TOPIC:

We need help. Our new webmaster would like some feedback of how to boost our website appearance.

Club number: 2465
URL: crowncity.toastmastersclubs.org

Great start! My recommendation is to add some pictures (not too many), but use that homepage to best represent your club (i.e. your location spot) to help with identity.

1) On the homepage and corresponding pages, keep concise. You also have the ability to create custom webpages within FTH. Utilize that in the admin console, and don't have your pages where you have to scroll a lot.

2) Create links to your pages from other pages. This will help develop traffic. Remember to stay informative, but concise. You are well on your way to developing a cool website. Best of luck with your journey!

Congrats on the website! What is the goal for your website? I see my website as a sales tool so my goal is give the prospective guest/member enough information to entice them to visit a meeting. So, for me I would not spend valuable real estate on the top of the home page talking about International's history but rather getting out my invitation to visit, when/where the meetings are and why they want my club - what makes my club unique among other clubs in the area. You could add interest to your club calendar by including the meeting theme. That's quite a list of links on the menu - you might consider reducing it to about half so as not to distract from your sales message. Of course - you might have another goal for your website and in that case you might be meeting your goals. Good luck! Keep us informed on your progress.

Hi Roger!!!

The first thing I notice is that the banner text that usually has your club name hasn't been filled in. It still says "FreeToastHost 3."

A picture isn't absolutely necessary, but I think it would help catch the eye of a visitor who's in a hurry. While it may not be necessary to a visitor who's determined to find a local Toastmasters club, lots of people need some enticement to come out and visit with strangers. A picture that's especially inviting, say, someone who's clearly having fun at the lectern, or the whole group in the middle of a fun moment would be nice if you can "catch" it as it happens.

There are some big questions/problems people tend to have when dealing with a site that's new to them. If we could guess what they are, it might not be a bad idea to address them all at the very top of the page. Spoiler alert: I'm gonna guess...

I've made a semi-career of being Vp-Ed at my club, and I've talked to a lot of new people, concerning what got them to join, or even decide to visit us. (Some had been sitting on the decision to visit for a year or more...) I certainly can't speak for the whole Internet Audience, but some of the really big questions our website had to answer for those who joined our club were:

1) What are you and what can you do to help me? If we passed that test, the next likely question was...

2) Does your schedule fit into mine? That one's an obvious deal-breaker. If we passed, then...

3) Will it be unpleasant? E.g.,, Will I be put on the spot? Made to speak? Pressured to do something I don't want to do? It's probably good to offer lots of reassurance that this ain't gonna happen. In fact, it's the perfect point to mention fun times, friendships, and positive experiences.

We try to write in a way that encourages site visitors to picture themselves as members, and being successful at it. If we can manage that, the questions become easier...

4) What's it like to be a Toastmaster/member of your club?

5) What would I have to do to join?

The text you have on your home page is all useful info, but it answers questions that a site visitor might have much later. I'd suggest answering as many as possible of the more preliminary questions, first.

I know this would amount to a fair amount of writing, and your webmaster likely has as busy a life as the rest of us. Fortunately, these are things that can be done gradually as time permits, or perhaps other club members can help with the wordsmithing.

Your link to "Facts For First Timers" is a good idea, linking to a page on the TI site. But again, as time permits, you might consider making a custom web page of your own. Doing this, you could rewrite to emphasize your club, and what the experience is like at your meetings.

The Frequently Asked Questions page is great. Once someone's asking questions 4) and 5), they'll appreciate seeing the link to this page right at that point.

I hope this helps. Take care...

Wes B.