WOBURN, Mass., July 18, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bridgeline Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq:BLIN), a developer of award-winning web experience management (WEM) software and interactive technology solutions, announced today it has launched the redesigned website for the Hoveround Corporation (www.Hoveround.com), the largest direct-to-consumer power wheelchair manufacturer in the United States. The newly designed Hoveround.com, developed on the iAPPS Product Suite, augments the company's frequent use of direct response television advertising with an improved web presence that features state-of-the art Web 2.0 components and accessible, user-friendly functionality.
The ease-of-use, intuitive tools and integration of the iAPPS WEM platform all help the new Hoveround.com streamline the web-based process for obtaining Hoveround's power chairs and accessories, and provide valuable information about the Medicare power chair process. "This website maximizes ease-of-use for our online customers and replicates the same attention to quality, service and responsiveness that Hoveround consistently provides offline," says Hoveround founder and CEO Tom Kruse.
Following a key project directive that the new Hoveround.com deliver a truly engaging interactive experience that meets the demands of their customers and internal company users, Bridgeline gathered feedback directly from Hoveround end users and stakeholders in various interview sessions, as well as by examining and documenting Hoveround's online business objectives. Using that customer-based direction as a roadmap, the Hoveround.com environment was designed to address what was most meaningful and effective for the company and its online customer base.
This user-centric approach produced an extremely navigable site – as evidenced by large declines in the bounce rate versus their previous site, along with significant improvements in key performance metrics that include time on site and pageviews per visit. And with the site's new simplified five-step process that begins an order online, the result is an overall site experience that builds momentum from page to page. There are no dead ends that leave visitors wondering what step comes next. The process from start to finish is very navigable and is accompanied by clear and concise information throughout.
Bridgeline worked carefully with Hoveround throughout development and re-launch to make sure all previous SEO efforts were successfully maintained, and to take full advantage of iAPPS' built-in SEO capabilities. With an enhanced keyword targeting strategy, as well as optimized page content and page structure, SEO results bumped up significantly. Post-launch analytics tell the story: the site has enjoyed 25 – 30% more organic visitors per month since the redesign with an overall conversion rate – measured by the percent of site visitors who request additional information – that has seen more than 30% consistent growth.
With iAPPS Content Manager, iAPPS Commerce, and iAPPS Analytics as its backbone, Hoveround.com provides a smooth integration between e-commerce and content management that enables non-technical personnel to easily establish, modify and add content, including product catalog items. The iAPPS Product Suite's highly integrated CMS also supports the innovative, progressive customer experience that will soon make the whole process of finding the right Hoveround products easier, from initial research to the customer's final choice.
Other user experience features include integration of high-resolution photographs, development of new 360-degree & 3D animation product views, delivery of dynamic online video, and inclusion of both Mobility and Physician resource sections.
"The home medical equipment industry is in the midst of great change within an extremely competitive environment," adds Hoveround's Kruse. "We firmly believe that no matter what the future may bring, Hoveround will continue to develop and improve in order to meet the needs of our customers at every turn. This re-energized website is only the latest step in many more to come towards achieving that goal."
About Hoveround Corporation:
Hoveround Corporation has dedicated nearly 20 years to providing mobility solutions, such as power wheelchairs, which genuinely improve the quality of life for individuals with limited mobility. Hoveround is the largest power wheelchair manufacturer that delivers directly to the customer, providing over 160,000 power wheelchairs to those in need. Every Hoveround power chair is custom assembled in the U.S.A.
Hoveround Corporation's full line of mobility solutions also include the HOVERLIFT Suite of personal mobility and lifting solutions, wheelchair ramps, motorized scooters, and mobility accessories to help people with mobility challenges regain their independence and freedom. To learn more please visit www.hoveround.com.
About Bridgeline Digital
Bridgeline Digital is a developer of an award-winning web experience management product suite and award-winning interactive business technology solutions that help customers leverage best in class web-based technologies to achieve their business objectives. The iAPPS Product Suite is an innovative SaaS solution that unifies Content Management, eCommerce, eMarketing, and Analytics capabilities into the heart of websites, online stores, intranets, extranets, and portals – enabling business users to swiftly enhance and optimize the value of their web properties. iAPPS' flexible architecture provides customers with a state-of–the-art Cloud-based deployment or traditional dedicated server deployments.
Combined with award-winning interactive technology development services by Microsoft Gold-Certified development teams, Bridgeline Digital helps customers to cost-effectively maximize the value of their rapidly changing web applications. Bridgeline's teams of developers specialize in web application development, e-commerce development, usability engineering, SharePoint development, rich media development, and search engine optimization.
Bridgeline Digital is headquartered near Boston, with additional locations in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, and Bangalore, India. Bridgeline Digital has hundreds of customers ranging from middle market organizations to divisions within Fortune 1,000 companies that include: Sun Chemical, Honeywell, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Novartis, Shaw Flooring, Marriott International, Berkshire Life, PODS, Budget Rent A Car, AARP, National Financial Partners, The Packard Foundation, DTCC, Cadaret, Grant & Co., National Insurance Crime Bureau, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. To learn more about Bridgeline, please visit www.bridgelinedigital.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
All statements included in this press release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including the risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.