WWBA Website Makes Members More Visible
Web Publishing Group and Mary Cronin Design have just completed a new, database-driven website for the West Washtenaw Business Association (WWBA). The WWBA brings together independent professionals and small business who are interested in improving economic, environmental, and security conditions within the community. The WWBA provides a forum for communication, group benefit participation, and social outreach.
The main design goal for the site is to promote member businesses. One of the ways the site does this is by hosting an online membership directory. Users can search the online directory by name or by category to find the products or services they need.
Another way that the website promotes its membership is by publishing news about member businesses. If, for example, a member business is having a sale, or is now offering a new product or service, or has purchased some new equipment that enhances their capability, they can submit this news via a form on the website, and it will appear in the website’s news section. Members will also be able to post help-wanted ads to the website.
To edit their directory information or submit news, members must log in to the website. Members in good standing were issued and sent login ids and passwords shortly after the site went live last week.
The new website also includes advertising opportunities for its members. Members can advertise on the home page or sponsor one of the directory categories. Advertisements on the home page appear at the bottom of the page, while category sponsorships will appear above the company listings.
The website will also help the WWBA administer its membership database. Included are screens accessible only to the database administrator that lets him or her easily add or delete members, assign passwords, and edit membership information.
Another feature that will help the WWBA be more efficient is a database function that will pull membership data directly from the online database. This will ensure that the printed annual directory has the most up-to-date information about member businesses.