TOPIC:

Will you evaluate our website please? Club 2196748, NextNiagara. Thanks

nextniagara.toastmastersclubs.org/

Hi,

I love how you have everything up front on your site. I also like the different text and fonts that are used to keep it all from running together. I do have a suggestion for your site; you do a great job discussing what your club is like and making it sound enjoyable, you may want to do a grammar and spelling check on the first line. I think you may be missing the word, "a".

"Our members are part of (a) vibrant..."

I also found a bit of discrepancy about what time your doors open: on the home page it says 5:15 and on the meeting information page it says 5:00.

I have gotten a lot of great ideas from your site. I love how you have a "Guest Speaker" series, that is awesome.

Mbettely,

In order to continue to have this forum section be useful into the future, we need to request that everyone contribute to it.

Therefore, we are implementing "Get an evaluation, give an evaluation." . Basically, we are requesting those who have received a website evaluation give a Toastmasters style website evaluation for at least one other club that has requested an evaluation in this forum section. (You get to choose which club website to do the website evaluation for.) Just post your impressions: things you like about the website, and areas for improvement. Everyone has something to offer... just trust your instincts.

Hi Steve,

This is a good idea and well in keeping with the Toastmasters tradition! I would like to evaluate a website that is not part of FreeToast Host, the Moscow Free Speakers Club in Russia which I attended last October. Is this acceptable, Steve the techie?

In fact it was their website that inspired me to update our own. moscowfreespeakers.ru

Will I get credit for it on this Forum ? Marie

Nicely done. There are some things you have done that I think are nice that I have seen elsewhere.

+
I like the change in font size of the menu links. Without too many links, this makes for a clean navigation system.

I like the current information. An event being held today is timely. Tomorrow that will be stale. As a visitor, I would hope that new content will be provided.

The Guest Series program is fantastic. Really nicely done. (Lose the link to your web page at the bottom). It's always nice to see a new approach.

A few minor things that would make an impression for me are:

-
I would change "fastpaced" to "fast-paced".

Phone # on the contact page is 10 numbers with no spacing. I would like to see xxx-xxx-xxxx format.

Meet Our Members
More members and more photographs would be welcomed. A visitor doesn't get much from this page right now.

Club Calendar
Does not include event with Lance Miller.

Overall the site has the basic information a visitor seeks. You could probably jazz up the look a little more with color, photographs, etc. The look is quite similar to most other FTH sites. Perhaps from viewing many, I enjoy seeing those that work on the cosmetics.

Mbetteley wrote:

Hi Steve,

This is a good idea and well in keeping with the Toastmasters tradition! I would like to evaluate a website that is not part of FreeToast Host, the Moscow Free Speakers Club in Russia which I attended last October. Is this acceptable, Steve the techie?

In fact it was their website that inspired me to update our own. moscowfreespeakers.ru

Will I get credit for it on this Forum ? Marie

You could do that, but our preference is that you still also evaluate one of the websites that an evaluation has been requested for on here. This helps us provide the requested feedback to others, given that the FreeToastHost Ambassadors are 8 volunteers. Basically, given the apparent support/interest for this activity in this forum section, there is no way that only 8 people would be able to keep up with doing evaluations by ourselves. (We will still do some, but it helps a lot if other people are contributing, also.)

Yes, I'll evaluate a website. How do I go about this? Marie

Marie,

Go to any website that has asked for an evaluation. Visit the website, tell them what your impressions are, what you like, what you think can be improved. A website evaluation is just like a speech evaluation, honest feedback, suggestions for improvement.

Some of the sites will have their link in the post for the others, simply type their club number followed by toastmastersclubs.org

I agree with Roger, I wouldn't offer an evaluation unless someone ASKED for it. So, here goes mine...

Hi Marie!

I always try to consciously consider my first, split-second impression when I visit a site. I have always done the same in my real estate marketing, or when viewing a home. Because... that's what people do.

Pictures emote, and convey concepts. Your picture has one person in front with everyone else. Though we do teach, and exercise leadership, we do so in a group setting. I would recommend a photo showing the GROUP dynamics of your club. People want to be a part of something, not in the background.

You may want to consider coloring the menus, OR leave them white, and color the background. You have some really good content, but all the white makes it look sparse. I like the use of text color in your fonts.

You may want to zoom OUT for the initial map capture. It appears you have 3 major highways nearby, but none of them are initially seen.

Where are all the photos of your club members? I am always of the opinion you need at least one picture of someone delivering a speech.

Where's the social media? Facebook, Twitter, and others can actually make your job EASIER by driving visitors to you site.

I LOVE the FAQs! It's apparent you, or someone in your club spent a lot of time here! Even if you got any help with it, it's specific to your club. Generally, I'm not in favor of really long pages, but considering this is an FAQ, it's fine. People come to expect that.

A Guest Speaker series? That's a really big deal! Something you could promote on Facebook. You're on the right track, just keep at it, and try to incorporate more club members.

Blaine Little , ACB
VPPR, TM 1757

Hi Blaine,

Thank you for your evaluation. You have some excellent points. I appreciate your candour and tips! Marie

Marie Betteley CC CL
President
NextNiagara Toastmaster