Designing Effective Online Press Rooms

The previous recommendations could apply to most any web design task. Quick access to useful information is a universal need for all web users. One might wonder, though, what role evolving web technologies should play in the creation of effective online press rooms. Below are a few suggestions:

Use server-side includes to offer online press room visitors a choice of the type of information they are given. For example, visitors to Bank of America's Newsroom could select from a menu whether they are mainstream journalists, potential investors, technology reporters, or consumers. Press releases and other information could then be tailored to their interests and/or occupations. At all times, however, the link to the full press release list and other corporate resources should be obvious and easily accessible to prevent frustration

Use cookies to remember who the user is, so information is tailored to that user every time he or she visits the site. This would prevent the user having to choose what area in which he or she is interested each time

Corporations should also constantly look for ways to make improvements to their online press rooms. End-of-page surveys (i.e., "Did you find this page helpful?") are one way to measure whether the content the corporation thinks the press wants is actually being read and is useful

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Designing Effective Online Press Rooms

Designing Effective Online Press Rooms

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