On my mind… - Photographic Society of America news includes the design and production of a new Web page for the society

PSA Journal, Dec, 1997 by Pauline Sweezey

PSA has adopted a strong promotion program. You've heard about our national print advertising program. That is already bringing results in the form of inquiries about PSA and new members. But wait! There's more.

PSA has a new web page.

For those who are not familiar with web pages, this is a PSA domain on the worldwide Internet. You've heard companies ask you to check them out on the web at http://www.xxx.com. Now we are asking photographers worldwide to check us out on the net.

PSA had a simple web page in the past, run by Bob Gorrill. I appreciate the work he put into it. It did keep PSA's name on the Net, and bring us a number of new members. Bob, thank you for all you did for us.

Times and interests change, however. The mushrooming use of computers for both communications and a reference source, the growth of electronic imaging, and even changing life styles dictated a new approach to the tens of thousands of photographers out there who have never heard of PSA. In essence, the time had come to move on to something more elaborate to update the image PSA is projecting to the world.

First of all, our web site can be addressed at http://www.psa-photo.org

Our new page has been up since early September, officially under construction for the first month. By October 15th the basic pages were in place and we were ready to let others know of our presence on the web. It is too early to give a report on traffic checking in, but preliminary indications are that the site will be very well received. As we continue to add new pages and update content many more people will undoubtedly stop by to see what we have to offer.

The design of a web page takes many hours and much thought. It is not something which can be thrown together overnight. Every web page has a Webmaster who has overall responsibility for the effort. And that person for PSA is Sil Horwitz, FPSA. He has done a yeoman's job of setting up the structure, making sure everything works, designing layout to make the pages attractive, and entering all the information. A lot of ideas were considered, and those settled on for the initial pages should make our site interesting for both the member and prospective member.

People who check into our page will see the PSA Logo on the first screen, in living color, with options for the viewer to check. There's a message from the President, for instance, and on that page one can send a message to me. It will go from the PSA web page to my personal e-mail at home.

Speaking of communications, these first pages also let visitors send queries to Headquarters, or to our Webmaster.

Right up front we tell people--very briefly--what PSA is.

That screen branches to the divisions and other events and activities. There is information on the general orientation and activities of each division in its own section.

The PSA Journal is highlighted by an abbreviated table of contents for the latest issue.

Another section lists all PSA-member clubs in the U.S. with a contact person or address for more information.

And, of course, information of membership. Through the PSA web page, people can apply for membership directly or request that a hard-copy application form be sent to them.

There is one critical factor to keep in mind when designing a web page. The typical web surfer is trying to cover a lot of ground in short order. Attention spans are short. The site has to be "cool." In other words, material presented has to be "punchy," concise, informative and above all, attractive to catch the eye. That's why many of our pages seem to have just the basic facts. We do not want to lose our visitor by having too many words to plow through.

On the division listings, for instance, information on activities was extracted from the information brochures sent to new members, and the order is such that activities most likely to appeal to a non-member are put first.

There is an equipment page which highlights one piece of technical equipment available. This is an adjunct to what is published in the PSA Journal--really a teaser to give non-members an idea of what we have to offer.

There is a teaser on the PSA Conference in Orlando.

Another section will have local events such as seminars, chapter meetings, and regional gatherings.

Since this is being written in October, there may be more which I have not mentioned. The web page will be a living entity, updated, revised, kept current so people will want to come back.

Web pages have to be more than words, however. They need to catch the eye, and we have done that with pictures. We have a dozen pictures in our site right now, sprinkled throughout the pages. The cover of the PSA Journal is shown on the same page as the contents. There is a picture imbedded in each division's section.

There is a picture gallery which has a group of "thumbnails," or downsized pictures on the screen. Click on any one, and it is blown up for better viewing.

Furthermore we have a Picture of the Month, complete with a short write-up on how it was done. The first such image was by Howard Kessler, FPSA, and was called "Holding On." It's one of his classics--humorous and appealing, as good little tree frogs are. I don't know if it will still be there when you read this, but if it is, check it out!