VENN
Client
VENN is an emerging broadcast and streaming network dedicated to eSports and gaming culture programming.
Challenge
VENN needed a website delivered in record time that served as a stable and secure place to feature their programming, while providing stunning visual engagement to reinforce the network’s all-important experience.
Impact
The stable and visually appealing website was completed in record time. And the results exceeded client expectations and industry benchmarks.
Timing was everything: A stable, high-experience platform launch with zero margin for error
There are some moments with digital projects where a deadline isn’t just a desired goal, but a critical need where an organization’s success is on the line. That was the case for VENN’s website launch. This was the startup’s first time emerging in the market, and their website would be the network’s first exposure for their target audience.
High Stakes Made Higher
The stakes were already high, pivotal first impressions were at stake. Then an opportunity arose from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people were quarantined and in need of safe entertainment they could enjoy at home, the very kind of entertainment VENN was going to bring to the world.
FFW helped VENN develop a stable website platform they could showcase and house their content and experience. Drupal was the chosen CMS, with a decoupled build leveraging Gatsby for a solution that’s secure, flexible, and lightweight.
VENN had a couple other agency vendors working on the design aspects of the project when FFW joined. We developed a close, collaborative partnership with these vendors during the sprint to launch, leading them all as one unified team committed to making the aggressive deadline for VENN’s launch. Through our joint efforts, the site was ready right on time.
Launching a site to fit the world’s new entertainment needs...in record time
VENN needed a website that served as a stable and secure place to feature their programming, while providing stunning visual engagement to reinforce the network’s all-important experience. FFW captained Development and I&O (infrastructure and operations) of their website, while collaborating with other agencies for the design.
Strategic opportunity arising from the pandemic
With so many quarantining and in need of at-home entertainment, there was an immediate heightened demand for VENN’s programming -- and it needed to happen fast. VENN pivoted their launch strategy so they could go to market a month sooner than the original deadline.
Tight timeline with a critical launch date
VENN’s website needed to launch within 6-8 weeks, and with so much at stake, it was imperative this deadline was met in time.
Collaboration needed between multiple agencies
Having multiple vendors on a project can sometimes be a recipe for disaster if they don’t collaborate well together. But FFW has experience in similar types of engagements, ensuring all vendor teams worked cohesively as one unified team to ensure the project’s successful launch.
The solution
FFW worked extensively on the site’s homepage, the keystone to their digital platform. The VENN team needed to easily control and manage content, so we built all components on the page specifically so VENN could easily move things as they wanted. We utilized various integrations to get their main player up and running and also to help build their playlist.
The site’s scheduling page was another important area of the site that FFW worked on. We created gradients for colors, automatic scrolling, and helped with their “This Week’s and Next Week’s” portion of the site. This was a way to make it easier for customers coming to the site to identify what new shows are available and what shows are playing in real-time, to eliminate confusion and prevent unnecessary scrolling from viewers.
Convenient dashboards tracking extensive viewership data
VENN wanted a clear picture of how their video content was being viewed on their website and beyond. By tapping into a huge amount of incoming data from their native website player as well as other streaming platforms like YouTube, Samsung, Roku and Vizio, we were able to build them several convenient and aesthetically pleasing dashboards to easily break down metrics across the board. Video interaction tracking allowed VENN to connect website activity and viewership data to tell a story about their strongest visitors. The flexibility and ability to filter is key to analysis and understanding of their site and video content performance.
Tech
- Drupal CMS: Drupal is highly secure, flexible (so if they have a partner they need to work with to create a gaming hub, they easily can), and great for content management, making it an ideal CMS for VENN’s needs.
- Decoupled build using GatsbyJS: GatsbyJS a modern javascript framework focused on performance and user experience, it generates a static site which results in a secure and scalable application. Since delivering 24/7 programming was first priority, a static site guaranteed availability at any scale.
An expectation-exceeding platform worthy of the new network’s vision
There was so much riding on this build, it was imperative the new site launch on time. Each party knew the importance of this endeavor and were willing to do whatever it took. There were many early morning meetings between each vendor and FFW, and late nights and weekends put it in.
The high performance platform is already smashing industry benchmarks
But it was all worth it! Not only did the team make the launch, the website was both stable and visually appealing. And the results of the site are very positive. The average time spent on VENN’s home exceeds industry benchmarks, and much of their traffic is from return users. Continuing a steady increase (160% month over month), data from Feb 2021 shows the average time on page on venn.tv's homepage is over 5 minutes, which is double Google Analytics Arts & Entertainment industry benchmarks.
The future of VENN is bright
VENN continues to grow their programming and streaming services, branching out into new partnerships and channels.
Sometimes life throws unforeseen and unexpected opportunities your way. When this happens, it’s important to have a partner you can rely on. At FFW, we have a great deal of experience working with razor thin deadlines and helping clients strategically approach new ambitions with their digital experiences. It’s why the vast majority of our clients were either referred or have worked with us before.
We needed a partner that was nimble enough to meet our aggressive timelines with the infrastructure to support a highly complex product scope. FFW was a great partner fit as they are built to scale to meet the challenges of our ever-evolving product needs.