DISTANCE EDUCATION RESOURCES

The Presidents' Forum calls for regionally accredited, adult-serving institutions that have some or all programs offered online to join together in a voluntary commitment to a set of Principles of Good Practice.

The New York Times Knowledge Network. A new learning and networking platform combining the resources of The Times with educators from leading institutions.

USDLA - United States Distance Learning Association serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity.

The Distance Education and Training Council promotes sound educational standards and ethical business practices within the correspondence (distance education, online education) field.

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Web Tips - How to Choose a Web Site Designer

Professional web design involves both art and science, appealing graphics and compelling editorial. Finding a designer that can do both is critical

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Web design has become an integral component in reaching out to potential consumers. Ten years ago it was all about online presence; actually proving to the world that you were willing to embrace this new phenomenon was considered valuable. These days, there's more to it than that. Often your website can be the differentiator between a student finding and even choosing a program, school or course, or going elsewhere. So too, the choice of web design companies and marketing consultants has grown exponentially. With such an array of choices, where does one begin to make the decision in choosing the right company to work with. The wrong decision could literally cost your company thousands of dollars. The right choice can lead to a fine-tuned and high performing website that will have your peers patting you on the back for your savvy selection. During my career, I've seen web sites that are well designed but prove cumbersome to navigate. I've witnessed design firms that have promised much, but delivered little (and charged through the roof thank you very much). What are important elements in this decision-making process?

Word of Mouth. Many of your peers may have been through the process themselves. Did they get value for money? Tapping into your own network can be an invaluable resource. Ask them how the process was. If the site's objectives have been accomplished. A company will jump at the chance to impress a customer from a referral so take advantage of it.

Other Websites. You probably spend a while sifting through sites and come across some that you like. Check to see if there is a reference on the site to the company who designed it. Alternatively, contact the website owners directly. They will probably be happy to point you in the right direction (and feel reinforced by the correct decision they made.)

Competition search. If you do a search using the same or similar keywords that you expect to rank well, look at who your competition is. Those who come up on the first page should be well-chuffed by their position. Traffic increases with every position you gain. While it may have been a stroke of luck that got them there, they possibly made good choices in who they hired to design and market their website. This may be also be a good place to look for your own design and marketing company.

Web Company search. If you do a search for a company under an appropriate keyword or key phrase, have a good look at the companies that come up on the first couple of pages. They must be doing something right. Type in "Higher Education Marketing" in Google, choose one of the organizations listed on the first page and check out some of their client sites and testimonials. If you like what you see, this may be worth checking out. In addition, contact one of the client sites to find out if they had achieved their expectations.

Have a look at the following elements during your decision-making.

Appearance - don't base your decision solely on the appearance of a website. It is important but it is not the be-all and end-all of the process. A good looking site that doesn't contain all the essential elements that users are expecting is useless. Usability - a valuable component of a website is how the user experience is. The aim is to provide easy access to all relevant information in the minimum amount of clicks. Marketing - an often underestimated element is the performance of the website. How easily can users actually find your website? Is it hidden deep within your school site? Does it drive users to inquire or apply to your program? Services - dealing with one organization can make things so much smoother. What services does your potential company offer? Copywriting? Graphic design? Hosting? Database development? Having a one-stop-shop that targets your market is one worth pursuing. A little research and investigation prior to choosing a web company can save you headache and back-pocket pain in the long run. A company that prides itself on performance and customer service is one which should give you the results that you seek.

Article by Paul Fleming

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