MANAGED WORDPRESS
Powering a Creative Partnership Beyond the Beaten Path
A transformative collaboration between WP Engine Agency Partner, Noble Studios and the
Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau (YMCTB) results in an award-winning website
that’s driving effective campaigns and sustainable tourism growth.
Site:
Industry:
Tourism
“Working on yosemite.com was an incredible opportunity that allowed our team to showcase what we do best, from brand strategy to web design and creative services. Building on WP Engine’s platform enabled us to concentrate fully on our expertise, knowing everything from performance to security was being managed by WordPress experts.”
—Somer Athari, Associate Technical Director, Noble Studios
17.1%
Bounce Rate Decrease
5.4%
Traffic Increase
4.37%
Increase in Lodging Referrals
The Client
Noble Studios is a creative digital performance marketing agency that helps passionate organizations achieve inspiring results. Everything the agency creates, from digital strategies to brands, websites, and digital marketing programs, is designed to keep improving. Noble Studios does this through custom-crafted solutions. Because real digital impact requires original craft. That’s creative digital performance.
Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau (YMCTB) is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for the County of Mariposa. Its function is to manage the branding, sales, and marketing efforts for the territory to attract leisure and group overnight stays. The primary focus is to generate room nights during the off-season.
The Challenge
Revitalize the YMCTB brand and appeal to a broader audience,
highlighting Mariposa County’s diverse attractions beyond
Yosemite National Park.
The Solution
Leveraging their expertise in travel and tourism, Noble Studios
worked with YMCTB to lead an innovative, audience-focused creative campaign and website redesign, powered by WP Engine’s
fully managed WordPress platform.
The Results
The partnership between Noble Studios and YMTCB has significantly reshaped the perception of Mariposa County among potential visitors.
WP Engine’s platform has played a crucial role in this transformation, providing the technical foundation for a high-performance, secure, and scalable website where Noble Studios' creative and strategic approach has come to life.
“Moving to WP Enigne and leveraging our agency partnership gave us the combination of high-performance WordPress hosting and dedicated agency support, all the way from scoping the project and making sure YMCTB was on the right plan, to executing at launch time,” said Noble Studios Associate Technical Director Somer Athari.
Offering visitors an accessible, vibrant, and engaging experience through an inspiring map and comprehensive publishing tools, the site helps users craft detailed itineraries, encouraging exploration and deeper engagement with the region’s pioneering spirit.
Since launch, the results have included a string of early successes for the ongoing campaign. YMCTB’s redefined brand image has successfully engaged a broader audience, from nature lovers to cultural enthusiasts, inviting them to discover the county's unique offerings beyond Yosemite National Park.
This strategic move has not only expanded the visitor base but also emphasized sustainability, supporting the county's natural beauty while addressing over-tourism.
Noble Studios' exceptional work on this project has also earned well-deserved acclaim.
The new site was well-received by the client and it was named Creative Project of the Year as part of WP Engine’s annual Agency Partner Awards, highlighting the project’s immersive and interactive design.
Encapsulating the essence of Yosemite and Mariposa County, the website stands as a testament to the effectiveness of creative collaboration and digital innovation.
From June to December 2023, several positive outcomes from the website redesign have been highlighted by YMCTB:
- Bounce Rate Improvement: The redesign led to a notable decrease in bounce rate, dropping from 50.59% to 41.94%—a 17.1% improvement. This accomplishment underscores the dedication to crafting engaging content that resonates with audiences, encouraging deeper exploration of the site.
- Traffic Growth: There was a notable 5.4% increase in overall site traffic from June to December 2023. This uptick reflects the effectiveness of marketing strategies and the heightened appeal of the website, drawing in a larger audience keen on experiencing the offerings of Yosemite Mariposa County.
- Higher Conversion Rate for Lodging Referrals: The conversion rate for lodging referrals also experienced an uptick, jumping 4.37% during the same time period. This positive trend underscores the improved efficacy of the website in converting visitors into lodging bookings, indicating a strategic emphasis on quality interactions over volume.
“Working on yosemite.com was an incredible opportunity that allowed our team to showcase what we do best, from brand strategy to web design and creative services," Athari said.
"Building on WP Engine’s platform enabled us to concentrate fully on our expertise, knowing everything from performance to security was being managed by WordPress experts."
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