New PRSA Houston Web Site Sets Standard for Organizational Communications

HOUSTON, September 28, 2004 – Professional communicators have high standards for their own Web sites, so Schipul – The Web Marketing Company has pushed the envelope in redesigning and repurposing the Web site for the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (www.prsahouston.org).

The new PRSA Houston Web site incorporates numerous new features to make site content more dynamic, improve navigation and enable members to be more interactive. The site is powered by Schipul’s proprietary Tendenci™ membership organization software.

“We set out to lead the way in employing the latest technologies to better connect with members and the rest of the business community, and by enhancing the site’s functionality and appearance, we have achieved that objective,” said Lisa Martin, who chairs PRSA Houston’s Web committee. “The Web has become PRSA Houston’s most important communications tool, so we took great care to listen to what members said they liked and what they thought could be improved.”

PRSA Houston’s Web site has become an information hub for the region’s professional communicators and businesses interested in learning about public relations.

On any given day, job listings on the site’s popular job bank are viewed more than 300 times, more than 100 people click to see the organization’s calendar of events and more than 50 articles are downloaded from the site’s database.

“Tendenci provides up-to-the-second data analysis that enables organizations such as PRSA Houston to gain a more intimate understanding of the interests and needs of their members,” said Ed Schipul, founder and CEO of Schipul – The Web Marketing Company. “By capitalizing on that increased understanding, we are helping PRSA Houston improve member services while increasing the site’s revenue potential.”

PRSA Houston’s new site prominently promotes revenue-generating features, including the job bank, business directory and sponsorship opportunities. It utilizes Tendenci’s content management capabilities, giving PRSA Houston leadership to ability to instantly submit and update information without going through a Webmaster. Additionally, each of the organization’s committees has its own “home page” where information related to their activities and events can be posted while maintaining consistent branding.

For a screen shot relating to this release, please contact Kelly Papinchak at 281-497-6567 Ext. 508 or kpapinchak@schipul.com.

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About PRSA Houston
With more than 460 members, PRSA Houston is one of the nation’s largest and most active chapters of the Public Relations Society of America. Nationally, the Society''s almost 28,000 professional and student members represent business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. More information on PRSA Houston can be located at www.prsahouston.org.

About Schipul – The Web Marketing Company
Schipul – The Web Marketing Company developed and builds on the Tendenci™ relationship marketing application software. Schipul is based in Houston and provides marketing services on the Internet to a variety of service industries in local, national and international markets. Schipul’s clients include the World Health Organization, Clear Channel Exhibits, The Children’s Fund, Wolff Companies and DPK Public Relations. Additional information about Schipul is available at www.schipul.com.