A custom design experience tailored for maximum ROI on your marketing efforts.
Multi-channel, blended search strategies for full-funnel lead generation.
For the past 20 years, Watermark has been helping thousands of colleges and universities spend less time collecting data and more time learning from it. A pioneer (and giant) in the EdTech industry, Watermark continues to develop innovative technologies that empower institutions and support real-world assessment practices and use better data to drive meaningful improvements.
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+60%
engagement on key pages
8+
year partner
Stick with us here, but we like to compare successful, long-term brand/agency relationships to a strong marriage. Think about it. Two parties with mutually inclusive priorities and shared values working towards a common goal—yeah, put a ring on it, already. With that (awkwardly) being said, Watermark and Gravitate have been hitched since 2016 and we couldn’t be happier we tied the knot! As Watermark grows and evolves we’ve been along for the ride, working together every step of the way to define and exceed every digital marketing ambition.
Our initial website project began in 2016 when Watermark was known as Taskstream. Unbeknownst to us or the client, a major acquisition would require a rebrand only a year after Taskstream.com was redesigned and launched. All the same, we plunged into the project, first exploring the hiccups for users within the current website. From highly-detailed SEO and content audits to user flow testing and focus groups, we spent our time developing a meticulous strategy for the website to not only covert higher ed audiences but showcase key industry resources the client churns out on a regular basis.
In hindsight, the investment we put into strategy (and flying to NYC a few times) really paid off considering we’re still iterating upon the same website foundation today. The flexibility of both the design and development of the site allows us to allocate budgets to user testing, ongoing initiatives, event/solutions microsites, and messaging updates.
To keep the websites and campaigns ranking and running smoothly, Taskstream (now Watermark) opted for us to host and maintain the website. Monthly database backups, traffic reports, site health updates, and A/B testing outcomes all help not only solidify content production and priority but inform future projects and brand messaging.
A few years back, Taskstream merged with Tk20 and LiveText. The three leading providers of assessment management technology combined to form Watermark. Looking to make a splash in EdTech at institutions across the world, Watermark needed to update its digital properties. While a typical website lifecycle is about three years, Taskstream’s website (and web of landing pages) were built with extremely flexible blocks and content options so a full redesign from the ground up wasn’t necessary. Working closely with Watermark’s newly combined marketing teams, we updated the website to reflect the new brand and expanded assessment solutions.
With the redesign launched, we began testing user engagement and building campaigns. We explore not only how users are interacting with the website and digital properties but also how users are finding the site through search and brand engagement. No stranger to data, Watermark’s team was able to move quickly and spin up campaigns based on our ongoing growth recommendations which we consistently test and adapt each month.
Each year, Watermark hosts a conference dubbed Engage. Basically, four days of university peers rubbing elbows and learning from higher ed thought leaders from around the world. To adequately inform and register the thousands of attendees to Watermark Engage, each year we put together a microsite dedicated to the conference.
Digital Measures and EvaluationKIT are the newest members of the Watermark family, supplying innovative technology and a wealth of resources to the already robust selection. Similar to the last acquisition, Watermark required a strategic SEO approach to consolidate a wealth of content and redirect domains without sacrificing domain authority or link equity.
With all these new offerings and resources added to Watermark’s portfolio over the years, it was time to reevaluate how key audiences are interacting with the website. We plunged into strategy again to restructure the sitemap, content prioritization, and surface additional paths for key audiences to self-guide once they land on the site. We were able to build new blocks and redesign key landing pages, while also updating the look and feel for ADA compliance, all within the same foundational site shell from four years ago.
As we continue our partnership going forward, we’re thrilled to help Watermark evolve and grow in the EdTech industry. With each hurdle, we would come together and work with their team to push ideas forward, test concepts, and build a digital experience that entices and converts a wide range of audiences with diverse needs.
When I think about what the perfect partner looks like, I think about a partner who treats us like we are a part of their team and values the work we do for them as much as we value working with them. This is Watermark. Over the last several years they have been great to work with, they are strategic, they listen, they give constructive feedback, and they are kind. You can't ask for anything more in a client partner.
Through strategic mergers and acquisitions, the Watermark brand emerged to put a crater in the higher education software industry. Watermark worked with us through a successful consolidation of its various websites and analytics properties to maintain its growth.
This group is truly passionate about their industry and dedicated to constantly evolving to serve their customers. From start to finish, the Watermark team has been confident in their ability to understand their customers and industry while allowing us to bring our recommendations to life—which makes for a dream partnership!
We deliver compelling digital experiences to drive brands forward, engage target audiences, and drive results.
We evolve and continually enhance your digital presence to drive traffic and improve conversions.