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Golf Course Web Site Design Tips
Part I: Web Site Development Agreements 1.) The very first item to check after you've found your web site developer, whether it's a firm or an individual is to make sure that all items to be included in the design are thought out and "AGREED UPON". Finding errors and making changes after construction of the web site has begun can be costly. I would suggest that both the company and the designer have the agreement looked over by an attorney. 2.) Be absolutely sure who owns the rights to the web site and at what stages. Initially all copyright, and property rights belong to the developer. According to the copyright laws, a copyright is taken at the time of creation, and therefore belongs to the Developer (Only New Creation). All existing copyrights belong to their respective owners. The Client has the option to purchase these copyrights, and use them exclusively. If this is set forth in the agreement then the all copyrights should be transferred to the Client, once the development of the web site is completed and the final bill is paid. Protect yourself make sure that you have a written agreement. Many golf course owners and managers, even though they have paid for the construction of the web site but do not have a written agreement, inevitably find out later that they do not own those rights. 3) Once the web site development is complete make sure that you are also protected in the hosting agreement. Many reputable hosting companies will allow you to move your site as long as your account is current. The hosting company is just a company that provides you the space and the bandwidth to allow your site to be available 24 hours a day on the World Wide Web. In the hosting agreement you may have the right to move your site and it's content to another host upon fair and reasonable notification to the host. Some hosts will even make an effort to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible. 4.) Attempt if at all possible to get your own domain name. A Domain Name is the name by which people can find you on the web. For example: "http://www.golfguide.com" From a marketing view you do not want to have a web site address name such as: "http://www.golfguide.com/theplamsgolfcourse". Preferably it should be: "http://www.theplamsgc.com". Once again make sure that this is all covered in the agreements. And you (the Client) are aware of what exactly you are paying for. PART II: THE WEB SITE 1.) Always make sure that you have your Name, Address, and Phone numbers on your web site. It is amazing how may golf course web sites don't list their contact information or make the visitors jump through hoops trying to find the phone number and address. Think of your web site as just another magazine ad, you would want your potential customers to know how to find you wouldn't you? Remember the majority of your soon to be customers may not even know where you're located. (many of them are probably going to be from out of state anyway). Don't forget to include your zip code, phone number and any other pertinent contact information. The address and zip code is particularly important. All Internet mapping locators use that for directions and mapping. 2.) Web site design concepts are getting better and technology is rapidly becoming a bullet. But until the standard is high enough where you can load an entire site in seconds. Keep your graphics to a minimum especially on the home page. You want the page to load in 11 seconds or less. A home page including several pictures will take much longer then that to load and your visitor may get bored and leave long before your page has loaded. If your site is graphically intensive, make sure that your host has the bandwidth to push such a site, this may cost you extra, but well worth it. 3.) A good main page will welcome the visitor and describe the contents of the web site, or even throw you into the content. The key to a successful web site is the organization of the content. Make sure that your visitors can easily access the information available. Keep your advertising to a minimum on this page if at all. Banner advertisements and link exchanges can slow the loading time and unless relevant to the web site rarely lead to a viewer clicking on. 4.) Organize the information into categories to make surfing your site easy. You want to allow the visitor to get to the meat and potatoes of the web site in 4 clicks or less. Jumps to different areas of the site are highly recommended. 5.) If you are going to give a hole by hole description with photo's do so in a sub-category. This way your visitor can view the quick loading information and come back to check out the detailed pages when time is available. 6.) A guest book or registration form, message board or mailing list should also be available so that you can advise your visitors of updated information, specials, discounts, or promotions offered by your golf course. 7.) The web is here to stay and it is being accessed by millions of golfers (accomplished and novices alike) every day. If you don't have a web site you may be missing the boat. It is the most effective advertising your golf course can and must do! A newspaper advertisement or magazine advertisement last as long as the minute it was seen. Once discarded it's gone forever. Your web site including all the information you care to put on it will be available to millions of golfers every day! 8.) Finally, even if you're not computer savvy and maybe you're not that familiar with how the world wide web works. Don't let that stop you from taking advantage of the most powerful marketing tool available today! After all you don't need to understand how it works...just that it works! |
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