Website Survey Summary
A survey was sent to all HGB members on the HGB email list.
The survey was sent to 316 members.
As of May 20th, 111 people filled out the survey.
Thank you to all who responded -- your ideas are important.
Thank you also for your compliments and words of appreciation.
For brevity's sake, only opinions, ideas, and requests have been included in this summary.
For some questions, multiple answers were allowed and thus the percentages add up to over 100%.
The library committee will research the possibility of putting the library online.
The membership committee will research the possibility of putting the membership online and how to make
the website more friendly to new members and members new to different fiber disciplines.
Our historian will research the possibility of adding historial information to the website.
The annual sale committee will look at the concern of putting sale financial reports on the website.
Three ad hoc committees will be formed to research the follow areas:
- Member Services -- member blogs; advertisements for member businesses;
advertisements for other fiber-related businesses; list of fiber-related businesses in our area;
classified ad section for members; items for sell by members to public.
- Events Calendar -- non-HGB, fiber-related events calendar
- Social Networking -- some kind of social networking for members
If you would like to be considered for one of these ad hoc committees please contact the
the Guild president.
Please send any further comments, ideas, and concerns to
the web moniter.
Do you use the website to view the online newsletter?
| frequently | 65.77% |
| occasionally | 27.03% |
| never | 7.21% |
Comments
- To me, getting the newsletter on the web is useless. I never read it.
- I enjoy reading the newsletter on paper... keeping for reference.
Online is troublesome for me ... still not using online a whole lot.
How often do you use the website for other information?
| weekly | 5.41% |
| monthly | 25.23% |
| occasionally | 63.06% |
| never | 6.31% |
Which HGB webpages do you use? Check all that apply.
| homepage | 56.60% |
| annual sale | 64.15% |
| community outreach | 7.55% |
| executive board | 1.89% |
| guild newsletter | 67.92% |
| online newsletters | 50.00% |
| meetings | 38.68% |
| programs and workshops | 62.26% |
| study groups | 12.26% |
| member artists | 16.98% |
| guild library | 10.38% |
| equipment rental | 6.60% |
| grant program | 2.83% |
| guilds and events | 27.36% |
| fiber resources | 12.26% |
Comments
- I need to get in the habit of using the website more in order to tell if there is something missing.
I like the ideas suggested above, events, business listing etc.
- I think the website is well done and efficient and I certainly appreciate its utility and ease.
I think we just need more members to get computers - I relay all the info,
print the necessary advice and give it to my non tech fiber member neighbors.
- I find it odd we have financial records of our sale on our website for anyone to view -
they too should be password protected.
I don't know of any other store I could look at records such as this and come to my own conclusions
about their pricing ... this is possible without even seeing the merchandise.
- I will be getting the Beat via email starting in the fall, so my use of the website will increase.
I think that it should be as user-friendly as possible with links.
It should be extremely HGB/fiber-related items only - a different form of the Beat.
- If I only had more time, I would probably love the website.
But, I am so busy, I only get time to check basic/important emails every 7-10 days,
and I almost never surf the web. Yes, I am a techno-dinosaur!
- Dynamic content with photos, so prospective members could be directed there and have something to see.
I look at creative blogs every day and find endless inspiration on the web.
Besides show and tell there is not that feeling for me with the guild.
- More pictures on the home page.
It is so non-visual and eye-boring at the present.
Pictures of projects, close-ups of fiber techniques, these could make it more appealing as well as informational.
- Add some video components showing events that HGB has participated in.
- Any personal information should be protected and restricted to members only.
- Please keep the annual sale showcase gallery.
Are HGB emails announcing upcoming events helpful? Check all that apply.
| yes | 92.59% |
| no | 3.70% |
| too many | 0.93% |
| use more | 12.96% |
Comments
- When you send out the monthly online newsletter announcement,
please add one line about what and who the program is.
That way users do not have to log-in or search out what the upcoming program will be.
One line with the speaker's name and the title of the lecture would work!
- I have enough email that I don't want to be inundated with more announcements, business ideas, causes, etc.
Should the website include a list of HGB member blogs?
| yes | 34.55% |
| no | 11.82% |
| don't care | 53.64% |
Comments
- Including member blogs seems fine if the overhead of maintaining them is acceptable.
- There are an infinite number of types of blogs, and many people combine fiber with non-fiber
things on their blogs; would there be any restrictions?
People very often use their blogs as a promotional/advertising tool
(not just for communication or educational purposes);
if a member's blog is seen as advertising something, would it be allowed?
If the HBG site will have links to members' blogs, will there also be links to members' websites?
Would there be a limit to the number of links (to blogs, websites or other things like twitter or
facebook accounts) that a member can have on the HGB site?
Should the website include advertisements for businesses of HGB members?
| yes | 48.18% |
| no | 8.18% |
| don't care | 43.64% |
Comments
- I think advertising fiber related businesses on the website is a way to generate some income.
Member owned business should pay a lower rate than non-member businesses.
- I think the website should have LINKS for member businesses and advertisers
(charge them a bit more for an advertising package including a link).
- Including member advertisements seems fine if the overhead of maintaining them is acceptable.
Should the website include a list of fiber-related businesses in Boulder County?
| yes | 66.67% |
| no | 8.11% |
| don't care | 25.23% |
Comments
- Including fiber businesses seems fine if the overhead of maintaining them is acceptable.
- I think that fiber-related businesses could be listed with their websites.
That would be a service to our members.
Should an events calendar of non-HGB fiber-related events be included on the website?
| yes | 64.55 |
| no | 10.91% |
| don't care | 24.55% |
Comments
- Including events seems fine if the overhead of maintaining them is acceptable.
- I like the idea of listing non-HGB fiber events but know that this is a huge job to keep up with.
The desire to exchange ideas about current issues and projects within HGB, but outside meetings, has been voiced many times. Which, if any, of these avenues would you like to use to connect with other HGB members?
| Yahoo talk list | 10.38% |
| Ravelry group | 14.15% |
| Weavolution group | 3.77% |
| Facebook group | 14.15% |
| Blog | 3.77% |
| Like idea, which?? | 20.75% |
| Would not use | 33.02% |
Comments
- Having on online space to chat would be nice for the people who want it.
I would rarely use it.
I do not need another reason to spend time online.
- I am using the website from work, I do not have internet access at home.
Work internet has rules, forbidden is facebook and blogging or all related to such activities.
If the HGB site adds these forbidden sites then I will no longer be able to have access to the HGB website,
it would be my job or HBG and we cannot purchase sale items without the job.
So please keep in mind HGB web site additions that will affect work site users.
I know many companies are following the same rules.
Would the person making this comment please contact
the web moniter?
More information would be helpful in understanding this concern.
- With regards to a venue for an exchange of ideas, a Weavolution group would be a close second,
but I'm in favor of any of these options.
- Please don't consider going to 'public' sites like Facebook.
That info is available for anyone to view and USE for ANY PURPOSE.
Check todays NPR news.....
- I'd prefer a google group to a yahoo talk list.
I do not use Ravelry nor weavolution.
I'm not sure how helpful Facebook would be for communication within the guild,
but having a Facebook presence is a good idea.
Should the website include an online member directory?
| yes | 49.54% |
| no | 31.19% |
| don't care | 19.27% |
Comments
- Including the membership online would save on printing the books every year.
- Online member directory would have to be password protected for members only and even
then seems risky in terms of being used for inappropriate purposes.
- If the membership list is put on the website, they should be in the 'members only' section FOR SURE...
- Would consider online directory if it is password protected.
- Member directory should only be accessible to members not to just anyone visiting the site.
- Online member directory would be good, but not available to outside as that is a privacy problem.
Good if password protected and limited to paid up members.
- I would like to stress that an online member directory (i.e. online Yearbook) would be very helpful,
and it could be continuously updated.
- Online member directory needs to be protected so only members can access it.
- The membership list could be just as cumbersome and a job unto itself.
If and when we get that far into the process...it would be great.
- Remember anything that's on the web is in the world: member directory adds us to the cosmos....stop!
- Some members might not want their personal information available to the public.
- I think the inclusion of the directory is good and could cut down on printing.
- I trust the possible online member directory would be password protected for members only?
- It would also be a real bonus to be able to pay membership online.
Should the website include a listing of the library contents?
| yes | 77.06% |
| no | 6.42% |
| don't care | 16.51% |
Comments
- The capacity to request books to be held for pick-up at a specific meeting would be great also.
- Including a library listing seems fine if the overhead of maintaining it is acceptable.
- If the library list is put on the website, it should be in the 'members only' section FOR SURE.
- Library, anything like that, should only be accessible to members not to just anyone visiting the site.
- I would like to stress that an online library would be very helpful, and it could be continuously updated.
- I think it would be nice if the website had a list of the libraries collection, but what a job that would be to get put together, up and running.
Might be a job unto itself.
- I think the inclusion of the library is good, as it is a quick reference to what is available.
- The library contents would be extremely valuable!
Other Comments
New Ideas
- How about a classified ad section for members to list fiber related stuff to sell/swap/give away?
-- again if maintaining it is feasible.
- I've been thinking for some time that it would be interesting, if there was a public interest in our website,
to have an "items for sale by our members" page w/in the HGB site.
It would create revenue for the HGB (commissions) and be a fine way to showcase our art and
sell things throughout the year.
- Items for sale by members to members (even tho' this is in the newsletter).
- I would like to see a group or section for "beginner weavers",
as I find the meetings and newsletters a bit overwhelming with all the
different aspects of fibers, spinning , dyes, clothing, baskets, advanced weaving, etc.
I went to one meeting, left ... never to return.
I rarely look at the website or newsletters just because it does not feel like it pertains to me at all.
Would the person making this comment please contact
the Guild President
to help us understand what services would be helpful for new members and weavers?
- It would also be a real bonus to be able to pay membership and workshops online...
well, if we are dreaming and projecting...
One never knows how far it will go.
- History of HGB with photos would be interesting.
Ideas/Problems that should be fulfilled with the new website
- I have tried logging onto the website, and can only scroll down the home page until the Membership title, and no further.
This is the only internet site I have had this sort of problem with.
Resolution: There was a disagreement between the old webpage and Internet Explorer in how that page
should be displayed.
This should no longer be a problem with the new website.
- A list of what various members do, such as who is in charge of having the year book printed, etc.
Resolution: A list of committee heads and committee members is available on the
About Us Page.
- Change the colors on the home page so you can read the links (I'm sure that's on your list!)
Resolution: The navigation information has been modified to, hopefully, make it more readable.
- Photo gallery of members' works.
Resolution: A members' gallery is available at Member Gallery Page.
Any HGB member can be listed on this page.
- I would like to have members' profile and examples of their work as an additional feature of the website.
This is a way to become more familiar with guild members.
Resolution: A members' gallery is available at Member Gallery Page.
Any HGB member can be listed on this page.
- Is it convenient to make a long story cover two short columns, side by side?
I read something to the bottom of the page then have to scroll to the page top again to see the rest of the story.
If it was a part column, on the left, with the rest of the story right across from it, on the right column,
I could read the whole story without moving the screen.
Resolution: The newsletters are formatted for printing.
The resulting .pdf file is then placed onto the website.
The print format is not necessarily the optimal format for displaying on a computer screen.
If your Adobe Reader viewing window is large, you will have the problem described here.
To solve this, specify a smaller viewing window, such as 75%, and you should be able to see most of the page without scrolling.
The actual percentage that creates the optimal viewing window will vary depending on your computer monitor.
A note has been added to the online newsletter page giving this hint.
Please contact
the web moniter
about these problems
- I still have trouble accessing the online newsletter.
- I haven't gotten any email except for this one and the one saying that the online newsletter is available.