Smart websites keep your members informed

By Michael Baxter on 30 October 2009 with tags Upgrade, CMS

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Utopia was approached by the Celebrants Association of New Zealand to upgrade its existing website – improving communication between the association's members. Utopia made the following recommendations:

• Include a graphical search by region
• Improve the template design of site pages
• Improve the 'find a celebrant' experience – including the removal of existing pop-up functions
• Create a robust backend for managing the membership database

During the redesign process, numerous concepts were discussed. Utopia worked with key stakeholders and committee members within the association to agree a final solution. The first step was the creation and implementation of a functional information type site.

Utopia then added extra functionality by importing a spreadsheet containing all the details about the association's members. Once loaded, the search area on the site could be used to search members by ceremony type and location.

Association members were then activated as users of the new website, allowing them to login and perform a range of functions:

• View minutes from meetings
• View member only information like policies and procedures
• Update their website listing - including photos, description and the type of ceremonies they perform

The content management system ‘CMS Made Simple’ provides a complete online solution for the association. With the membership database online, further advancements in billing and social networking can now also be considered.

You can view the new Celebrants Association website at http://www.celebranz.org.nz/

Are you are a member of an organisation that could benefit from having a smart website? If so, please contact us and we can discuss the types of features and functionality site users could benefit from. Utopia has years of experience and understand clubs and associations requirements for keeping their members informed.