Contact Us!   Receive updates from AMRms.com!           
       
About AMR Association Management
Core Association Management Services
Association Management
Conference Management
Marketing and Graphic Design
Technology

Client Testimonial
"Before internet-based programming became the norm, the staff at AMR brought to our organization an analysis of the cost-savings and benefit to members of holding web casts instead of in-person meetings. Member response was phenomenal and our organization was ahead of the curve in our industry by offering this type of program. AMR stays on top of the trends in the association and events industry so that we can offer cost-effective and cutting edge programming to our members."
Tony Hines, assistant director - Office of Financial Management, PA State Employees Retirement System and NAGDCA past president

Use a Website Makeover to Give Your Organization a Face Lift

Today, an association’s website often serves as its public face. According to a 2006 survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 73 percent of American adults (147 million) use the Internet, up from just 66 percent in 2005. Whether you are considering an extreme website makeover, or simply a cosmetic webpage face-lift, there are a number of factors to consider when it comes to creating an eimage that will get your association noticed.

Mirror Mirror in the Portal
You will be well-served to get input from your prospective beholders on the front-end of the project. Solicit feedback from key members or committees regarding the current website, and whenever feasible, make future design decisions based on historic web analytics and traffic tracking information. Consider the end user when determining aesthetics such as web page size, drop-down menus, and animation. While there is no single “fairest of them all” strategy, there are a few basic rules that can prevent a homely homepage:

  • White space is your friend. Select a clean, crisp design and a webfriendly font (such as Arial) to ensure easy readability.
  • Be consistent. Incorporate a web design that will be consistent with the graphic design of your association’s other marketing materials. This will help integrate your communications and reinforce your association’s brand identity.
  • Do not over-animate. While a dash of Flash throughout the site can engage the user, animation that is overdone may cause content to take longer to load and is often cited as a turn-off for internet users who are annoyed by heavy animation.
Form and Function
What’s under the hood? No matter how fetching a website looks, nothing can compensate for poor content. Web content should be relevant, current, accurate and easy to find. It must also change frequently. Online polling features, rotating member profiles, and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds can be used to ensure that your association’s web content remains fresh. Offering visitors access to rich media content such as video, audio and animation can also enhance the end user’s web experience.

When it comes to web design, pretty is as pretty does—a lack of functionality will leave your website lacking that certain something. There are several items to take into account when planning a web design project in order to increase your website’s functionality. Below are just a few:

  • Enhanced search packages such as Google Mini
  • A database-driven design, which allows you to deliver web content based on the demand of the end user
  • Intuitive navigation, featuring duplication/ cross-referencing throughout the site and a three-click maximum to access information
  • A “members only” section, integrated with your member database, which offers self-service functions allowing members to access and update their own information
  • A text only version of the website that is designed to be compatible with personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other hand-held wireless devices
Even a modest investment in time and resources can transform your website into an effective and inexpensive marketing tool. The most attractive websites are continually reinvented through evolving content, enhanced functionality and simple designs that engage users.




Bookmark and Share