- A weblog by InetSolution
2002 Credit Union Website Usability Issue Nine - Insufficient Web site Maintenance
By Donovan Myers
Posted on Jan 13, 2003
Something as simple as a link to a missing page can tarnish the credibility of a credit union web site. When links are broken or pages are no longer available, a reputation is at stake and business may go elsewhere. From intermittent outages by third party service providers like home banking, to loan application forms that don’t submit properly, credit unions are quick to point a finger at their service provider. In the end, it’s the member that loses faith in the on-line system. Credit unions need to be as mindful of their web site appearance as they are a clean, bright lobby. Housekeeping applies to all representations of the credit union.
Never leave your members hanging looking for information on your site.
The Fix: Very few web sites can earn any type of return without proper maintenance. Many credit union web sites have ventured far beyond the “no maintenance” stage, and require constant upkeep. Connections between your web site and home banking service providers are tenuous by nature. Software patches, upgrades and shifting IP addresses require constant diligence. Web servers need frequent upgrades and patches to remain connected to mail servers and databases. It is imperative that on a monthly basis you perform routine checkups on your web site, especially looking for dead links, broken forms, incorrect contact information our outdated product descriptions. Often, it is more effective to outsource these activities to a professional firm with the tools and expertise to perform these tasks.
