The history of our own Indianapolis Rotary website is storied. It has been designed many times over from the early 2000’s to the present day, as web technologies have steadily increased in their ability to deliver the goods. Our website remained “stuck” over the last five years because we needed both a “pretty” and functional website, but also something our members could use to navigate our rather large club efforts. After all, we have nearly 400 members, over 40 committees and lots going on – all the time!
Wait for it… Wait for it…
Designing for the mobile web is here to stay. It is more crucial than ever to have a mobile-enabled website. And, Rotary clubs are no different. However, (and sadly) there are some poor examples of Rotary websites in this world. But, we could not wait any longer, folks. A website that is not optimized for mobile devices, can do more harm than good. And, as a membership organization, COMPETING FOR MEMBERS – our website can be our most formidable weapon to attract prospects!
In an article by Smashing Magazine about how presidential candidates (2012) would reach voters, they state that “…the US population is sitting at around 311 million. Of those 311 million people, about half of US adults own a smartphone. On top of that, for a whopping 28% of Americans, a mobile device is their primary way of accessing the Web. So, for a candidate looking to reach potential voters, mobile provides a tremendous opportunity to connect with their constituents.”
For many years the prominent web designers of the world lobbied for standards. While the World Wide Web Consortium was established in 1994, it really listened to web professionals and began taking shape in the 2000’s. Today, it is the most respected web standards organization in the world. It drives and governs most of the standards that are used and created for all modern browsers and devices. Now, the device makers and browser manufacturers pay more attention. And, with the invention of the iPhone, Android and the Webkit rendering engine used in Apple Safari (and Google Chrome), it helped advance the use of basic HTML, CSS and Javascript in the modern browser.
Therefore, for the new Rotary Club of Indianapolis “public-facing” website, we incorporated a newer method of web design technology, called “Responsive Web Design.” Basically, the website reformats itself based on the device used. Compare the new Rotary Club of Indianapolis website on your desktop, then on your smartphone or tablet. You’ll see the same content, but a different look. It’s the same website, but delivered optimally to meet the standards of the myriad variety of devices. It will deliver an excellent user experience, have much longer shelf life and work on new devices as they are introduced into the marketplace. Additionally, with a responsive site, maintenance and content updates are only needed for one website! LET’S REPEAT THAT — maintenance and content updates are only needed for one website. This is not the current “norm.” Many organizations with a mobile web presence, likely have separate websites for desktops, mobile and sometimes tablets. In fact, our new Membership Management Tool has two versions – one for desktop and one for mobile.
The decision to build a site that recomposes itself based on the device used (desktop, smartphone, tablet) was a no-brainer. And, as we continue to look toward the future for enhancing our marketing presence as a membership club, our website will serve us well to attract the public and the membership. After all, what we do as Rotarians, matters. And, sharing what matters with the world in as many ways possible is what it’s all about.
If you have any thoughts about our new website, please feel free to contact us directly. We are always looking for ideas and want to hear what you have to say!
