Web Site Survey

[office_mom]

Our office is revamping our web site and our committee has put it to me to survey people, and I could think of no better place then this forum of wonderful people.  So I put it before you: What is your favorite website **other than another secretarial site** and why?  

DeskDemon has requested that no other secretarial website be listed, so I'd like to honor this.  Should you have a problem honoring this and want to reply, please send me a private email to office_mom@deskdemon.com "> office_mom@deskdemon.com office_mom@deskdemon.com . (there is an underscore that you can't see - office_mom)

I appreciate your replies, and the more replies, the better our results will be.

THANKS!!  
Dawn

Edited by andream on 23/10/03 12:17 PM.

[countrigal]

allbooks4less.com

Why?  Because I can find all sorts of computer help books out there for a fraction of the cost on other websites.  Since our company is too cheap to buy me these books to increase my knowledge in the programs that I must use daily, I find that site a good place to buy books without breaking my bank account.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[Jackie G]

Dawn

great idea, but the yellow writing isn't too hot!  Can you change it to something less glary?  Like red or something less fluorescent?

Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator

[office_mom]

I tried to edit but my time has expired so I have sent the request on to DeskDemon to see if they can help with the color issue.  Sorry about that!!  I have my background colors on dark, so the red looked less glary for me.  I forgot that others would have their backgrounds different!!

Also, I should have put this in the first post.  When you think of your favorites sites, it will help if you share sites that catch your eye, or how much or little the content is.  I work with an Architect firm, so we have nothing to offer for sale online, but we want to 'grab you' and make you want to choose us over other Architects.  That's our intention.

thanks again!!

[Jackie G]

Perhaps countrigal if she's still around could edit it, as she's a peer moderator for this forum?

Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator

[gee4]

I don't know what sites would be suitable to put on a company website - I mean I could list a few - but would they be relevant to your business?

www.refdesk.com - was one of the first sites I used to get info
www.amazon.co.uk - great for presents and Xmas ideas - books your boss might want but cannot get in the shops - items are delivered in 2 days!
www.expedia.com - great for travel, accommodation etc
www.lastminute.com - great for travel, accommodation, ideas
www.rac.co.uk - has a great route planner
www.easyjet.co.uk - for cheap flights in UK

Edited by andream on 23/10/03 12:18 PM.

[suzib001]

www.blood.com

Everyone should take a look at this site if in the UK. Excellent facts, figures it's interactive and fun but most of all by logging on you could help save a life!

Suze

[bettylou]

Dear Office Mom

Here is a list of things I feel make websites effective:
Easy on the eye - pleasing to look at, tasteful (no tacky animations), in harmony with the company brand and professionalism
Information set out well (customer should see what the site has to offer within first few seconds) and links easy to locate
Judicious use of links - assume surfers are lazy! The whole point of your site is to offer information about your company easily and quickly - otherwise they might as well write or phone for information.
Not too many links, ie I prefer being able to sroll down to see information rather than having to click "next" all the time.  It also makes printing easier and having less links makes it easier to administer
Good administration - make sure when your website is up and running it is checked every day so it is always up to date and all the links work and customer comments are responded - you only have one chance to make a good impression.

Hope this helps - I don't mind if you take all the credit for these suggestions!

Bettylou lovesa youhoo

[suzib001]

I agree with Bettylou just adding one thing:

No Pop Ups!

Suze

[JessW]

and don't forget to cover the basics:-

who
what
where
when
why
how

not necessarily in that order or just in the present tense (past and future are also good).

Jess

[Jackie G]

Website surveys are great.

Please remember though, that we should be posting more generic sites.  I think that office_mom, by her very name, may be based in the US and sites like the RAC and lastminute, while very good, won't work in the US!

So please, try to give office_mom generic sites so that we can all use these sites!

thanks!

Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator

[office_mom]

Hello All!

Yes, I am in the US.  I'm still working out all the 'kinks' in my request, so here's another clarification.  I'm not looking to put these links on our site.  We want to make our site look good so we will look at your favorite sites, see what makes them look good and possibly use the same ideas for a 'grab ya' site.

btw - I'll be letting my committee know where these responses come from.  I think letting them know what a great site of information we have here so that they can use it as well is only fair!  

Thanks again!!

Dawn

Edited by office_mom on 23/10/03 02:44 PM.

[countrigal]

I didn't understand your original request.  To better address what you're asking...

A good search engine is imperative.  I've been to many sites that I'm looking for some specific information and I have to click page after page after page just trying to locate facts.  Ensure that you have a link off the homepage on "how to contact us" which includes e-mail addy AND street address and phone numbers.  Commonly asked questions are good, but work even better if you can have a search field that will search those questions and answers to bring you to the ones pertinent to what you're looking for instead of just opening a page that lists 20+ questions and answers.

Hopes that helps some...

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[peana]

Beware style over content!  

My pet hate is sites that look great, but are confusing to navigate, and then after you've trawlled through everything, find they don't have what you want!  Hubby, being an artist, is always finding these sites he thinks are great because the graphics are so cool, but I just get cross if I can't find what I want (or know I'm on the right track) within a few minutes.

- Please note that hubby is officially an idiot when it comes to the internet as he won't use Desk Demon because it looks to 'girly'!!!

[office_mom]

Thanks to all that replied and if you haven't yet and want to, I'll be checking over the next week.  I do appreciate all the positive and negative feedbacks!

Dawn