ED Solutions World Class ED Websites 02 17 10

By Mark J James, CEcD ED Solutions, Inc. [email_address] http://www.linkedin.com/in/edsolutions http://twitter.com/EcoDev Creating World Class Economic Development Websites

1. Viewer Window 2. Control Panel 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Professional Learning Lab Affiliates 2009 © ED Solutions, Inc.

About ED Solutions, Inc.
ED Solutions, Inc. mission is to help economic development organizations with the effective use of technology.
We provide -
Web site review and analysis
Web redesign strategies and advisory services
Contact management solutions
A variety of other technology solutions for the profession
Training services to the economic development profession.
Web Metrics and data subscriptions through affiliated firm- www.developmentresults.com .
ED Solutions, Inc. is among the most respected firms providing web site strategies to the economic development profession. ED Solutions, Inc. has worked on over 150 web projects in 20 US states, Canada and the UK.
2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Webinar Objectives
Importance of web in today’s environment.
Discuss key elements for a successful ED web development project.
Discuss search engine optimization.
Provide some help in hiring a web firm.
Discuss Web metrics.

ED Web Sites 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. 90%

Some Recent Research Chabin Concepts & Austin Consulting http://www.chabinconcepts.com/ 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Findings Web site was preferred method of contact even in late stage except for project-specific tax incentive details 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Use of Web In ED
Location assistance
Existing business services
Community development
Tourism
Main Street
Member development and retention
Document storage and development
Communication/collaboration tool within office and between peers
Others?
Audiences 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Consultant Vs. Company Led Source: Conway Data Scoreboard Company Led Consultant Led 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. Site Selection Consultant- Data they can’t find elsewhere Accurate Up to date Complete Sites and Buildings Contact Information End User- Quality of Place Sites and Buildings Standardized Profile Contact Information

Our web sites need to be about COMMUNICATION , not marketing 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Home Page
Content
Format
The Rule of 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. 3 ’s

Orient to Geography
Who the site is for and what can be found there
Drive to Contact
The Rule of 3 ’s Home Page 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. www.TeamNewEngland.com

2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. www.ChooseCincy.com

2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. “ Maps, maps, my project for a map!” Mark M. Sweeney Senior Principal McCallum Sweeney Consulting

Geographic Orientation… www. www.knoxvilleoakridge.org 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Map Example… www.nashvilleareainfo.com 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Map Example… www.HoosierSites.com 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Try one yourself… 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. Also…

What can be found on the site?
Who the organization is- what do they do?
Where do they do it?
Keyword density…
www. SouthwestIndiana.org 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

What pages do they actually use? 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.
About Us (about the organization)
Programs (that the organization offers)
Data Center or Facts and Figures (lots of info and data on the region)
News
Relocate and Expand (a pitch to move people and companies to the region)
Find Property
Site Selection Services
Workforce data and Information (within data center)
Database of Companies or Largest Employers
Maps of the Area
Source: Development Results, 2009 Q1 2009

Drive to Contact… 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. www.ChooseNEIndiana.com

Sites and buildings
Compelling, differentiated data
Economic Distance
The Rule of 3 ’s Content 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. Sites and Buildings - < 25 records = “premier listings” 25-50 = database (searchable) >50 = GIS
Records must strive to be -
Accurate
Complete
Up-to-date
A few other things- -Locator maps -Metes and bounds on property -Projects can be lost (ppl don’t get work) if middle box not adhered to -Attendant community data www.ThinkKentucky.com

Geographic Information Systems
Atlas Advertising
Fast GIS
GIS Planning
Site Dynamics
Timmons Engineering

What data do they actually take with them?
Economic Profile/ Area Overview
List of Largest Employers
Overview of the ED Organization
Property Listings/Info
Maps
Detailed Demographics
Incentives
Regional Rankings
Organization’s Strategic Plan
Costs of Living/Costs of Housing
Source: Development Results, 2009 Q1 2009 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Compelling Data
- List of largest employers
-Unique labor statistics
-Real cluster data

A word about a trend… 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. ≠

2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. MetroDenver.org GreaterOklahomaCity.com Greaterspokane.org TreoAZ.org

HTML
The Rule of 3 ’s Format

Print this page
Cascading Style Sheet

Share this page 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

Document Prep on the Fly… BlountIndustry.com 2010 © ED Solutions, Inc.

A Word about Mobile versions
-Not sure we need to invest in entire site
-Same content as Home page
-Yet another reason to put contact information in TEXT in upper left or right
2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. www.mobile.blountindustry.com www.choosecincy.com

Content Management Systems
-Add/edit/delete pages
-Manage digital media
-Updates weekly
-Eliminate dependency relationship with design firm

Search Engine Optimization
-Keyword Density- Check it here www.TrafficZap.com (keyword density checker)
-Relevance -Links
-Title tags
-Meta tags
-Register with Yahoo and Dmoz
-Social media (blogs)
2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. -searchenginewatch.com -yahoo.com -dmoz.org -trafficzap.com -altavista.com -hubspot.com

Top 10 Search Phrases for ED
Your organizational name
Your city/region name “economic development”
Incentive type offered in your region (depends on community)
Resident company name (i.e. Boeing)
Region name (if different from city)
Organizational url (without .com/.net.org)
Campaign name (initiative or fundraising)
City/region name “maps”
City/region name “counties”
City/region name “industries”
2010 © ED Solutions, Inc. Source: Development Results, LLC

Web Site Metrics
As a profession we have got to do better at this
Key statistics-
Visits
Pages visited
Documents downloaded
Contact us form viewed
Contact us form submitted
Check monthly at minimum
Look for trends caused by other actions
Benchmark
Use SM to drive traffic

Summary on web itself
Know/evaluate your audience
Focus on geography
Focus on content not available elsewhere
Build the relationship
Make sure you can manage the content
Make sure you can be found
Optimize, customize and advertise

Hiring a Web Developer
Specify-
Audience
Content
Functionality
Performance criteria
Timing
References
Programming language
How many design schemes do you want basis for selection
Who will do what-
Graphics
Copy writing
Data tables
Estimate (if you can) the # of pages
The RFP is EVERYTHING

Specifications
Specify speed to load- <13 seconds @ 56 baud modem (less than 3 seconds @ cable).
Ensure the site gets tested in last three versions of major browser platforms.
Ensure the firm includes search engine optimization process.
Look for similar work.
Construct the site with a strong content management system. Test it, tour it…if it’s built on the fly…check it.

Websites have a crucial new role Old view: Destination New view: Content Engine Source: Mark W. Schaefer Slideshare- http://www.slideshare.net/Rialta/social-media-best-practices-for-economic-development

Most important Formula for Success
Get a great content management system
Create “best fit” equilibrium between-
Business goals
Audience expectations
Financial Resources
Revise, revise, revise

Upcoming Webinars via the Professional Learning Laboratory
March- Economic Gardening
April- The Role of Community Leaders in Economic Development
May- Social Media for the Economic Development Professional
June- Fresh New Views on Winning Rural Development
July- Business Intelligence for Economic Development
August- How Site Selectors Really Use the Internet
September- Existing Industry Strategies for the Real World
October- Attracting Work Rather than Companies
November- Social Media II- A Deeper Dive into Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube
December- Marketing Masters: Jerry Mallot

Print this page
Cascading Style Sheet

http://www.solutionsed.com	70
http://www.slideshare.net	4
http://solutionsed.com	1

ED Solutions World Class ED Websites 02 17 10

by Mark James

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

3 Embeds 75

Statistics

ED Solutions World Class ED Websites 02 17 10 Presentation Transcript