 | Fleet Air Arm |
| Fleet Air Arm |
After a two year decrease in website traffic, this year is seeing an increase in the number of people using the website, and the number of pages they are accessing.
Comparisons of the traffic since the website's inception in 2002 is not possible as a change of hosting company in mid-2009 meant a change in the way traffic statistics are recorded, but it is possible to compare Jan-Sept figures for 2010 and 2011.
| Unique visitors | Number of visits | Pages accessed | Hits | |
| 2010 | 16,455 | 24,776 | 64,817 | 195,747 |
| 2011 | 17,154 | 26,410 | 67,390 | 182,299 |
| Percentage change | + 4.49% | +6.59% | +3.96% | - 6.87% |
* 'Hits' = total number of files (text, graphic etc) accessed. A redesign of the website in early 2011 resulted in a simpler design with fewer files on each page. Thus, the total 'hits' has fallen while other categories have risen.
Comments made in earlier annual reports about the Association making little use of the website remain valid. There is virtually no Association news on this Association website. The main announcements are news of Fleet Air Arm development, so users no longer visit the website to learn what is happening within the Association itself. To help keep the website relevant, I recommend both the National Executive and State/Divisions regularly post news of interest to both our membership and outsiders.
For January-September 2011, the majority of users are viewing pages with information about reunions, messages from former ship mates, FAA pictures and - sadly - death notices of former serving personnel.
The transfer of the website in 2009 to a new hosting company has worked well. The two costs to maintain the website are -
(1) The cost of re-registering the domain name www.faaaa.asn.au - this happens every two years with the next charge due in July 2012 - last year the cost was $22.50.
(2) The charge to host the website - this is an annual charge and for 2011 this was $119.40.
No charges are made for the actual publishing of information.
Last year I flagged that it was a good time to appoint a new webmaster, so that fresh ideas and energy can be introduced into managing the website. Two possible candidates considered the role but withdrew. As webmaster for the past 9 years, I will step aside at the end of 2011 so the recruitment of a new person has become urgent. I am very happy to help a new person take on the role. Importantly, without a new webmaster, the website will become a static presence after 1 January 2012.
Harley Dadswell, Webmaster, 10 October 2011.
To read other reports, see Federal Council Annual Meeting page.