TOPIC:

Hi, I recently launched the admin console on the club webstie and was impressed with many icons and buttons to customize the club website. Could you evaluate our website and point out any area for improvement?

Even better, would you provide us a list of other club website who's doing top notch job? Because I need inspiration as to how much farther the web site design could take us to. I'm a novice HTML user and also I'm new to this support website of Free Toast. Any advice...or real life practice of stunning website ... would be welcome! Thank you for your time!

From a few years ago (some may be outdated or gone now):
support.toastmastersclubs.org/2011-10-23...eetoasthost-websites

We need your club number or preferably your website URL to find your site

Thank you Steve!
I went through the list , and found myself thinking super out of the box.

For example, a club website like this...
www.sf-toastmasters.org/

... is clearly not using the Toast to Host platform, correct? Let's say, if I want to emulate the picture banner on the top that moves as a viewer hovers a cursor on it, would it be possible to make something like that in Free to Host platform?

Our website is 1526154.toastmastersclubs.org/
Thank you for your attention Pam!

Shino wrote:

Thank you Steve!
I went through the list , and found myself thinking super out of the box.

For example, a club website like this...
www.sf-toastmasters.org/

... is clearly not using the Toast to Host platform, correct? Let's say, if I want to emulate the picture banner on the top that moves as a viewer hovers a cursor on it, would it be possible to make something like that in Free to Host platform?

It looks like that club moved to a different platform... as I noted, the list is a bit old. You may be able to find widgets that do what you want to do... aim for the ones based on iframes. (Those tend to create the least problems.)

The club website you referenced is not following the current website branding guidelines... so probably not a good example to follow.

Ahh, branding guidelines. You're right, they are off, huh. You gave me a good advice here! iframes. That's a new term for me to study. Thank you Steve so much for your time on checking things out.

Overall, you've done a thorough job in helping site visitors to visualize what it's like to be a Toastmaster. You've anticipated their questions and answered them clearly and concisely.

Let's start with your home page:

You begin with the headline: START YOUR PATH TO IMPROVED COMMUNICATION & LEADERSHIP. I understand your purpose, and will probably begin to visualize myself having developed those skills. You immediately tell when you meet, so I know if you'll fit my schedule. My two most likely questions are answered on the first screen.

Your club looks friendly in the group photo. Consider cropping the top 1/3 off of the image. It just shows empty space. (If you don't mind an elongated image, that is.) This also makes it more likely that someone viewing on a small monitor will see the faces of your group, rather than just the space above their heads.

Also, you'll want to specify the photo layout in a percentage, so the picture isn't scrunched when viewed on a phone. This applies to other photos, too.

You continue with a more detailed explanation of what you offer the visitor. This is good. Rather than talking about yourselves, you're all about what the visitors want. This will more likely keep them reading.

Meeting Info/Directions:

A detailed map that includes where to park is very helpful, since you meet on a college campus. A picture of the building is on the home page, so it looks like you've eased my fears about finding you.

Meet Our Members:

Try to get more members to add an entry here, to show the size of your club. Especially encourage more officers to do it.

Speechcraft Page:

You're showing me how to try out Toastmasters: good. If you have a date for the event, put it on the page. If not, you might instead say "Date to be determined." If I'm interested in this, I want to know if I might attend.

How To Join page:

Typical questions answered in a clear, concise manner.

I'd recommend changing the title on the Main Menu from "How To Join" to "How To Join & FAQ," so someone looking at the main menu will also know that the FAQ is on that page.

A slight typo. Under "How long are club meetings," I believe it should now say 90 min, instead of 75.

I Joined, Now What? page:

Very nice. You give a picture of what it's like to be in the Toastmasters program.

The "A Guide To DTM" chart will be useful to members, but it may be confusing to visitors who are likely to visit this page. You might preface the chart with a reassurance that the chart will become clearer after they've been a member for a while. (It never hurts having them visualize being members...)

Select Your Path page:

Very nice summary of the pathways program. The link to learn more links to the TI website, and you might consider having that link open on a new tab. That way, if the visitor closes the TI page, they'll still be connected to your site.

Photo Blog pages:

The visitor will want to know what it's like to be a member of your club, and you give detailed, meeting-by-meeting descriptions. These really help the site visitor to picture being a member.

One problem with dated entries is that you're committed to continue making updates, and you've fallen a few months behind. Rather than weekly entries, consider a monthly one if it's easier to keep up. The long line of entries show a vital, involved club. The gap since the last entry might cause a visitor to wonder if something has changed.

WRAPUP:

All in all, your site does a fine job to promote your club. It's all about what the site visitor thinks and feels, and answers all the "standard" questions you'd expect. It encourages them to visualize themselves as a member. As I said at the start, it does all this cleanly and concisely. A very nice site.

Hey, Shino!!!

One more thing...

If you're interested in checking out other club websites, don't just check the most outstanding ones. The following link:

www.marshalls.org/tmtools/#urlcheck

will get you to any Toastmasters club website you'd like. Just enter a district number, and you'll get all that district's club websites. I'll methodically go through all sorts of clubs' sites, and I've found that even the modest ones can show some really innovative thinking. I'll make careful notes, and do a bit at a time, as spare time permits (don't forget to check their Facebook pages! some people come up with really clever ideas!)

This is a gradually progressive treasure hunt, and there are some real treasures to be found.

Take care...

Wes B.

Thank you for the detailed section-by-section evaluation, I found this extremely helpful. I am incorporating changes to the website in coming weeks... Thank you so much.