Bad Websites

[CarolinaCutie]

Originally Posted by amanda6035

GIN SYSTEM! Check out the link in my signature.

Plus, the way it's designed, the chapters have serveral different layouts they can choose from, and they can switch it up as often or as little as they want. They can add pages, and take away pages (except for the national history and general insignia stuff. AXiD just implemented this over the summer, and some chapters are still using their own websites, but FHQ provided one to every single chapter to use, if they wanted it. The website is just frosting though - the real reason behind GIN system is it's a communication portal - announcements, calendar, wuot text message reminders (if you sign up for them), sign up to buy t-shirts, stuff like that. It's a REALLY cool system. I didn't think I would like it, because I'm not a fan of the cookie cutter websites (like Chapter Communications - no offense, but I couldnt stand the way theirs was set up).

I think Phi Mu and ADPi are also using GIN....I could be mistaken though....

Yep, Phi Mu is using GIN and I'm pretty much in love with it...

Originally Posted by CarolinaCutie

Yep, Phi Mu is using GIN and I'm pretty much in love with it...

Lady, where have you BEEN?

[CarolinaCutie]

Originally Posted by OTW

Lady, where have you BEEN?

Haha... I know, right? I gave up on LiveJournal, and then I haven't been around here much either. But I'm the Membership Adviser now at my old chapter, and I missed you guys!

Thanks for remembering me

[Cutie_Hootie]

Originally Posted by alum

You think the GLOs' respective HQs would make some sort of template for chapters to use. XO used to do this and I thought it was great. The pages were very distinctive and you immediately knew that this chapter was part of a national org'n. OR perhaps Panhel could do this for all the sororities at a particular school ie the sorority flower on top, the same lists of specific pages (officers, philanthropy, house tour...) on one side. It would be somewhat of an equalizer.

Chi Omega is still doing this. We just unveiled our new sites at Convention this summer. I'm sure many chapters (alumnae and collegiate) are still working on them. My alumnae chapter's is finished, luckily. I did it, and it was very simple.

The new sites have a lot more individuality, but they also have those special touches that tie all the sites together.

[alum]

Would chapters that are too lazy to flesh out a provided template also be too lazy to start from scratch?

A friend whose D recently went through recruitment did notice the same thing about the more "popular" GLOs having out-of-date websites. Current websites are important if for nothing else than knowing where to send the refs.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by alum

Would chapters that are too lazy to flesh out a provided template also be too lazy to start from scratch?

Yeah, probably, but I'd rather see nothing than regurgitated sameness. That's just my personal opinion though.

And re your second comment - if you are their kind, my dear, you KNOW where to send the refs w/out a website telling you.

[Kansas City]

I personally like the GLO provided templates PROVIDED that the chapters actually use them to put some unique, genuine and updated information about their specific chapter. Regurgitated national information or outdated chapter information just doesn’t cut it. For smaller chapters, the template approach can be a much easier (doesn't require an advanced computer degree) and cheaper way (GLO pays through a "technology fee") to keep the site up. It also gives nationals control over the "generic" information.

[Kansas City]

Thanks AOII, I suggested the site to both sometime last week so I guess I'm just waiting ...

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Kansas City

Thanks AOII, I suggested the site to both sometime last week so I guess I'm just waiting ...

Have you verified your site with Google? It's a pain in the butt, but they suggest you add a code or page to your site that they can find to verify your site. Go to http://www.google.com/intl/en/submit_content.html and click on "webmaster's tools" to get to the verification process.

[agrphi]

If you want Google to recognize your new web site address you need to get your url out there. Try to get as many other sites as possible to list your domain. This means you will have to harass the greek life office and your HQ's.

If you know the person who built the class project web site, i would ask them if they can create a redirect on the site so that if anyone finds it, they will be sent to your new site.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by agrphi

If you want Google to recognize your new web site address you need to get your url out there. Try to get as many other sites as possible to list your domain. This means you will have to harass the greek life office and your HQ's.

If you know the person who built the class project web site, i would ask them if they can create a redirect on the site so that if anyone finds it, they will be sent to your new site.

I agree that the more your URL is out there, the more likely Google's bot will pick it up. My site, however, is not listed by the greek life office or IHQ. I did a lot of searches for my site and picked it a huge number of times to get it to move up the Google list. Also, make sure that your page has a description imbedded that describes your chapter how people will most likely look for it. I had to change mine to AOII at Towson University since using AOII Theta Beta Chapter made it harder to find on Google.

[Kansas City]

GIN is great but it still needs to be recognized by search engines. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and I'm working on the solution.

[Army Wife'79]

The frustrating part was going thru the specific college's panhel website that had the list of sororities and when you click on their name it is supposed to take you to their site (at that school). Some even linked to "error" meaning there was NO website.

[Army Wife'79]

I saw a Clemson thread and decided to check out their panhel website and it's really nice. On each group page is a link to their own website even tho the main one has great pics of each group. Very well done and so cute.