The Web Site - needs to improve?

[Jack Tripp]

I do not log on frequently to the web site but I am surprised that nothing seems to change. No diving news to grab your attention no interesting articles that have headlines that make you want to read them. A logo in the top RH that makes you think you have the wrong glasses on as it is so blurred (well at least that changed).

I do feel the forums are very good but the rest of the Web site is stagnant. If it is the intention to attract people to the site then ought it not to be changing, stimulating and visually interesting? Just as an example compare with Divernet. I appreciate this is backed by its house magazine but what a differance.

[Edward]

I do not log on frequently to the web site but I am surprised that nothing seems to change. No diving news to grab your attention no interesting articles that have headlines that make you want to read them. A logo in the top RH that makes you think you have the wrong glasses on as it is so blurred (well at least that changed).

I do feel the forums are very good but the rest of the Web site is stagnant. If it is the intention to attract people to the site then ought it not to be changing, stimulating and visually interesting? Just as an example compare with Divernet. I appreciate this is backed by its house magazine but what a differance.

Hi Jack,

It is the intention to have a new site, it has been worked on for the best part of a year and due for launch soon.

Unlike the present 6 sites (with their own styles) there will be one style. Currently all information is freely available to all, however, with the new site some information may require a login, other things will only be available to BSAC members; and branches will be able to have their own website in the same style.

For example if non-members want access to, for example the Branch Officers' Handbook (used by some non-BSAC clubs) they will be able to buy annual access Rights.

Regards

Edward

[MattS]

I do not log on frequently to the web site but I am surprised that nothing seems to change.Dynamic content always comes down to people writing it. Well that or machine generated statistics.

When you think about how information flows in BSAC that is not surprising. There is a lot of information on this (web) server because as an organisation we produce a lot of information. The vast majority of it traversed various working groups and (dare I say it) committees before it was approved for publication. Once published it is live for a number of years. When the information is retired it the deprecation also has to be approved. So there is quite a job just to get the new information onto the server and take the old information off. BSACs permanent staff at HQ are employed for many others reasons than writing interesting articles. There is about 1 HQ staff member per 1200 members and for more of them BSAC and diving is a job rather than an interest.

I do feel the forums are very good but the rest of the Web site is stagnant. If it is the intention to attract people to the site then ought it not to be changing, stimulating and visually interesting?Forums work because they are accessible and are not subject to an approval process. The downside is that there is little control over the content.

Content management is great when you have lots of content being produced which needs to be managed. As far as I can tell BSACs current model tends to lend itself more toward document management and a decent search engine. A site refresh is not going to do any harm and it sounds like there are some great ideas for engaging potential members being launched. It will be interesting to see what the overall impression is in a years time.