UX Makes it Simply the Best BBQ Website in Town!

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 17, 2013) -

Editors Note: There is one photo associated with this press release.

Applying innovative functionality to improve the visitor's experience is the main focus of a new website launched by Simply BBQ Catering & Events and their web development partner, nvision solutions.

After 10 years with their previous site, Simply BBQ needed to update the technology and take the site to a new level of usability. The goal was to use technology, particularly user-experience design principles, to make it easier for customers to find information and interact with the company, and other customers, all so they could make better decisions about the barbecue catering services they chose.

"Our customers loved the old site and it had lots of great content, so the first trick was to build on that instead of replacing it," says Nicholas Pratile, Account Executive and lead for the web development at Simply BBQ. "We wanted it all, social media, forums, video, customer ratings, but we also wanted to keep the site simple and easy to use too."

To make it all work, Simply BBQ sought out a professional Toronto website design firm and application development from nvision, a company they originally found in a Google search.

"The main challenge was to decide on the functionality that really would improve the UX and usability, and develop them both, all while preserving, organizing and integrating the existing content," says Kevin Doherty, nvision's Creative Director for the Simply BBQ project. "It all needed to be very simple to use. We wanted to make sure the visitor was no more than two clicks away from the info they wanted, whether that be copy, a photo, a video, a review, whatever they were looking for."

Pratile and Doherty worked together to develop and build the site from the customer's point of view. "Visitors want answers to: 'what's on the menu?'; 'what will the event look and feel like?' and 'is the food any good?'", says Pratile. To give them straight answers, Doherty and his team made menu printing a one-click operation; they made sure all the video and images used on the site are from actual Simply BBQ events, not stock or staged, and they developed a rating system that shows at a glance the customers' favourite menu items.

Among the other innovative UX features found on the site:

• Grill Talk - An Interactive forum where visitors can talk about whatever they like, from giving their honest opinion about an event to sharing their favourite BBQ recipes
• Posted Client Survey Results - Simply BBQ asks every customer to offer their feedback in an online survey and then posts the unedited results on the site
• Totally Social - With direct access to Simply BBQ's Twitter feed, YouTube account and Facebook page, from just about anywhere on the site, in addition to blog posts, up-to-date image galleries and newsletter subscriptions, connecting with Simply BBQ perhaps the easiest thing to do on the site

"We don't get a chance to talk to online customers before they decide on which BBQ caterer to use. It means we have to nail everything on the site the best we can to get across our branding and reputation, and show them that Simply BBQ is their best choice," says Pratile.

"Working with Kevin and nvision was very easy. They quickly grasped what we were looking for and were soon bringing ideas to the table that were better than anything we were thinking of. We love the new site and so do our customers."

About Simply BBQ

Established in 1997, Simply BBQ Catering and Event Rentals has an array of different catering menus and event rentals suitable for any bbq catered event such as company picnics, weddings banquets, cocktail receptions, and much more. Our specially trained team, certified corporate chef and event coordinator will ensure that your event is a success, but will also help you from the beginning right through to the end. We can customize any bbq catering menu to suit your ethnic preference, budget and catering needs.

About nvision solutions

From concepts and strategies, to design and implementation, nvision builds premium websites, graphic design and digital marketing campaigns for its many local, national and international clients. nvision has assembled a dedicated team of branding experts, creative professionals, copywriters, illustrators, designers, developers and search engine marketing experts to offer complete digital marketing services to its customers.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130417-Simply-BBQ1.jpg.