ASAE Marketing Idea Swap - Website Feedback

From: Jeff Hoffman
jhoffman@mail.infoinc.com

Hi everyone,

Twelve of us signed up to share feedback on each others' web sites.
So that everyone's site gets covered without a lot of work, I've
divided us up into 3 groups of 4 with the thinking that we share
comments within our group. Of course if you wish to review more
than the 3 sites in your group, feel free. I hope this system works
for you. See you at the next Idea Swap!

Best, Jeff
------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Hoffman
Director, Association News Briefings
Information, Inc.
7700 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda MD 20814
301-215-4633








I can't wait to hear these other Group's website
critiques as well!
-- Missy

Group 1

Dr. Coralee Van Egmond
Director of Professional Development
International Chiropractors Association
cvanegmond@chiropractic.org
http://www.chiropractic.org/

Anita Popwell
E-Commerce Director
Consumer Data Industry Association
apopwell@cdiaonline.org
http://www.cdiaonline.org/

Steve Doran
Director of Marketing
National Association of College & University Business Officers
SDoran@nacubo.org
http://www.nacubo.org/

Jeff Hoffman
Director, Association News Services
Information, Inc.
jhoffman@mail.infoinc.com
www.infoinc.com/assn-news


Group 2

Del Baker-Robertson
Marketing Manager
American Association of Museums
dbaker@aam-us.org
http://www.aam-us.org/

Kathleen Neeson
Marketing Coordinator
American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging
kneeson@aahsa.org
http://www.aahsa.org/

Ellen Kim
Creative Director
Graphek
ellenkim@graphek.com
http://www.graphek.com/

Dawn Rhine
Managing Director
Synergy Forces
drhine@synergyforces.com
http://www.synergyforces.com/

_____________________________________________

Ok, I've reviewed my assigned websites. Just let me say
in advance that I appreciate the opportunity to provide
feedback AND receive feedback. Please remember, every
criticism is given in a constructive vein.
Here is my 2 cents....
--Missy

Group 3

TO:
Reginald Beckham, Jr.
Marketing and Membership Manager
National Association of Housing Cooperatives
reginald@coophousing.org





The homepage is "busy"; I had to scroll down 3 times to view the
entire page. The calendar is not eye-appealing; borders are heavy;
lots of blank space, too. Logo is difficult to read; consider white text
over the photo versus black text. I love the pics on your top banner,
though; gave me a visual of what your association is.

Pages load easily, links open quickly and pics are not too large;
great for busy web users! Good use of video, although I would
suggest using a still clip from the video in addition to the text link
for more eye appeal. LH Sidebar format changes between pages
(some page sidebars seem to be wider than others); text align-
ments are "off" and sometimes hard to follow. Same thing with
pages; some are formatted to be much wider than others. There
are some alignment issues with text within a page, too. Ex: BOD,
Site Map and Member Association pages

Maybe you should check the site in several different browser
settings and on different desktop computers and laptops to assure
good format no matter who is looking at the site. Make sure your
site works well on a small format, too. The use of handheld browsers
is exploding; I know that I surf the web on my Treo all the time!
Some of your site, esp. your logo, is very hard to see in small format,
for instance.

IMPORTANT! Be sure all of your links, whether PDFs, DOCs or
other websites, open in a new browser window. One of your docs
locked up my IE, and one external link was one of those websites
that "steals" you; I couldn't get back to your site without going into
my history.

Perhaps consider easier navigation tools; add a "back" button on
every page; have a "HOME" link at the top of every page along with
your other main tabs (rather than at the bottom of every sidebar).

Every main tab page is very text heavy; consider dividing into sub-
tab pages and using just one important thing on the main tab page
with links to the sub-tab pages. Add photos to break up the text.

Some pages just seem to go on and on after the text/content ends...
check your HTML on those pages. Ex: BOD page

FAQ page: since answers are so text heavy, consider listing the
question only and providing a link to the answer; visitors may lose
interest before they read through to find their question.

No staff listing or bios; the web is an impersonal place and the only
way to personalize it is to put a human name and a human face on it;
same holds true with our organizations.

You really should have your copyright, current date (or at least the
current year) and contact info on the bottom of every page; do you
have a privacy notice? should have a link to that as well on every page.

I like your Glossary setup with the "back to top" link on every item.
Consider using that at the bottom of text heavy pages, too. Would be
great to have a button as well to return the visitor to the last
page visited.

Check your Search feature; it took me to a separate Google page with
lots of ads, etc. on it; visitors may get lost there.

Also consistent fonts are important on the web. Your font type and
size changes between pages; and sans serif is preferred for better
eye appeal.

You've got a lot of info to share on your site!
_____________________________________________

TO:
Amy Melrose
Client Services Specialist
Walton Thomas International
amy@waltonthomas.com






This was my favorite site of the three. Very eye-appealing, easy
to navigate, easy to read and understand. Pages load easily, links
open quickly and pics are not too large; great for busy web users!

There was a bit of wasted space on pages, esp. the homepage.
Homepage said "we-me/feature" rather than "you/benefit" to me
when reading it. Now I'm all for "white space" but it can be over-
used, too.

The top banner is very good. Good use of the logo. I also like your
tag line "Classic Service. Contemporary Vision" and would use it on
the bottom of every page! I like the fact that almost all of your
pages are one page, no scrolling! Good - no excellent!- graphics,
good font usage, too.

Great staff page! Faces!! I feel like I know your organization and
its people. But add an email link to each one and/or a phone num-
ber, whichever is your preferred contact method. I know, I know...
the old argument about spammers. Well, with the tech-savvy spiders
today, the only way you can avoid them is to NOT use your email
address or phone number anywhere on the web, not even filling out
online forms. But, then you run the risk of legitimate contact being
difficult. I'd rather deal with a little junk mail, then to miss a valid
business contact or opportunity. Use an alias email if you want;
good way to track where email contact is coming from, too. A visitor
shouldn't have to search for a way to contact someone. Need some
sort of contact info on every page, too.

Suggestion: instead of clumping testimonials on just one page, make
use of your blue "white space" in your RH sidebar and add a testi-
on each page. On the testi-only page, add a pic or graphic, whether
an organizational logo or, better yet, a pic of the work described!
Make the connection - Show the benefit! On the web, we read
graphics much more readily than loads of text. The graphics draw
our eye to the text.

Great GSA page; very informative, but again no contact info. Those
in the gov't definitely won't do much searching to find the appropriate
contact; you have to make it easy for them.

You really should have your copyright, date (and/or current year)
and contact info on the bottom of every page; do you have a privacy
notice? should have a link to that as well on every page. Make sure
visitors know your site is current.

Good use of links and they open in new browser windows! Great!

Great resume submission page!

Your site works well on a small format (handheld), too.

No search feature? No site map? Not sure if you really needed
either, though. Your info was succinct enough to navigate without.

Your site gave me just enough info to understand what you're all
about, but with the desire to learn more and the inclination to make
the call!
_______________________________________________

TO:
Jonathon Sper
Sales Executive
Election Services Corporation
jsper@electionservicescorp.com





I like the use of white text on blue background; very easy on the
eyes and easy to read. However, check consistency between pages;
the font type and size changes from page-to-page. Directions page:
font is much easier to read; I would use this throughout.

All pages, esp. the homepage, are too text heavy. Need some
graphics, pics and/or some color to break it up. Also, your main
tab links are a little too high on the page. I browse using a full-
screen browser and had trouble clicking on them. Good use of the
logo top banner on every page.

Good bottom of the page info on the homepage, but it needs to be
carried through on every page. Remember, you never know where
people will "land" when visiting your website. Be sure to update your
year to reflect the current year; this indicates that the website is up-
to-date; no one cares when it was started, just that the info is current.

Good use of links and they open in new browser windows! Great!
You have no issues with page widths; looks good!

Make sure your site works well on a small format, too. Your site is
almost totally illegible on my handheld. Looks like very tiny outlines
of white text on a white background.

On your "Markets Served" page, some on the list had no links. I
would have been interested to read about the markets listed that
had no further explanation like the live links did.

Contacts: could you list the address of both your SF, CA and DC
offices, too, in addition to your NY HQ?

Our Team: no contact info-email or phone. Add an email link to
each one and/or a phone number, whichever is your preferred
contact method. I know, I know...the old argument about
spammers. I'd rather deal with a little junk mail, then to miss
a valid business contact or opportunity. Use an alias email if you
want; good way to track where email contact is coming from, too.
A visitor shouldn't have to search for a way to contact you. Need
some sort of contact info on every page, too. (I think at least one
of your Team was blank, just a name.)

Competitive Advantage page: text heavy; consider using bullet
points instead of complete sentences and paragraphs.

Election Process: consider adding color to the flow chart.

No search feature? No site map? Would have been useful.

Suggestion: instead of clumping testimonials on just one page, make
use of your blue "white space" on your pages and add a testi on each
page. On the testi-only page, add a pic or graphic, better yet an
organizational logo! Make the connection - Show the benefit! Perhaps
logos would lend an identification factor/affiliation appeal with the
website visitor considering using your services.


Hope this helps and I look forward to hearing comments
on our website. If you can stand the abuse (LOL), I'd be
happy to re-visit any sites that have been altered for a
second pass. Hey, I look at marketing this way:

There is not right or wrong, only opportunities for
improvement.

Thanks!


Putting Friendship to Work for You,

Missy Blankenship, Director-Sales and Marketing








P.S. I'll be sure to pass along more critiques and
feel free to post your own here!