Beaten To The Punch
Friend and colleague Railbird has beaten me to the punch with her current post about NYRA’s Curlin’s Corner.
It’s great to see them trying! Actual marketing coming from NYRA is definitely forward motion of the welcome variety. However, the implementation leaves a lot to be desired. Perhaps this is like their 2yo campaign, they’re all heart but they’re not switching leads and they need a lot more schooling the in the gate.
If I had NYRA in my imaginary internet training barn, here’s what we’d work on…
1. PDFs Are Not Interactive.
The only thing PDFs are really good for are take aways, got something you want someone to print out? That’s when you use a PDF, but things like the nice image of Curlin with the riff on a map (Fan’s Guide to Curlin) would be better suited as a little flash thingie where the user can roll over each area to be shown the the info (you know, interactive).
2. Pop Ups Are Bad.
There’s a reason why every browser comes with pop-up blockers… to block them. People block them because they usually contain annoying, ugly unwanted ads. Content belongs in parent window of the browser… it’s ok to make a mini site with individual sections for pictures, race replays, etc. Not everything has to fit in one page.
3. Embedding Videos - all the kids are doing it.
It’s easier for a user to view all the videos on one page. When you have a list that points to another site, the user has to toggle back and forth between the list and the window with the videos. Make it easy on them, give them one page with all of the videos embedded, it’s not like he’s raced THAT much.
4. Check Your Work!
Not all people viewing your site are using the same browser as you. They don’t all have the same screen resolution either. In an ideal world your site should look roughly the same in every browser/platform combo but at the very least the images shouldn’t be broken in any combination!
If they’re serious about training we think they can improve next out. They act like they wanna run so we’re keeping an eye on them!
Update: NYRA is training forwardly as they’ve addressed their issues in Firefox. Keep up the good work!
Posted by dana on Aug 27 2008
Filed Under: 2008, Industry, Internet, NYRA, Curlin, Marketing, Fans
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Much more constructive. Hey, maybe we should take up web consulting to the racing industry. We offer the sort of experienced handling such enthusiastic, yet unformed, talent could use.
Indeed, I think there could be room in our barn for some trainees!
I have suggested to at least two trainers this summer that they hire you two to make their stables more Internet/public-friendly. What, no takers yet?
No, but thanks!
Count me in.
“maybe we should take up web consulting to the racing industry. We offer the sort of experienced handling such enthusiastic, yet unformed, talent could use.”
Abso-friggin’-lutely. Please make Bread Basket donation after you’re rolling in dough. Will play Blackbird and Free Bird.
I think you should just replace the NTRA.
The Game Railbird Thoroughbred Association. GRTA.
Or Railbird Game…don’t want you two to fight.
I’m with you on all of them, especially #7! Back in the day we had to really work hard to get everything to work on IE3 (despite it possibly being the Worst Browser Ever); is it so hard to just get Firefox, IE, Safari and make sure it works on an iPhone or BlackBerry?
It’s not like in the old days where everything was invisible gifs padding out tables - it’s easy now, so just do it!
seriously, you should be doing these sites for NYRA and the like.
Swifty - natch
E - thx + you know it (bread basket)
winston - ha ha, no thanks!
SF - iwhat? how can I view the interweb with a berry :)
and IE3… shudder.
robert - thx!