[USPS-Webmasters] Hello

[Bill Ray]

Very impressive Jason -- you just raised the bar!  What design tools did you use?

Meanwhile here are some ideas for the rest of us using FrontPage.  First kudos to all the webmistresses and webmasters.  It is hard work and a great service.

Our sites serve both members and prospects.  Each public boating class has more prospects who "found the class on the web".  An effective web site is important to Squadron growth.

People of all ages shop by opening their favorite search engine and typing something like "Seattle boating classes".  The Squadron's web site may be the only contact they have before making a decision on whose class to take.  Easy readability, finding what they need quickly including who to contact, and an overall positive experience are critical to whether that prospect eventually becomes a member.

A clear, crisp book on effective web design based on usability research is ?Don?t Make Me Think!? by Steve Krug (ISBN 0-7897-2310-7), a common sense approach from a well-paid consultant. The ideas apply no matter what design tool you use.

There is nothing wrong with FrontPage IMHO.  Many effective sites have been developed in it and as Mary Jo Barbosa said earlier it makes web maintenance something more people can do within a Squadron.  Our site is edited in FrontPage, although the page template is not one of their themes and I do some hand tweaking of the html.  If you do not have the graphic tools to create your unique banner and menu area, you might be able to draft some expert help to get a page template.  Otherwise pick a FrontPage theme that meets the effective professional-looking site criteria and run with it.  Once the general look is ok, then content and site navigation take priority.

A tip for FrontPage users:  when it makes thumbnails it apparently does not compress aggressively.  You can make thumbnail files yourself to replace theirs that are much smaller yet still look fine.  Find that that digital photo junkie in your Squadron with Photoshop (if it isn't you).  

In general, running any graphic or photo through a photo editor is a good idea for smallest file size.  This can make a big difference in page load time.  Usability studies show people are willing to spend time exploring what interests them once they get into it, but can be impatient about getting there.  If the page takes longer than "normal" to load, they are likely click away to another site in that Google search list.  

Ditto if their first glance does not reveal that a Squadron boating class is a potential fit.  And so on.  (Note how many "subjective" issues determine the site's "objective" effectiveness in attracting members.)

Thanks,

Bill Ray
Webmaster Seattle


-----Original Message-----
From:	Jason Alexander [mailto:jaalex@crps.us]
Sent:	Sun 1/30/2005 1:57 PM
To:	usps-webmasters@usps.org
Cc:	
Subject:	[USPS-Webmasters] Hello
Hello,

My name is Jason Alexander of the Cedar Rapids Power Squadron in 
District 30.  We've just setup our new site at www.crps.us.  Just wanted 
to stop by and say hi.

Jason Alexander

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