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Site Objectives
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OSBDCN is a network of 19 Oregon-based Small Business Development Centers (then called SBDCs). Their clients were unclear about the SBDC mission, and services offered. Many didn't know what to call the network. OSBDCN was not perceived, or run as a unified organization (each Center maintained their own website; each with a different look and feel). Management was concerned that they had a somewhat stodgy reputation with funding sources.
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Accomplishments |
New Name, New Reputation.
After interviewing
OSBDCN staff and clients, we
carefully created an
easy-to-remember new name for the
organization: BizCenter. We
developed a snazzy new logo, and
corporate identity program—
complete with logo-emblazoned
signage, hats, stickers, and mugs.
Network Identity.
A major design goal was to position
the organization as a network of
BizCenters, rather than a disparate
group of business counseling
offices. So we created a state wide
BizCenter.com site, containing
information common to all Oregon
BizCenters. Each local BizCenter
has their own 'subsite' featuring
content of local interest.
Easy Maintenance.
BizCenter.com contains a great deal
of content which changes
frequently— such as workshop
schedules, press releases, news
clippings, and self-help articles
and links. To make maintenance
easy, we built database-driven
webpages to display this content
online. We also built a "back room"
where individual BizCenters can
communicate with each other, and
staff can easily update this
ever-changing content (no technical
experience necessary).
Synergy and Cooperation.
Costs and duplication of
effort were dramatically reduced by
posting all common information to
the state wide BizCenter.org
website. BizCenters began working
together not only to produce this
content, but to produce workshop
curriculum and training materials.
BizCenter became a network in
practice as well as name.
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Services Rendered |
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Consulting: helped define project
Name, Logo, Corporate identity
Website design, construction, illustration
Database-driven workshop schedule, and bookstore
Email-based discussion groups with searchable web-based archives
Web hosting and monthly maintenance services
Trained entire network to use/leverage the site
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Results
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BizCenter is now known as a state wide network
BizCenters now regularly communicate and collaborate
Workshop attendance is up
Funding sources now perceive BizCenter as vital, and progressive (and have increased their budget)
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