2011 Canadian Orchestra Website Review: Detailed Scores Plus US & Canadian Comparison

Designed to provide additional information about how each orchestra fared in the reviews, the detailed scores drill down to provide data for each of the six categories. Additionally, the average score for each category is provided so as to provide an additional frame of reference for how well each group performed.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Perhaps the most valuable component in this installment is the inclusion of responses from an open-ended essay question in the surveys orchestras completed as part of the reviews which provides the opportunity for each group to include any additional information they feel is relevant to their respective website. As such, those essay responses are provided via tooltips in the following charts, so if you see an orchestra name with a link attached, you’ll find the additional information there.

SURVEY RESPONSES

Each year, orchestras in the review are invited to complete an optional survey designed to provide readers with information about each orchestra’s website that go beyond the items included in the review, such as ticket sales information and design details. Although several Canadian groups completed surveys, only one group provided permission to publish their responses (thank you Edmonton!).

US & Canadian Comparisons: Category by Category

The differences between US and Canadian average category score strengths and weaknesses were, for the most part, close. There was no doubt that the enhanced grading criteria had a noticeable impact on both groups, but after the scores were tallied, each side ended up winning an equal number of categories although the average cumulative scores favored US orchestras by a mere 2.65 points (US=59.83, Canada=57.18). The following table breaks down the results.

Although most categories had very close scores, the average US orchestra excelled at providing better persuasion triggers on landing pages, such as direct ticket purchase links for upcoming events. Similarly, the average US orchestra provided a better Smartphone optimized user experience.

Looking Ahead To 2012

The 2012 reviews will prove interesting as both US and Canadian groups have plenty of room to break out and improve their respective scores. And to that end, both groups have done an excellent job over the years making steady progress and there’s no reason to think the same won’t happen from now to next year’s review.

To that end, every orchestra in the review should take a moment to review the content from the Time For Some Triage article at the end of the US website review installments as a guide for rapid improvement.