Huge Improvement to Webb for Senate Website

By: Lowell
Published On: 8/4/2006 7:14:57 AM

As promised, Jim Webb has a new website, and it's a great one!  Here's a short list of the fantastic new features:

*A "splash page" - this will encourage people to sign up for the campaign and has been proven highly effective by many other political websites.

*A revamped "photo gallery" page, that will be expanding even further as time goes by. 

*An easy way to sign up for volunteering.

*A viral marketing, "tell a friend" tool.

*A nice Campaign Store to get all your Webb gear

*An excellent "action page", including one of the most powerful tools of all - "Send a Letter to the Editor."  This thing is great; check it out, and you'll be hooked.  Now, anytime you see something in your local paper that cries out for a response, you can use this tool to quickly shoot off an "LTE."

*An "issues page" that will be cranked up significantly in coming weeks.  I'm very excited about this page.

Anyway, check out the new website and let us know what you think.  Also, thanks to all the talented people who worked on this; very impressive work!


Comments



Looks great! (David Campbell - 8/4/2006 8:04:26 AM)
I can't wait for the issues page.

Kellam needs to upgrade his website as well.



this is important (teacherken - 8/4/2006 8:43:42 AM)
and you say it rather gently.  I have seen no change in the content on the issues page since before the primary.  Folks, that is 7+ weeks ago.  And I know that the have worked on them.

I'm glad that it is snazzier, but I want substance as well as glitz.



I'm assuming... (va.walter - 8/4/2006 8:53:50 AM)
there will be a VERY QUICK content upgrade.  Having the framework in place was important and has been accomplished.  I'm hoping we'll see new content, especially on the issues page, within a matter of days.  Also, I didn't see the debate video although I didn't look that hard.  Good job on the look, now let's beef it up.


here it is (phriendlyjaime - 8/4/2006 8:57:22 AM)
media


Post under "Webb Audio" (va.walter - 8/4/2006 9:43:56 AM)
I should have looked closer.  Didn't even look at those links since they were under Audio.  Glad it's there.  Thanks.


That's coming any day now... (Lowell - 8/4/2006 9:00:13 AM)
I know, I know, you've heard that a million times before.  But I am assured that we're 95% of the way there on having a kickass issues page.


Jim Webb site (ixtx - 8/4/2006 8:06:18 AM)
Just one minor quibble - the mouse cursor does not turn to the pointed finger when it hovers over the "skip sign-up..." button. This might confuse some visitors.


Nice!!! (RayH - 8/4/2006 8:28:10 AM)
I like this new format because it makes it so easy for newcomers to start taking action.


New site is a big upgrade (va.walter - 8/4/2006 8:34:23 AM)
I'm a little confused about the LTE section though.  It looks to me like that just sends off pre-written letters.  I realize they can be manipulated but don't you think news organizations will just ignore these LTE is they're cut and paste letters prepared by the campaign?  If it were up to me, I'd "suggest" topics but leave the writing up to the individual.  Maybe I'm missing something?  Otherwise, nice upgrades.


LTE (David Campbell - 8/4/2006 10:41:10 AM)
Letters to the editor do need to be personalized.

Also note that the Virginian-Pilot has a policy of only printing one letter per person every six months.  You are only entitled to your first amendment rights twice a year.



Love it (phriendlyjaime - 8/4/2006 8:48:55 AM)
However, just an fyi: the WEBB icon on the upper left hand side of the home page brings you to an error page.


I think I found a bug (pitin - 8/4/2006 8:52:09 AM)
or just a link problem really.

The three buttons across the top "take action", "contribute", and "volunteer" all point to the home page, not their respective pages.



Thanks! (kevindruff - 8/4/2006 9:00:58 AM)
Fixed that... Let me know if you see any other errors. We'll be working to fix them over the next several days.

Thanks!
Kevin



Good work, Kevin. (Lowell - 8/4/2006 9:03:01 AM)
Quick, too! :)


Great work Kevin! (Eric - 8/4/2006 9:42:44 AM)
A few other observations from a quick look.  Some may be repeats of other comments above.

1. The Media (http://www.webbforse...) and Internet Graphics (http://www.webbforse...) pages are not picking up the new layout/format for me.  They look out of place compared to the rest and it's a little more difficult to navigate.

2. The LTE isn't appearing in the menu dropdown (popout).  It appears in the Take Action page. 

3. I absolutely 110% agree with an earlier comment regarding the LTE's - please make suggestions about the content and allow users to write their own.  If you write the LTE's for them it quickly becomes spam to the MSM.  If you're worried about abuse from users you could add an admin approve button on the back end.

4. [minor] On the About Jim the lower right border doesn't come together properly on my browser.  Actually, it looks like the entire right side is pushed about 10px.

Aside from these nitpicks, the new site looks really good and is more functional/user friendly.  Great work by you and the team.



Thanks! (kevindruff - 8/4/2006 10:23:51 AM)
1,2, and 4 are fixed. Nice catches. 3 I will work on a little later.

Cheers,
Kevin



Thanks, Kevin you did a great Job putting this together. (thegools - 8/4/2006 11:03:51 AM)
You (and everyone else involved) have done a really nice job.  I also would like to thank and all your silent partners in turn.


I didn't right that very well. (thegools - 8/4/2006 11:09:05 AM)
I meant to thank eeryone involved, but you deserve the greatest thanks and credit to be sure.


"I didn't right that very well." (phriendlyjaime - 8/4/2006 11:21:22 AM)
Or that.  ;)

I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF!  :)



Yeah. I slept late and was still half asleep when I commented. (thegools - 8/4/2006 10:05:32 PM)


Wow! (Kathy Gerber - 8/4/2006 11:07:01 AM)
Beautimous :)


Great improvement (JennyE - 8/4/2006 2:32:44 PM)
Very nice.

Please correct this minor error though. From ixtx above, 

"the mouse cursor does not turn to the pointed finger when it hovers over the "skip sign-up..." button. This might confuse some visitors."