W is for Website and Why #AtoZchallenge

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Welcome to Day 23 of the  #AtoZChallenge.  Don't know what the AtoZChallenge is? Find out more here.

My theme is about Family History Societies.  What they are, How they work, Who is in them, Why they exist.

And which ones begin with W !  

Societies beginning with W

Australia

 
 
 

UK

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

USA

 
 
 
 
 
What do you think should feature on a Society's website?  There have been so many great examples over the past month haven't there?  What do you look for on a Society's website?
 
  • membership?
  • library catalogue?
  • publications?
  • indexes?
  • maps?
  • contact details e.g. email address or phone number
  • opening hours?
  • social media? including blogs?
  • secure payment methods? 
  • calendar of events?

Why?

It's good to reflect on our "why" on a regular basis.  This is often done via a strategic planning process.  Basically stopping what you do every 3 years or so, lifting your head up and analyzing what are you doing and why. What is your core functiion or purpose? Who else is in the marketplace? What is your unique selling point? Yes these are all commercial terms and we are not-for-profit but the reality is that there are more commercial providers now in our space and we need to work out what it is that we supply that they don't. Are we being all things to all people? How can we trim our sails?  You get the gist.
 
What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Comments

GeniAus said…
While a website is an essential communication tool for a society, it must be recognised that the information on the site should be current and relevant. If you don't have someone who will maintain and update the website it's probably better to take it down.
April 28, 2021 at 3:00 PM
Cassmob (Pauleen) said…
While I take Jill’s point about relevance, I think it’s very important to have some form of internet presence if anyone is to take your society seriously. Some societies have such feeble websites it calls into question whether they know what they’re doing and yet they may actually be doing good things. Even a simple blog format website is helpful.
April 29, 2021 at 2:34 PM
Alex Daw said…
Dear Jill and Pauleen -thanks for stopping by. Jill I quite agree - currency is essential. I feel our Society's website isn't as pretty as it could be but then I'm not a website designer so wouldn't have the first clue on how to fix it. But a lot of work goes into it on a daily basis to keep it current.

Pauleen - great suggestion re blog format website! BTW I was interested to see that FFHS has been trying to give their members a web presence on the FFHS site even if they don't have a website of their own which is also a good idea.
April 29, 2021 at 3:47 PM
maxi taxi sydney said…
a superb website that i visited in recent times its really reflects the Society
August 5, 2021 at 9:00 PM
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