The emergence of small nicely fitted mobile websites and smartphone applications have compressed the entire internet’s vast amount of data down into pocket size, so it is available anywhere and any time. All you need is a smartphone and 3G network. And with the growing attention to tablets in mind it is clear that mobile content are here to stay.
As with many other things businesses are the first to move and exploit the new market, leaving volunteer organisations, charities and unions behind trying to figure out how they can join the game.
Well, here is my suggestion.
The online handbook
Besides designing your own application, the classical approach is to create a mobile friendly version of your existing website. And it is definitely not a bad solution, but before we simply copy what businesses are doing we should figure out what our particular community needs “here and now” with the portable device in hand. And maybe the solution is far easier, way cheaper and much more on the spot.
With the portable device in mind, ask yourself if your community really needs the heavy graphics, the complete menu structure and the entire article archive, more than a fast and simple overview of the latest news, contact details, links to social media and a shortcode to Google Maps that brings your visitor to you as fast as possible?
If you prefer the latter the solution is right here. The title is “Spokesman” and it is a free theme for WordPress. You can download it from here and install it on your own installation of WordPress.
Take a closer look at “Spokesman”
Because there is several ways of using the internet and communicating with ones community, Spokesman can be used in three different ways. In short it can work as an independent online handbook containing the relevant materials, basic information and links to here and there. So next year instead of printing your handbook, use Spokesman and share the link in your circles.
Spokesman can also be used as a mobile friendly version of your existing website, either by displaying the full content of your website or by showing some basic information such as a short introduction to your work and contact details.
If you want to test Spokesman feel free to visit spokesman.greenbrook.dk and minimize your browser, or you can visit greenbrook.dk from your smartphone or tablet.
Alternatively you can go through these screenshots:
Homepage
Blogpost
Widget
Video
Image
RSS feed
The installation of Spokesman is very simple and only requires an installation of WordPress to get started. When activated, you will find an introduction in the dashboard of WordPress.
Download “Spokesman” for free
If you decide to use “Spokesman” I would like to hear what you think! Or if you would like me to install this or something similar for you, you are welcome to contact me as well.