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  ...152 networks ...42,473 member organisations ...182,523 registered users ...  
our clients
Lifecycle of a network
Audience acquistion
Audience retention
Audience participation
Growth & Sustainability

RetentionStart-up
ParticipationGrowth
Click on a number to explore the lifecycle...

What people say about VBN...
"This is groundbreaking stuff. Administrating grant applications is an extraordinarily complex process, particularly where the funds available run into millions of pounds. This unique system enables a simple online registration, eligibility checking and application process enabling us to stay on top of thousands of applications and track their progress through the system.
 
We are also accountable to the EU and the system will allow us to report to them effectively and to track where funds are at any point in time. We will also be able to demonstrate a huge return on investment by massively reducing our administration costs. "
Steve Cargill, Project Officer, Lincolnshire Broadband Team on the Grant Administration System developed by VBN
     
   Audience acquisition    
 


1  Audience acquisition

The issues during this stage
  • be appealing - first impressions are important - focus on the visual appearance
  • be understood - be sure new visitors understand what your website is for
  • be unique - provide something your target audience need and cannot get anywhere else
  • be memorable - if they remember you they are more likely to come back
  • be dynamic - continuously change the content - give the impression you are working feverishly behind the scenes
  • be approachable - make the website have a human face
  • be seen - use every tool and opportunity to drive your audience to your website
  • encourage your audience to come back - or better still get permission to keep them informed
The activities in this stage

This stage of the lifecycle is all down to you! Concentrate on what you can provide for your audience, not on what they might provide for you. New visitors will expect to get something for nothing and are unlikely to register or login for a number of visits.

Design
Use professional website designers to achieve an appealing and memorable first impression. Make the navigation easy to understand and use.

Managing content
Put your editors directly in control of content. Don't require your editorial team to have special technical skills or software or be located in a specific place. Use a content management system that enables the content to change and grow rapidly dragging you down into a maintenance hell. Make content lively and dynamic - use pictures where possible and update the content regularly. Choose your target "return cycle time period" (how often you want you audience to return) and plan your publishing efforts around this time.

Drive your audience to your website
Appear on all the right search engines. Use existing lists or databases to announce your existence by email (always offer the option not be disturbed again). Market your website in anyway you can. In any activity your organisation is undertaking, use the opportunity to drive people to your website.

Evaluate performance
Understand what your audience wants. Ask them for feedback in an easy and non-committal way. Analyse site usage statistics to know what people are clicking on.

Engage your audience in anyway you can
Begin the process of converting anonymous readers into actively engaged members. Allow them to take it one step at a time. Begin with simple polls, then move on to registering for updates (only email required). You are beginning the process of Audience Retention - Step 2 >>. 		 
Reach out to your audience and hope some of them take notice.