For a small community web site, we pack some punch - we finished the year with 486 email subscribers and 33,204 visitors (peaking at up to 2,000 visitors per week).
You'll notice there's a fresh new look for the web site this year - it comes from your feedback during 2014 and from the responses to our online survey in December.
In the survey we asked 5 questions:
1. What do you like most about the Raymond Island Net web site? The general sense of our users' responses was that it keeps them 'in touch with what's going in and provides with a sense of connection'.
2. How often do you visit the Raymond Island Net web site? Most people check the website weekly.
3. Which sections do you visit? In popularity: 100% News 100%; 60% Ferry and Community; 50% Diary; and 40% Koalas, Services and Island.
4. Which interactive features would you like on the web site - and would you like to contribute to them? In popularity: 90% islander introductions, guest columnists; 70% buy sell and swap; 60% vox pops; 50% quizzes, postcards, and reviews.
5. Do you have any other comments, or feedback that would help to improve the site? Responses were evenly split between wanting the old site back because the new site feels impersonal and austere, and wanting the new site to be more consistent and simple in format.
1. What do you like most about the Raymond Island Net web site? The general sense of our users' responses was that it keeps them 'in touch with what's going in and provides with a sense of connection'.
2. How often do you visit the Raymond Island Net web site? Most people check the website weekly.
3. Which sections do you visit? In popularity: 100% News 100%; 60% Ferry and Community; 50% Diary; and 40% Koalas, Services and Island.
4. Which interactive features would you like on the web site - and would you like to contribute to them? In popularity: 90% islander introductions, guest columnists; 70% buy sell and swap; 60% vox pops; 50% quizzes, postcards, and reviews.
5. Do you have any other comments, or feedback that would help to improve the site? Responses were evenly split between wanting the old site back because the new site feels impersonal and austere, and wanting the new site to be more consistent and simple in format.
Other suggestions received during the year have been to:
* be able to print out news updates
* include more information about the surrounding communities in which we participate
In response to your input, you'll find lots of new features, including: a cleaner look with easier navigation; a weekly rain gauge with live weather on the home page; our first special Community profile on artist Joe Driscoll; a wonderful Gallery of beautiful photographs from our web site archive; and new sections on our 'Insider' page, including a 'buy sell and swap' exchange for Islanders and weekly postcards, reviews and quizzes.
During the year I hope to see more contributions by guest 'roving' reporters and columnists and hope that the new look site provides more opportunities for subscribers to participate in making the site an even better community resource.
Regards,
Jane Ponting
(Webmaster)
