Datalink Ramblings

How do you feel about having your web designer or developer's link on your site ?

You've probably seen them from time to time, tucked away in the footer of the site, a link to a web designer or developer's site, sometimes on every single page of your site.

I was very suprised to see a major Australian banking site that recently had their website redesigned, credit the web designer with a link in their footer.  I don't know whether they paid for the privilege, or how much, but if I was that bank (and let's face it, they're not exactly short of money these days), no amount would be worth it.

A question I like to ask certain types of clients is do you want it ?  Some don't know, others don't really care.  But personally I think it is a small but important consideration to make.  I wouldn't do it with my own site unless I felt like doing favours for a friend, so I thought I'd try explaining when it may and may not be appropriate.

Most corporates and stock exchange listed companies would never allow their developers to put a link on their site or even mention who built it.  They are often specific about this and it can be in their policy manuals. 

This might sound strange coming from someone whose company has their link on the footer of hundreds of sites on the world wide web, but I like to give people the option rather than enforce it on them.

So let's look at the benefits to the web designer, the benefits to you and the options you have.

Continue reading How do you feel about having your web designer or developer's link on your site ?

Comments (0)

Confusing e-Commerce : why the AFL through Ticketmaster and Telstra are frustrating their customers

How can something so simple as renewing a membership online be so complex ? 

Bad e-commerce can be more painful than waiting on hold for hours.  At least when you call, you expect that possibility.  But you use the web because you are time poor and you are looking for that 24x7 convenience and customer service.  When it doesn't happen, it leaves you very angry.

I hate to harp about an organisation, but the Australian Football League started with a really poor website experience and then took their e-commerce experience to all new levels of mediocrity.  Then due to a printing stuff-up they accidentally exposed the member's details of 140 people, and apologising publicly so I don't mind telling you this story, as the chances are you already know. 

So for any membership type organisations wanting to know what not to do, read on.

Continue reading Confusing e-Commerce : why the AFL through Ticketmaster and Telstra are frustrating their customers

Comments (0)

The Internet's role in the 2007 Federal Election

We've been covering some of these topics on e-democracy and e-citizenship, so I thought we'd briefly reflect on the role the Internet has played in the recent change of government in Australia.

Just before the election, the Howard government launched its campaign to improve Internet safety.

Well, firstly there was the campaigns.  There were fancy Web 2.0 sites, like the impressive Labor campaign website (Kevin07.com.au) and The Australian Greens (greens.org.au) and even the typically conservative Liberals website (liberal.org.au) all employing just about every e-marketing trick imaginable from petitions to video and e-news and RSS to keep political supporters involved.  Social networking played a part, with MySpace profiles and Facebook groups for the politicians showing their armies of friends and followers. 

Then there was YouTube, an Internet battleground which emerged for both Rudd and Howard.  There was the Virtual Tally Room on the Australian Electoral Commission website, providing voters with unprecedented access to the raw statistics with only a 15 minute delay.  Then there were the media sites.  No online voting yet, but it probably won't be too far away.

And there was the promises.  Labor pitched a $4.7 billion fibre-to-the-node broadband network. 

Whether broadband was a popular issue or not and whether the web stuff helped Rudd's team get over the line probably doesn't matter in the end. 

But one thing is for sure in the wake of the dramatic change of government - the Internet is emerging in Australia as an e-democracy force.  In terms of strategy, the Internet was integral to the campaigns of all the major parties.

This is not just the case at the Federal level either, although it is the area which attracts the most attention.  Local and State government has seen this trend emerge earlier, but all levels and their constituents are to benefit from improvements to e-citizenship over the coming years.

Comments (0)