This worked great, however when installing the CF module onto a Linux server, there are a few items that we learned. For anyone that will be installing a windows based site onto a Linux server in the future, here are a few tips:

1. Linux is very picky about Upper/lower case in the url structure.  So, if your directory structure and page name uses upper/lower cases, ensure that you use the same structure for the url link.  As an example, if your directory structure is /UpperCase/files.cfm  don’t use http://www.siteurl.com/uppercase/Files.cfm.  This won’t work, you must use the same structure as your site which would be: http://www.siteurl.com/UpperCase/files.cfm
2. Forward slash and back slashes. While windows uses the back slash structure \ for it’s server path, Linux uses the forward slash structure /.  You may need to search and replace any instances in the files where a backslash \ is used.
3. Upper/lower case in image names.  If using Flash or other types of applications that can be called to display within a page, ensure that the same Upper/lower case structure is used for images.  If your .fla flash file has the images that are used to create the flash application as lower case, ensure that images on the server are lower case as well.
4. A strange item, although not specific to Windows/Linux conversion, is when placing a site live and using WordPress you may need to resave your permalinks (without making any changes, just hit save again on the Permalink page).  I had this issue when placing the new site live, where some of the site url’s were displaying the temp url structure used during the initial set up and testing phase vs. the domain name. Once I hit save on the Permalink page, all worked fine.

Good luck with any new site deployments and any other recommended items to look out for are welcome!!

Currently, it is estimated that there are 240Million Smartphones in use and 56% of US Smartphone users are using their phones for news and information (web/internet and social media), while 50.8% of US Smartphone users are using their phones for email. The US is far and above Smartphone usage in other countries such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, who on average have a 30% usage of Smartphones for Web/internet and social media accesses.

Based upon Smartphone usage and the amount of units that are available in and in use in today’s market, is your web site Smartphone friendly and providing users access to your site and site information via the Smartphone?

Sites can be developed that provides users with easy access to content and navigation through the site. (Take CNN, ESPN, or Home Depot). These sites have been set up specifically to allow for Smartphone user to access, search and navigate throughout the site effortlessly.

Applications and applets can be developed that enables you with the ability to provide users ease of access to content, updates, and relevant materials found on your site.  There are approximately 50,000+ apps available for iPhone user, with an ever increasing amount of apps availalble for other Smartphone users as well. These provide users with quick and easy access to informtion, from inventory, to marketing/sales information, etc. These can also allows users the ability to subscribe via RSS feeds to newly posted information and provide your publications via Smartphone download and access, as well as member interaction and forum posting are advantages that can be offered to members or potential new members.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to provide members with a Smartphone app that provided them with newly released member updates and information that is delivered directly to their smart phone? Wouldn’t it be great to deliver upcoming events to registered users (whether members or not), notifying them of upcoming events and providing them with options to order the event via their phone and or log in and order via their member access?

Quick and easy is the term and phrase for the future, and providing data to users in a quick an easy method provides you with the leading edge in user interactivity with your site, thus increasing users and their overall experience.

Why is this so difficult? All I want to do is renew my membership.

We see our site every day, know where the information is located and how to navigate the site.  Due to this we take our site for granted and don’t realize that the information and message could be delivered in a different manner which could increase visitors and members.  For the most part, visitors will spend very little time on your site if they can’t find what they are looking for or determine why they should stay on your site vs. your competitor.

To know your site a little better, conduct a small test for 20 seconds.  Have five people who aren’t familiar with your web site visit your homepage and view your site for 20 seconds. Can they:

1. Tell the name of the company or association?
2. Tell what the company or association does?
3. Want to perform an action? (i.e., request more information, view item of interest, etc.)

In most cases, you will find that the majority of your test group will not be able to answer all three questions  with the correct responses.  Review the results, see where your biggest challenge lies.  It is with item number 2?  What does your company or association do?  Or is it with item number 3?  The content of the page didn’t make the user want to perform an action?  If the test group had any problems with answering any of these questions, targeting your design to addressing this area should be considered.

Your website is a valuable resource and keeping it up-to-date with a design that lends itself to your audience is the best way to ensure that your visitors and members support your organization.

Design standards should include:

1. Make the site purpose clear – explain who you are and what you do;
2. Help users find what they need – emphasize the sites top priorities, include a search box for the user to quickly search and access other information;
3. Site content – use your best content on the homepage, provide links that are SEO friendly, they make sense and include the title of the page content;
4. Use visual design to enhance, not detract, from the content and overall message of the design. Don’t clutter or have too many flashy images/pictures, etc. Clean and simple is best and visual elements can help bring focus to the most important elements of your web site design.

Your website is an important part of your company and organization.  It is your chance to make a first and lasting impression to new visitors, to potential new members, and returning members.  You want your visitors and members to be able to find your site and organization easily, determine the purpose of your company and perform an action that keeps them on the site.  Visitors need to know why your company or organization is better than your competitor and why they should stay on your site vs. visiting other sites.  A design that meets design usability standards will assist in ensuring that your visitors stay on your site and return to your site.