The Global Market Development Center (GMDC) has revamped its public facing website at gmdc.org to add more responsive features, modern designs and user-friendly aspects that fully encapsulate the association’s dedication to providing the most advanced technology for members and non-members.
The new GMDC site was officially introduced to GMDC members during the recent 2014 Health Beauty Wellness Marketing Conference in Orlando, Fla., marking GMDC’s 43rd HBW Conference.
Significant enhancements were made to GMDC’s previous website, a website that was recognized in 2008 by receiving a bronze iNOVA Award for best website in the Associations category.
New features include two microsites for GMDC’s annual Health Beauty Wellness and General Merchandise Marketing conferences. These new microsites each display urgent messaging across the top of the page; easy-to-use, four-column navigation bars; slide-out buttons for most frequently asked questions; and the most essential information conference attendees will need. Beyond navigation, each microsite features a Flickr photo gallery displaying photos from the previous year’s conferences—a feature that new members will find especially beneficial, according to GMDC.
“The new website is awesome. It’s so easy to navigate. It was already a good resource tool, but with the new improvements it’s even better as it promotes and enhances our connectivity as members. GMDC has evolved,” said David Lowe, VP of PIC Corp.
In addition to these enhancements, the website’s responsive design now automatically reformats and prioritizes menus and messaging across the entire website on any device, whether browsing via desktop, tablet or smartphone.
“In this fast-paced industry we’re often reliant on staying connected through our mobile devices. I really enjoy the simplicity of the new GMDC website and the responsive design aspect that makes it so simple to quickly search for information on your phone even when you’re on the move. I know users will appreciate this as well,” said H-E-B’s Bill Anderson, GMDC board chairman.
Other features of the new and improved GMDC website include:
• RSS feeds from trade partners and social media feeds;
• A photo gallery on the homepage that pulls from GMDC’s Flickr account;
• Events calendar that displays GMDC*Connect events and upcoming conferences that GMDC will be attending; and
• Content library compiling the latest research available to GMDC members.
While the new website follows a different format, most of the retrievable information that was available on the previous website remains the same, such as conference schedules, downloadable research, GMDC news releases and the member directory.
“The GMDC total experience is about getting the most valuable information, accessing the latest industry research and making the best connections whether you’re at a conference or on our website,” said Dave McConnell, president and CEO of GMDC. “Our new website truly accomplishes this while also encompassing the organization’s atmosphere so that it can be seamlessly shared across channels with potential members and existing ones alike.”
