http://www.tccm.org

Description:
My company's website is http://www.tccm.org. We are a non-profit organization. We have several products/services for our members and each of them have their own site. You can get to all the products' site thru http://www.tccm.org.

Questions:
1. I like to get your opinion on my company's site architecture. So far, 3 of the products have their own site, and 2 of the other products are residing under one products site. What is the best way to organize an organization like this? Should the product have a separate site or should them all be under www.tccm.org?

2. Branding. Most of my colleagues believe that all of the product sites should have the same look and feel (if not similar). Personally, I believe it is ok to have different look and feel for the product sites. Especially when our different products tend to attract different type of audience. Is it really THAT important to all look the same. I believe as long as there's something that links all of the product together, branding is done successfully. In my company's case, the logo is what tide them all together. And I think it is suffice.

Your opinion is greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

sincerely,

Sili

well... first, you should really think about not opening those links in new windows... if I'm browsing your site and want to read everything, I really don't want 5 windows open...
also, make it clear somehow (an "Our Products" title or something over those links) that those links are to different sites... yes, but the same authors, but people want to know when they're going to a different site...

If you do that, then branding won't be such a big deal, because people know that it's a different site, which they would expect to look different...

But if you can get them all on the same site, that's best... but then, if you do that, then make all the pages look the same... the looks aren't that much different though, just different colours... so making them all the same isn't that big a deal...

that's all I've got.

I think it looks great, but I agree about opening new browser windows. If you're worried that someone won't get back to your site, you could place an unobtrusive navbar along the top of each site, like return to Christian Care, Medi-Share, Sure-Care, etc.

Thanks guys! I'll put a note on the poping windows. And that nav bar idea is nice too! I'll definitely consider that.

How about, does these product sites give you the impression that they all have the same "mother" company? Because this is one of the main concern of my colleagues. Which I think it's not important at all. Not that it's not important. But people can always find out themselves, say, by going to "About Us" type of area. And I think, if they find it out themsleves, instead of us shouting out loud to them, they'll appreciate more. Like they'll find the company more creditable because they don't only have Medi-Share, they have Sure-Care too! etc.

This is what I think, am I totally off? Or am I just the new generation type of marketer? Cause seems like 99% of my colleagues don't get my point of view.

This is true, but it really doesn't matter how they find out. You're analyzing way too much. Whether they find out on their own, or they are told, they won't think any differently of the company. Why would they?

From a design and business perspective, it's in your interests to make sure they know all of your products. You don't want customers telling themselves, "Oh if I only knew before I would have come to you instead!"

Your basic message to clients should be "This is everything we have to offer. One of our products can help you."

I think the site is very impressive and nice organized.

I like the colors and the banner. Very nicely done.

I don't think I'm the only one who does this, but I frequently view 2 IE windows side-by-side on my 21" LCD (1600x1200). This means it is nice to have all websites set at 790 pixels wide or so because then they wouldn't have an unnecessary horizontal scroll. 790 also loogs good in single windows and in monitors with less resolution.

I think you have your set at 800 or so, and there is a small horizontal scroll needed to see your "Contact Us" Link.

Not a big issue, but I just want to be helpful

Good job.

Wow... I like this website alot.. It looks sooo good. Just enough information, not cluttered.

The drop down menu is a great effect. And the hover changing the feature picture is really good to.. So good infact that i think I will be using that idea on future implementations of my own website.

For me opening a new browser window isn't too much of an issue.

Grats on a great site.

Matt