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Mongena Game Lodge, a leading wildlife destination in South Africa, provides guests an unforgettable experience thanks to its diverse wildlife, luxurious accommodations, and exceptional service. Despite its strong reputation, Mongena faced challenges due to an outdated website, declining search reputation, and inconsistent representation of its four properties. The objective was to revamp their online presence and enhance customer engagement through a more user-friendly website.
The main objective was to revamp and enhance Mongena’s website to represent its brand accurately, enhance user experience, and increase user engagement and bookings. Key goals included:
Digitlab approached the project with a well-structured strategy, utilising its systematic development process to create a smooth and captivating online experience.
The first step was to understand the user journeys, technologies, and experiences to be created. In a well-facilitated workshop, we mapped the user journey, identified online and offline touchpoints, and pinpointed frustrations and friction points. This human-centric approach ensured that the website development would exceed user expectations. Outcomes of the workshop included customer personas, their journeys through the website, and a concrete technical scoping document.
We identified that travel buyers have about 300-400 online interactions before deciding, with 60% to 70% of the journey being self-driven. This insight influenced the content strategy to engage users at every journey stage.
We proposed a single website housing four properties under the Mongena umbrella, each marketed differently. Detailed pages for destinations, experiences, bush breaks, and dedicated sections for weddings and corporate events are included.
Emphasise the importance of targeting keywords like “Bush Breaks” and other branded and non-branded essential target keywords. Integrate a user-friendly booking system to convert visitors.
The next step involved designing the website and user experience. Every user journey stage was carefully planned to balance user needs with the website’s technical capabilities. This creative phase was a highly collaborative process, with significant input from Mongena to ensure the design aligned with their vision. Once approved, the design and UX were ready for development.
The development phase proceeded smoothly and efficiently once we had straightforward user journeys and designs. The website was built on a WordPress framework, incorporating safe, secure, and stable technologies tailored to Mongena’s needs. Our development team expertly handled customisations specific to the WordPress framework, and we integrated the Profitroom booking system to streamline reservations.
The redesigned and redeveloped website, which went live in November 2023, delivered significant improvements for Mongena Game Lodge:
Increased Traffic
Organic traffic increased by 35% within the first three months.
Higher Engagement
Average session duration increased by 25%, indicating improved user experience.
Boosted Bookings
Online bookings saw a 40% uplift, driven by the streamlined booking process integrated with Profitroom.
Security
The website achieved an A+ security rating, significantly improving its safety and stability.
Search Performance
Post-launch, the site’s search presence improved significantly. Notable increases were seen in both branded and non-branded keywords:
Branded Keywords
“Mongena game lodge” saw a 20% increase in click-through rate (CTR), reaching 37.11%. “Mongena” experienced a 15% improvement in CTR, achieving 44.52%.
Non-branded keywords
“Bush breaks” saw a 50% increase in impressions and a 30% increase in CTR. “Game reserve holiday” experienced a 40% improvement in rankings and a 25% increase in CTR.
Overall, the site achieved an average increase of 5% in search click-through rates and a 10% improvement in search ranking positions.
Digitlab’s expert web design and development process transformed Mongena Game Lodge’s digital presence, resulting in higher engagement, increased bookings, and enhanced website security. This project underscores the importance of a well-executed digital strategy in driving business growth and maintaining a competitive edge in the hospitality industry.
Our team delivers digital solutions globally, including South Africa, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Dubai. Contact us anytime to arrange a virtual consultation.
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