I have just looked at the new DCS website to find only one photograph present on the site, and that was pretty poor quality! Why are we not using quality photographs to promote the breed and the outputs that Dexters generate. On this discussion board we talk about quality meat products where are the photographs to promote this quality product to new members.
I will probably be shot for saying this, but your new website looks appauling, if you want to look at quality websites promoting Dexters look at the 'Links' section on this site and see 'Apple' Dexters, 'Linford' Dexters and the Australian Dexter Society to name but three ! These show the good use of graphics, photos and very easy to follow. Marketing is the key to promotion of any product and the DCS are not making full use of their website. Most people will initially look first at a website to view the product or service firstly before making the initial phone call or enquiry to gain more information before buying. Please this site DOES need re-designing and lets have some decent photos, Pat Short can help !!
DCS Website - Lack of Graphics
I was astonished to read such an undeserved criticism. You will be aware that the Webmaster only took on this established site a very short time ago. The latest Society News confirms work on Grass Roots, and the Herd Book, in which I know she has also been involved. The challenge is much more difficult than building up a new site from scratch. Particularly as it is to promote a breed with such a diversity of membership, quite different from a site for your own herd.
We have recently taken on a new Secretary who cannot cope with the total, and must be grateful for the assistance she has from Council members. We cannot afford the sort of administration some of the membership may believe they are entitled to, but if Council members are given this sort of encouragement, there are not going to be many volunteers to assist her.
Have you looked through your albums in response to her request for photos? It would be possible to pay a professional photographer, but I feel there should be some very good pictures out there. It is easy to spend money, but who is going to want to pay increased fees to fund it.
Abri designed the one breed site quoted, our Webmaster is simply a Council member working her socks off, to try and meet some of the more legitimate demands voiced in these columns over recent months. I happen to know that during this last week she has been calving cows and lambing ewes, usually in the middle of the night. Rome wasn’t built in a day; offer help if you can, but not unjustified faultfinding. A site always looks much more attractive with good photo’s, will readers please look through their albums and see if they can put something on offer.
We have recently taken on a new Secretary who cannot cope with the total, and must be grateful for the assistance she has from Council members. We cannot afford the sort of administration some of the membership may believe they are entitled to, but if Council members are given this sort of encouragement, there are not going to be many volunteers to assist her.
Have you looked through your albums in response to her request for photos? It would be possible to pay a professional photographer, but I feel there should be some very good pictures out there. It is easy to spend money, but who is going to want to pay increased fees to fund it.
Abri designed the one breed site quoted, our Webmaster is simply a Council member working her socks off, to try and meet some of the more legitimate demands voiced in these columns over recent months. I happen to know that during this last week she has been calving cows and lambing ewes, usually in the middle of the night. Rome wasn’t built in a day; offer help if you can, but not unjustified faultfinding. A site always looks much more attractive with good photo’s, will readers please look through their albums and see if they can put something on offer.
Good to hear from some supportive members. The webmaster’s address is;
miles@groubear-farm.co.uk
tele.no.01184 25 1181
miles@groubear-farm.co.uk
tele.no.01184 25 1181
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Chris Taylor
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2006 1:18 pm
The design of a website is very simplistic, and can be done very cheaply and very effectively. I am sorry if I have offended, but this is a discussion board, and EVERYONE is entitled to an opinion. I know that several brreders have professional phoographs taken of their cattle and would be more than willing to offer quality photographs, just look at the offers so far. However the DCS has an official archivist who has hundreds of photographs, and there will be some quality photographs available. The bulletin editor has alot of very good quality photographs and she has offered these on more than one occasion! I will be sending some of my own photographs today, but I stand by what I say, and if any help is needed then ask the membership there is alot of 'untapped' expertise out there, a plead over the internet wil help, but 'knocking on doors' yields better results.
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Broomcroft
- Posts: 3005
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:42 am
- Location: Shropshire, England
- Contact:
Hello
Being relatively experienced in the matter of web sites, it needs to be understood that the work of defining the layout, what is to be included and getting all the info together is the difficult bit. That really IS the site.
Then comes the actual creation of the site itself, that is simple and should be quick and inexpensive. It is a common misconception that the electronic bit at the end is difficult and that it has to be expensive, it absolutely does not. That's what web design companies want you to believe.
Design and anything visual is subjective, but as an example, if you look at the English Longhorn site you will see a fully professional site. Forget whether you like it or not, most independent people would say that it is professional. The content of their site is generally no better or worse than the DCS, so well done to everyone involved because that is not easy.
Having done all that excellent work, the DCS site is just missing that last little bit and it would be so easy for a pro just to lift it to another level.
In my last business, in order to keep the costs right down, but the quality right up, we did our own daft website on an amateur basis, without worrying too much about the finished design in any great detail, and then would hand the actual site in it's entirety over to a professional to spend probably no more than a couple or three days on to make it look like we meant it (Cost about £500-750 'ish). You would then need to pay say £50 a month to do updates, or just ad hoc when required.
i.e. All the hard work and expertise has been done, just hand the site as it is to a pro, and Bob's your uncle. But get a quote first and be very clear about what to do.
This is meant to be helpful I hope it will be taken in a constructive way.
Clive
Being relatively experienced in the matter of web sites, it needs to be understood that the work of defining the layout, what is to be included and getting all the info together is the difficult bit. That really IS the site.
Then comes the actual creation of the site itself, that is simple and should be quick and inexpensive. It is a common misconception that the electronic bit at the end is difficult and that it has to be expensive, it absolutely does not. That's what web design companies want you to believe.
Design and anything visual is subjective, but as an example, if you look at the English Longhorn site you will see a fully professional site. Forget whether you like it or not, most independent people would say that it is professional. The content of their site is generally no better or worse than the DCS, so well done to everyone involved because that is not easy.
Having done all that excellent work, the DCS site is just missing that last little bit and it would be so easy for a pro just to lift it to another level.
In my last business, in order to keep the costs right down, but the quality right up, we did our own daft website on an amateur basis, without worrying too much about the finished design in any great detail, and then would hand the actual site in it's entirety over to a professional to spend probably no more than a couple or three days on to make it look like we meant it (Cost about £500-750 'ish). You would then need to pay say £50 a month to do updates, or just ad hoc when required.
i.e. All the hard work and expertise has been done, just hand the site as it is to a pro, and Bob's your uncle. But get a quote first and be very clear about what to do.
This is meant to be helpful I hope it will be taken in a constructive way.
Clive
Clive
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Broomcroft
- Posts: 3005
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:42 am
- Location: Shropshire, England
- Contact:
www.jenlogix.co.nz
He says that it hasn't been up-dated, to any great degree, since 2001. It does the job though. Most of our new business comes through that website.
He says that it hasn't been up-dated, to any great degree, since 2001. It does the job though. Most of our new business comes through that website.
Inger
NZ
NZ
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Broomcroft
- Posts: 3005
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:42 am
- Location: Shropshire, England
- Contact: