I'm having an issue with the 2010 Event Website. When you log into your event website the Greetings page has a video that takes up the first 3 inches of the page, and then there are two buttons that are over 3 inches high each - 'Sign Up' and 'Donate'. They're embedded in the webpage and can't be edited or moved. In between the video and the buttons is a tiny little button that says 'Click Here For The Latest Information About This Event'. There is a small box at the bottom of the page that allows you to edit it and put a few lines about your local event in it. Yes, at the bottom of the page. Above that is another 2 inches of general Relay information about Luminaria and Survivor Information and Registration.
I think that when a Team Captain or a prospective Team Captain logs into our event website they should immediately see our event information, not the same video over and over and huge 'sign up' and 'donate' buttons. Those items belong on the relay.org website, or on another page that can be accessed through the navigation bar on the left. They shouldn't have to click on a link to our information - they are already on our home page.
Last year, we posted meeting dates, links to important event information and updates on the first page and our teams LOVED it.
Does anyone else have an issue with this?
Sue Shufeldt
Team Development Chair
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October 18, 2009 - 11:01pm
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2010 Greeting Page
Debbie Malyn
Hi Sue,
While the overall new look is great, I agree that the new greetings page is frustrating. I like the top banner that keeps our event info available no matter which page of our site people visit, but agree that the video and really big sign up/donate buttons in the middle of the page take up a lot of space "above the line".
The reasons for limiting what goes on the greeting page do make some sense. The ACS wanted a more professional, uniform look to the home page so visitors could be sure they were on an official ACS Relay site. The wide open personalization that was available on the greeting page apparently created some confusion and unprofessional looking pages. I understand the problem they were trying to correct, but do wish we could do something to distinguish the site as belonging to our community. I too am concerned with how many people will scroll down to where edits are allowed or click through to the latest info page. I've added a counter to both pages as sort of a test to see if those concerns are valid.
I was originally told we would at least be able to edit the text in the blue bar where you click to view the latest info, but sounds like that will stay unavailable to Online Chairs. We're supposed to focus our customization on the Latest Info page and encourage active participants to add that page to their favorites, rather than the home page. We can still add new pages and links to them on the left nav bar, just have to hope people notice them without being able to prominantly advertise them on the greetings page.
Debbie M
Online Chair, Relay For Life of Dearborn
www.relayforlife.org/dearbornmi
October 21, 2009 - 4:10pm
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Greetings page
Hi Debbie!
Yeah, I understand the whole continuity and branding thing too, but like we said they just overdid it.
I downloaded a new counter last night to put on the pages too. I loved seeing last year how many people visited. I wish I would have printed off my pages from last year before they dumped them, but I was too slow!
It was nice chatting with you. I met Denise, your new Event Chair, at the Detroit Lion's game. She seems really nice! I'm sure we'll be in touch along the way. Good luck with 2010!
Sue
October 21, 2009 - 5:36pm
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2010 Greetings Page
Hi Sue! I agree with you. I want to update the home page to state when our next meeting is but I am not getting the option. You can't change anything on the greetings page. Any suggestions?
Heather
East Gaston Relay for Life
Online and Team Recruitement Chair
www.relayforlife.org/eastgaston
October 21, 2009 - 3:24pm
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2010 Website
Hi Heather!
There is a way to put a few lines on the first page that people will see as soon as they log on. After you log in to Event Manager go to Edit Event Properties. Where the boxes are for Sponsor 1, Sponsor 2, etc., put the phrases you want in there. I did find that it only let me use 4 of the boxes, but it is right below the button to click for latest event info so it's better than nothing.
I don't know if I'll use the actual box they gave us for editing at the bottom - I don't know who will scroll down that far so I don't trust it for important info!
If you have any problems doing that editing let me know!
Take care,
Sue
October 21, 2009 - 5:40pm
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2010 Event Websites
I, for one, LOVE the new home page on the 2010 websites. They are colorful and draw information from several pages.
The "Click here to view latest information about this event" takes you to the Latest Event Info page that has really great areas for putting all kinds of information - highlights on teams, individuals, fundraisers, pretty much anything you want.
Below that area is a place where different information can be put - like a reminder about Team Meetings, and I put a note about checking out the "Fundraising Events" page.
There's just so much you can do with the new website!
October 19, 2009 - 1:52pm
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Overall the Website is awesome....
Hi Debbie:
Overall the website is awesome and you're right, includes tons of information and is super easy to edit - however, if someone is going to log on to your event's 'greetings' page - it should be a greeting from YOUR event - not a general one. That makes no sense at all. There is plenty of room in the banner for any other general info they want to include, but they should leave the entire page open for editing to be specific to each event.
October 19, 2009 - 3:36pm
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agree
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I'm glad you agree!
Hi:
I'm glad you agree with me - some people just don't understand how important the first impression is. If a prospective team captain doesn't have easy access to your information you're going to lose their interest in the website - it's as simple as that.
It's an advantage to have your event information pop out at them as soon as they log on - I don't understand why anyone thought it was necessary to take over the greetings page with oversized buttons and embedded general Relay information. It just doesn't belong there.
It's tedious and unnecessary to log on to a specific event's 'home page' and then have to click on a link to the actual home page.
Hopefully the powers that be will understand that we are not complaining about the website - it's great - but we want our greetings page back.
October 21, 2009 - 12:13pm
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I agree also
as long as it functions well, the content is very informative, and the design is good (not irritating. LOL), it is ok to me....
people are different from one another, some people may like the new appearance of it, some may not...
October 21, 2009 - 5:20am
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Agreed
I agree with Sue. While it looks pretty slick, the 2010 design is not functional for local Relays. Key things to promoting on the Web are 1) You want people to see YOUR information first thing, and 2) You want to keep it fresh. This design does neither to promote a local relay.
There are already sign-up and donate buttons on the top navigation bar, so why are the great big ones needed below? I would much rather be able to put information about our latest events & news, or at least our own pictures so that people see local information as soon as they hit our page.
Also, I have to say, the editing process is still kinda difficult to work with.
October 22, 2009 - 5:53pm
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Agreed - thanks Junogle
Hi:
There are probably alot more people who will agree once they start trying to update their site. I think we need to get these posts to the right person. If enough of us aren't happy with the setup maybe they'll change it - one can only hope!!!!!!!
Sue
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October 23, 2009 - 7:43pm
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Joined: 2009-10-04