern Adventist University?
They have similar names, share the same core beliefs, and offer similar degrees.
Both have an online presence, but which University does it best?
Since the explosion of the internet and smart phones, companies in all walks of business have had to readjust their marketing strategies to continue staying relevant in our ever-changing technological world. This includes Universities.
After visiting SWAU's website both on my computer and smart phone, this is what I noticed:
1. Their mobile website is specifically geared for smart phones. It follows the same theme as the desktop version, but the University took the time to make it mobile-friendly. They have modified their content for small screens and users can appreciate that.
2. The layout of the website, both desktop and mobile, is fresh and modern. Their mobile page even shows the current weather. It's clean, and up-to-date with current website layouts.
3. Because of their modern layout, finding specific information is more difficult, especially on the mobile site. You must click on the "main menu" tab, which will then bring up the five main navigation tabs, and when one is clicked, then it'll show the specific links for specific actions.
Both Universities understand the importance of social networking, especially to college students, and include links to their main social media outlets on their home pages.
After visiting SWAU's website both on my computer and smart phone, this is what I noticed:
1. Their mobile website is not specifically geared for mobile phones, it's the same layout as a desktop version. They have not modified their content to work with smaller screens and therefore make it more difficult to navigate by forcing the user to zoom in to be able to see links and choose links.
2. They're using an outdated website layout to target technologically-savvy college students.
3. Specific links and informations are easy to find, both on the desktop and mobile versions, because they are all shown on the main homepage. There are less steps to find a specific action.
Now, looking at the SAU's website, here is what I noticed:
1. Their mobile website is specifically geared for smart phones. It follows the same theme as the desktop version, but the University took the time to make it mobile-friendly. They have modified their content for small screens and users can appreciate that.
2. The layout of the website, both desktop and mobile, is fresh and modern. Their mobile page even shows the current weather. It's clean, and up-to-date with current website layouts.
3. Because of their modern layout, finding specific information is more difficult, especially on the mobile site. You must click on the "main menu" tab, which will then bring up the five main navigation tabs, and when one is clicked, then it'll show the specific links for specific actions.
Both Universities understand the importance of social networking, especially to college students, and include links to their main social media outlets on their home pages.
By looking at the home pages of both websites via desktop and mobile phone, I can see room for improvement on both ends. It'll be interesting to see improvements throughout both websites in the years to come. Will Southwestern take the time and money to update and modernize their website? Will Southern make their website more accessible and easier to navigate?
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