Election websites - or lack thereof

[Published in The Business Eye, November 2006 - Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce]

The Guelph Mercury of September 30, 2006 had an interesting column about websites of Guelph candidates in the upcoming municipal elections. It was shocking to see how many of these candidates did not have a website at all, or had one that was very hard to find in the search engines. These sites are often far from obvious and effortless; information that voters are looking for is hidden behind poor navigation and cannot be accessed by means of supporting tools like a site map or site search.

These problems of less-effective campaign sites are not new; back in 2003 I reviewed campaign websites of candidates in the Ontario Provincial election [link in new window] and the race for California Governor. The website of elected Governator Schwarzenegger [link in new window](Aaahhnold) was the best of them all, and I am sure that this has won him votes.

I find it hard to understand that some candidates in this day and age do not have a site at all. More and more people rely on the web for their research, news and opinions. So: if you want to be heard, you have to be found. Yes, even in Centre Wellington!

For more information: contact your webmaster, or email Nardo Kuitert at nardo@u-cwebs.com.

Nardo Kuitert is an Internet Consultant with Fergus Website Development and Optimization firm U-C WEBS (www.u-cwebs.com). U-C WEBS also offers Internet advertising opportunities on www.ferguspages.com.

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You can visit U-C WEBS at www.u-cwebs.com (or www.ucwebs.com)[link opens in a new window].