2011 – 2016
The Marine Megafauna Foundation was created in 2009 to research, protect and conserve the large populations of marine megafauna found along the Mozambican coastline. ‘Megafauna’ are large marine species such as sharks, rays, marine mammals and turtles.
These animals are key components of marine ecosystems but, as they are long-lived and have low reproductive rates, their populations are usually the first to be reduced by human pressures. Fortunately, they are also amongst the most charismatic animals on the planet and engender a high degree of public interest in their biology and conservation, making them useful ambassadors for the whole marine environment.
The Manta Ray and Whale Shark Research Centre is based at Tofo Beach, Mozambique, at Casa Barry Lodge. Tofo Beach is a major international hot-spot for both manta rays and whale sharks.
In late 2010, after watching the BBC feature on Queen of the Mantas, I contacted Andrea Marshall and suggested I would be very interested in working with them to re-build their website and branding. After a wait of about three weeks, I got a message from Simon Pierce, thanking me for the offer and a week later began discussing the project with Andrea.
Over the next year, I worked with them to coordinate the compilation of content while I designed, created and populated the new website, which was launched in the Spring of 2011. It was a huge step forward for the group and was instrumental in adding credibility to their work.
This was a project I was hoping I could spend years being involved with but after a six year period, they decided to work with another designer/developer to evolve their website rather than continue working with me, which was a disappointment. It turned out that the new developer offered to work for free so that’s how they made that decision. Not based on commitment or previous work having been done for them which helped establish the group.
I am proud of the work I did for the Marine Megafauna Foundation. I helped them establish an identity and continue to support their efforts at a distance now.
After ten long years in conservation, I finally feel like MMF has a website that showcases the work that we do in a beautiful and dynamic way! As a full time field researcher I sometimes find it hard to stay connected with the public and disseminate the full scope of our findings in an interesting and timely fashion.
Steve Roper has revolutionized our ability to do this, allowing us to highlight our long-term programs and keep our fans up to date with our current projects.
Thanks Steve. You’ve given us an identity…
– Dr. Andrea Marshall. Director – Marine Megafauna Foundation.
The Project
Re-design the branding and online identity for the Marine Megafauna Foundation in Mozambique. This has been an exceptional and on-going project for me working with the entire team of the Foundation and being a part of the contribution to Global Conservation Awareness.
- Re-create a Brand Identity
- Develop a Responsive Website Design
- Integrate online Donations
- Integrate advanced Google Analytics
- Consult on Fundraising Initiatives
Integrating Online Videos and a YouTube Channel.
One of the more interesting features of the Marine Megafauna website was the integration of their YouTube Channel being completely integrated with analytics. Linking it seamlessly within YouTube allows the videos to show cleanly on the website and play within the graphically created frames. This introduction video by Nina Constable illustrates how beautiful Tofo, Mozambique is.
Slider Banners
Any really good website integrates several series of internal banners or mini ad campaigns which can be used for a number of different opportunities. These banners became online ads, real life banners at some of the shows MMF attended and as promotions for several of the fund raising campaigns we created for MMF.
As always, brilliant and relevant photography with simply headlines make for the most successful and often most compelling forms of advertising.
Integrate Responsive Design
In 2013, after re-creating the website for MMF, we proposed the integration of Responsive Design and in 2014 began and completed the integration, at which point, daily visitation doubled and has maintained at that level, with over 30% of all visitors viewing the website on either a phone or tablet.
Accordingly, online donations have increased, allowing the Foundation to further their educational programs and scientific research across the planet.
To me, it is critical that cross platform promotion be consistent and not helter skelter so I created guidelines for MMF to follow regarding their banners and posts. The Facebook Page we integrated now has over 29,000 Friends & Followers.
Facebook remains a vital staging ground for building a strong brand presence. With over 3 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the favourite social platform of users aged 25-34 who also have a high average disposable income. A 2023 Q4 Pulse Survey data also revealed that Facebook remains the top platform where most consumers intend to post and share content. This makes Facebook marketing one of the most compelling ways to enhance a brand identity and share of voice.
The Solution & Result
The re-design for the Marine Megafauna Foundation was a labour of love for me as a Creative Director and as a Master Scuba Diver. Having the opportunity to fulfill vocational and avocational passions at the same time is about as good as it gets for me, short of actually being in the water.
The Marine Megafauna Foundation plays an active vital role in protecting endangered species globally.
After our Responsive Design integration, visitation to the website has increased from virtually zero to over 30,000+ visits annually with almost 30% on a mobile device.
Plus I made many new friends and got some bragging rights 🙂
It was an absolute pleasure working with Steve. He worked quickly and efficiently and created a gorgeous, functional website for the Marine Megafauna Foundation. He was excellent at managing the process, from initial design and development right through to the launch. At all stages we received clear updates and feedback.
I thoroughly recommend Steve Roper’s web design and online marketing services as a brilliant partner in creating an online presence.
– Simon J. Pierce, PhD. Principal Scientist. Marine Megafauna Foundation
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