Saratoga Museum speeds up

"This is the landing page and I kept the website simple," Saratoga Museum Director Dana Davis said. "I made it simple purposely because a lot of people will be looking at it from their phone."

To view the new website, Davis has launched it under saratogamuseumwy.com.

Davis designed the site so viewers could quickly learn about the museum and its history on one drop down. The other drop down on the landing page titled more gives information about events, the gift shop, memberships, contact info and has a photo gallery. The pavilion on the museum's grounds can be booked on the website also.

"On the gallery page the photos are current with winter scenes," Davis said. "I will be changing them as the weather changes and more events happen. I was pretty extensive with all the photos so people looking can get a good idea of what the museum offers."

Davis made looking at events easy also.

"You can look at the event and if it appeals to you, hover over the picture and the event's information become available," Davis said. "I have been by people who have looked at website, they like how simple it is to get the information."

She said those who want to attend an event can book online.

"It helps having an idea how many people are attending," Davis said. "For instance the C.J. Box book signing, with people purchasing tickets online early, I have an idea on how many books to have at the event."

She said the website prints out tickets well. Davis has the website set up for not only being able to get a membership online, if a person signs up for a membership online, there is a 10 percent discount.

Davis said the prior website was nice, but the platform expired and she wanted improve its capabilities such as having the gift ship online.

"The old website, you could donate money on, but that was about it," Davis said. "This website offers much more from not only purchasing tickets for events, but for the free events, a person can RSVP."

Davis said it is important to have a good website that easy to navigate.

"For younger people it is especially important because they are more tuned in to things that are featured online than any other media," Davis said. "So if you can get your presence out there, I believe it will help get them to your location."

She said at the recent Governor's Conference for tourism, she learned the average millennials' attention span when going to a website is eight seconds.

"This is why it is important to keep the website to navigate as simple as possible," Davis said. "I appreciate museums that have a lot of information on their website but unfortunately the trend for the younger audience is to look on their phone and get in and out of a website with what they are seeking. They will almost be turned off if they see a lot of information on the landing page. That is what I kept in mind as I designed the website."

Technology is changing and Davis knows although the Saratoga Museum delving into years past, people want to be able to print tickets immediately or have them on their phone so they don't have to wait in line.

"It is about speed and the younger generation especially has this expectation," Davis said."They also want it simple too."

She said having the gift shop online allows people to make purchases during holidays and birthdays without having to drive specifically to the museum for a gift.

"We have an excellent gift ship with all sorts of cool items people many not even know about," Davis said. "Now they can see them and it gives them another place to shop. I mean some don't even know we have a gift shop and we really do have some great stuff."

Davis is glad comments have been positive.

"Of course, my inclination is for people to come and check out the museum in person because they love history and culture," Davis said. "But in this day and age, most people want some sort of info about where they are going first and do so without much trouble and this is what the website aimed to do."