[ViewPoint] PCT Online evolves to serve you better

One of the most exciting projects for the PCT staff is the redesign of our website, www.pctonline.com. It’s a collaborative process involving the PCT editorial staff, our graphics department and our Web development team.

We feel it’s important to review and revamp our site periodically to assess what is effective; what might be outdated; and how we can best upgrade features and functions in order to make PCT Online a more valuable resource to our readers.

Also factoring into any redesign decision is user behavior. Barry Murray, president of the Murray Group and contributor of a PR/marketing video blog on PCT Online, notes that in the Internet’s infancy users were accustomed to glitzy, flashy websites, but that no longer is the case. Today’s Internet surfers expect “a more functional platform,” Murray said.

The last time we redesigned PCT Online was in 2009 and a lot has changed technology-wise in the last three years, especially the rise in popularity of (1) hand-held devices such as iPhones; and (2) social media. This technology evolution was an important consideration for the PCT staff when discussing our most recent redesign. Here’s a look at how we’ve adapted PCT Online to meet these and other user needs.
 

More APP-accessible. Redesigned PCT Online now has more of a traditional newspaper look, featuring black text on a white background. Why did we choose this color scheme? We wanted to make the site more reader-friendly for our users viewing PCT Online on handheld devices such as iPhones. Another design change was the addition of navigation bars to the left-hand column of the homepage. This makes it easier for PCT’s visitors to quickly access the website’s most visited pages.
 

Gigya. In response to the growing popularity of social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, PCT Online now includes Gigya social login, which allows our visitors to more easily share (and comment about) PCT content throughout the Web. Users can log onto PCT Online via their preferred social media platform, then comment, like, or distribute any content on PCT Online simultaneously across all of their social networks. To share content from PCT, simply click on the social media icons (such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn avatars) located within stories and/or multimedia content on PCT Online.
 

The Pulse. Quickly find out what the pest control industry is talking about on social media websites by accessing The Pulse. Located in the bottom right-hand corner of the PCT Online homepage, The Pulse includes tabs to PCT’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.
 

Easier multimedia access. PCT Online’s multimedia files — which include videos, podcasts, Webinars and slideshows — can now be accessed from the PCT Online homepage. Simply visit PCT Online’s homepage and click on any of the three multimedia tabs (Videos, Sponsored or Podcasts) to find the file you are seeking.
 

Expanded news coverage. PCT Online has long been the go-to source for the best, up-to-date news coverage on issues impacting the structural pest control industry. Our newly designed website includes enhanced coverage that is easily accessible from the PCT Online homepage. The top five stories on the site now are illustrated with photos or images and even more news stories are categorized on the homepage.
 

We hope you like the new look and enhancements to PCT Online and we welcome your feedback.

The author is Internet editor of PCT Online (www.pctonline.com) and managing editor of PCT and can be contacted at bharbison@giemedia.com.