Last Saturday I had the privilege of touring the interior of
The Historic YMCA here in St. Petersburg. I got to meet Tom Nestor the visionary behind the effort to save this unique local landmark. The ultimate goal is to restore not only the structure, but to restore it's role as a community resource.
You can always spot the visionary in a room. They're the one with stooped shoulders from the weight of all the items on their plate. I wish them the best. I intend to offer my help. It's a beautiful building, an important landmark, an asset to the community.
Although most business websites haven't been around as long The Historic YMCA, many are at a similar crossroads. If your website is showing it's age it may be time to consider an extreme makeover, a gut rehab, or a complete demo and rebuild. Here are some ideas I learned while working as a project manager for the top historic restoration firm in the country, the
Azola Companies.
Extreme Digital Makeover
Revisit the Vision - Most old building, (and websites) are abandoned because their original intended use has changed. Before you choose to tear down your site, identify the gap between where your business started and where you are today. The size of the gap determines the size of the project.
Take Stock of Your Resources - Don't throw anything expecially images or content away until you've had a chance to catalog everything. Perhaps that out-of-date About page just needs an update instead of wholesale makeover.
Build a Brand - With so many digital communication channels available, it's important to build a brand identity you can project across Social, Video, WebSite and Email Marketing.
Build a Movement - The ability to leverage the power of technology is vital to your web presence. Harnessing the power of community is a game changer. Look outside your team and immediate circle. Tap into social networking to power your brands rebirth.
Insight
There's more to a site makeover than applying a new design theme. If you're going to get your hands dirty, do it right, build it to last.
Resources
To learn more about The Historic YMCA project visit
HistoricYMCA.com
To view some truly beautiful historic buildings, visit
AzolaInc.com
My goal is to help small business owners leverage the power of technology to connect with those they serve best. If you are open to a conversation about your web presence, give me a call at 727-278-9382.