Website Design and Options

Sample Website 

As a leader in the industry with over 30 years experience in serving chambers throughout the country, both very small and very large, we have always made it a priority to stay on the cutting edge with our publications and other products to meet the marketing and promotional needs of our customers.

In the mid nineties, Lawton Publications moved into the “Website Area” developing websites for our chamber directory customers putting the entire publication along with a searchable business directory on the Internet. Now we have moved to the next level of service to the chamber industry with full service websites. This creates the opportunity to generate additional non-dues revenue through a website equipped with many time-saving tools that allow on-line registration, automatically updated searchable membership data, and a whole lot more as described below.

We design customized websites for our publications customers according to their requirements for no charge. We also offer additional features for a minimal cost.

1. Look and Feel

   The Lawton web development team will work closely with the chamber to developing a look and feel that complements the chamber's current branding scheme. The chamber will first select from a large group of available templates. Then the Lawton development team will consult with the chamber to customize the chosen template and set up the initial content and navigation.

2. Advertising

   Before beginning the development/redevelopment of a chamber web, the chamber will need to choose from three advertising packages. This will be a requirement of any chamber who elects to use our new platform.
   • Option #1 – Lawton does the ad sales, builds the ad, invoices advertiser, collects the revenue, and the chamber receives a royalty.
   • Option #2 – The chamber does the ad sales in-house, collects the revenue, and pays Lawton a nominal annual fee for posting the advertisement.
   • Option #3 – No advertising on the website.

3. Editorial/Content

   The Lawton web development team will work with the chamber to determine the most effective use of chamber book content throughout the website. All page content including images will be manageable by the chamber (except for chamber choosing Option #3) via the secure admin area using a “Word like” online editor tool. This tool may also be used to create and/or manage chamber newsletters. All images featured in the chamber publication will be available for the chamber to use throughout the site. Lawton will then update this content with the release of each new book, or yearly for non-publication customers, after receiving the text and image files from the chamber in an acceptable file format like Quark, Illustrator, Word etc.

4. Standard Free Features Include

   • Business Directory
   • Site Statistics
   • Scrolling Calendar (available if chamber uses calendar of events module)
   • Calendar of Events with on-line event registration (if chamber chooses)
   • Data Upload Tool
   • Web page/newsletter editor (available only to chamber’s with Option #1 or Option #2 for web advertising)
   • E-Commerce Module (available only to chamber’s with Option #1 or Option #2 for web advertising)
   • Broadcast Email
   • List Builder (available only to chamber’s with Option #1 or Option #2 for web advertising)
   • Weather
   • Administrative Area – a password protected administrative area that allows the chamber to be in control of changes to their website without having to purchase or know any special software program.

5. Other Free Standard Benefits

   • Security: Security is always foremost in our minds. Our webs are protected by a firewall. All steps are taken to increase security such as encrypting the communication between the user and the web pages where security is at risk. Sensitive information is encrypted before being stored in our database. Passwords to admin areas are stored using an irreversible hash and cannot be deciphered.
   • Search Engine Registration: We submit all our webs to a service which powers the core directory services for the Web's largest and most popular search engines and portals, including Netscape Search, AOL Search, Google, Lycos, HotBot, DirectHit, and hundreds of others.
   • Support: We pride ourselves on our customer support. Lawton provides both on-line via email and toll free call support for help with website and browser issues. Our support hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30am – 5:00pm Pacific Time. Also, emergency contacts will be provided to the chamber for after hours, weekends, or holidays.

6. Optional Fee Based Features

   • Scrolling Text Banner
   • Community Calendar
   • Survey Creator
   • Additional Statistics
   • Employment Opportunities
   • Scrolling E-News
   • Domain Registration & Transfer
   • E-Mail Addresses
   • Membership Applications
   • Update Member Profile