The Iola Register’s website has undergone a facelift and readers are being given a chance to access the site for free until the end of August.
“We tried to make the new design look more like a newspaper,” said Paul Sombke, the Register’s pagination, web and graphics designer.
The website went live July 2.
The Register had not received complaints about the old website but felt the content was limited. The website “looked dated and one-dimensional,” Sombke said. “The site was in much need of a new look.”
Some of the changes made were individual columns, a series of multiple photos and stories can been seen on the home page, drop down lists can now be used as well as a search tool.
In addition to the new look, users can now use social networking sites through the Register’s home page.
Without having a Twitter account someone can follow the Twitter feed. People can “like” the Register’s Facebook page from the website and post comments from their Facebook account.
The site is all-browser friendly and can be accessed through the mobile site on Smartphones and tablets.
What iPad users thought was a snafu in the program is being currently remedied by users going to the online edition site and clicking on “Looking for past issues?,” which will immediately take them to the online edition.
The reason for the problem is that iPads are not equipped with the Flash Player program, Sombke said. This will be remedied by the Register making it easier for iPad users to navigate to the online edition site.
“It should be up and going by next week,” he said.
Prior to the new website going live the website was getting on average 4,000 hits per week. Now, the website’s hits have more than doubled. One week after the site went live it received 9,562 hits.
“If we continue to keep our website updated then the number of hits should only improve,” Sombke said.
Once the free trial period is over, people will be able to purchase unlimited access to the website for $10 a month.
For more information visit the website at www.iolaregister.com or call (620) 365-2111.
