Status Report on Automation of CounselingSeattle.com

The Webmaster's Report
 

What is the time-schedule for completion?
How will you know when the project is completed?
The GOOD NEWS about changes at CounselingSeattle.com
What is the nature and scope of the project?
Why make the changes?
What Action will counselors need to take to continue their listings?
How you can help?
What will it cost?

When is the scheduled time for completion?

Today is May 7, 2008.  Details, details--work progresses.  They tell me we should be finished this week--so I will estimate "next week" by May 14th.  The basic database is in place, existing counselor information has been loaded, and the back end (webmaster access only) is 99% completed.  We are currently testing and making editing changes on the "front end," (the part the viewer will encounter when they log into the site).  I want this to be as clear and simple a process as possible for both the novice and experienced visitor.

How will you know when the project is completed?

Look for a "Counselor/Advertiser Log-in" link at the upper right corner of the home page: http://www.CounselingSeattle.com/  We will also be sending out a mailing and an email to existing advertisers.
 

The Good News About Changes at CounselingSeattle.com

The Good News is that [when changes have been completed]: (1). you will need to log in once to open your account and verify the information in your current listing is correct.  (2.) Thereafter, you will be able to log-in and make changes in your listing information directly online.  (3.) You will be able to log-in and enter or modify your advertisements for office space for rent, new therapy groups, or workshops directly on line and pay for them using your credit card. (4.) You will be automatically notified by email of any charge to your credit card. And (5.) The first initial of your last name [or business name] will no longer affect the order in which your listing appears on the geographic page.

As webmaster, I have long been concerned about the order of people on my web pages and have felt it unfair that new listing such as "Alfred Able" should be placed at the top of a page, above long established ones, simply because it's required by alphabetical order.  The alphabet will no longer rule! (Except in the "Name Index.")  Once the new system is in place, the counselors who log in and activate their account FIRST (create their new on-line account) will be listed FIRST on the geographic counselor pages.  Seniority will rule.  New counselors who sign up later in 2008 will be added at the bottom of their respective geographic pages.

What is the nature and scope of the automation project?

When completed, all the advertising functions of CounselingSeattle.com will be automated.  Counselors or other advertisers will be able to log in, create an account, enter the text for a professional listing or a counseling group ad, or announce a workshop, etc. and submit it for publication.  Counselors or other advertisers will be billed monthly for their listings and therapy group ads and will be able to change the text or discontinue the ads when they no longer apply.  Rather than writing a check and mailing it to CounselingSeattle.com, you will now charge it to your credit card.

Why make the changes?

Since 1999, the site has grown to over 230 pages.  There are 25,000 to 32,000 unique visitors to the site each month and as many as 87,000 page views per month. 

Many of the web pages require current reporting and frequent updating.  Done manually, setting up one individual counselor listing may require working and posting to four or five different web pages and creating links between them.  The automation will eliminate these steps.

The complex and time-consuming annual renewal process and manual handling of checks will be history.  Counselors who who retire or move or go on maternity leave can log-in 24 hours a day to quickly update, suspend, remove or reactive their listings--so the site will always be up-to-date and display current information about available counselors.

The changes will speed up the addition of material to the site both for the submitter and for the webmaster.  All submissions will still be reviewed by the webmaster prior to publication on the site.  Webmaster research assistance for more effective counselor listings will be still be available.

What action will a current counselor/advertiser need to take to continue their listings?

Once the programming is completed and tested, current counselors will need to log in to create an account, log-in name and password, and review your personal information.  If you are a current advertiser/counselor, your current listing information is being entered into the new database so that it will not be necessary for currently listed counselors to completely re-enter their information--only to verify that existing information is correct.  Counselors will be listed on geographic pages in the order that they log in and activate their new accounts.

How you can help.

There will be a brief testing period to make sure the log in account opening process is easily understood and negotiated.  The purpose of the testing is to have persons (such as yourself) give feedback as to whether the process is clear and understandable or whether instructions or other processes need to be changed.  If we are able to involve you in the testing of the new processes, we will put an announcement asking for volunteers at the top of the CounselingSeattle.com home page:  http://www.CounselingSeattle.com/ with a link to how to proceed.

What will it cost?

Counselor listings will be $8.98 per month (less than one-third the rate of our nearest competitor).  All other ad rates will remain unchanged for the time being.

CounselingSeattle.com is paying $7,500 for these automation changes and will be paying additional monthly server and credit card processing fees in the future.  We wouldn't do it, if it weren't worth it.  However, this is a time-consuming and frustrating process for us.

Your feedback is always appreciated.

Floyd Else, MA, LMHC, NCC, Webmaster
[My job is helping counselors make money.]
 

             

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