SIDNEY — The Sidney Visitors Bureau has updated its website with a new look and improved functionality.
In late 201, with web traffic exceeding 22,000 sessions and approaching 40,000 page views each year, the bureau committed itself to enhancing in a significant way the overall site experience for those visiting it. Recognizing that an increasing number of site visitors were now finding their way to www.VisitSidneyShelby.com via mobile devices, a major focus of the site improvement plan was to make it more functional for users on the go.
“Ultimately our goals were many when we decided to launch this undertaking late last year,” said Jeff Raible, president of the Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Sidney Visitors Bureau. “Although we felt our site was good, we wanted to make it great, particularly for mobile users. The percentage of hand-held device visitors verses PC based users escalated from 75 percent PC and 25 percent hand-held in 2013 to 50/50 in 2015. To make sure all visiting our site had the best experience possible, a real emphasis was placed here. In addition to converting the former site to a responsive design, we also incorporated a large number of electronic web links, telephone links and GPS navigation links throughout the site.” The GPS links are of particular value for those visiting the area and not familiar with it. Easy-to-follow directions to restaurants, hotels, areas of recreation and other points of interest are now only a click away to those here for leisure or business purposes.
“Recognizing the dynamic nature and popularity of the events calendar section on the site, we set out to redesign its entire presentation with improved descriptions, graphics and capacity for more information about the items published there,” said Raible.
A significant number and variety of social media tools related to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ have been added to the site.
Lastly, the new version of the web site hosts an enhanced section dedicated to promoting travel in the nearby region, not just Sidney.
Concurrent with improvements made to the web site, the Sidney Visitors Bureau also developed an iBrochure. According to Raible, “The iBrochure is essentially a condensed overview of our travel region and functions much like an electronic version of the printed Sidney Visitors Guide. The iBrochure is sent via email to those requesting information about travel in the area and is linked on the Visitors Bureau website as well.”
