BalsallCom.Com – the story behind the Balsall Common and Berkswell website
2003: Balsall Common – what no website?
In November 2003, three Balsall Common residents got together to discuss how to create a community website to serve the local area. The lack of a central online information and news source seemed to be an issue at the time so the three of us (Craig Burgess, Neil Cooke and Paul Tasker) set about creating a solution.
Craigy B
The first thing we needed to do was sit down on the floor at Neil’s house. Then, once we’d pulled off this herculean feat, we set about thinking about how to create something better than other community-based websites we could find at the time. Most such sites seemed to lack a community feel about them, which seemed to miss the point somewhat. Doh!
Six months later, the planning and design was more or less done and we launched BalsallCom.Com, Balsall Common’s first dedicated online news and information site. Here was a website where visitors could submit links, contribute stories and discuss local issues, all stuff we tend to take for granted today. In 2004 – the days before Facebook and Twitter – this was somewhat ahead of its’ time. It was a similar achievement probably to something quite epic, like the invention of electricity. Well alright maybe it wasn’t that epic but we’d definitely done something a little bit clever, like escaping from a cardboard box for example.
Neil
BalsallCom.Com – established 2004
The official launch date for BalsallCom.Com was 1st May 2004. It was the beginning of a journey.
The website enjoyed some early success before the advancement of new technologies left it looking all wrinkly and dated. Eventually we decided we needed to overhaul our approach and in 2008 work began on figuring this out.
What we hadn’t reckoned upon was how long this would take …
Because what followed was 2 years work exploring what a community website should be, talking to residents and public figures, and figuring how to fit everything together with the advancements in mobile and social technology, particularly the emergence of smart phones and escalating prominence of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.
BalsallCom.Com – the 2010 overhaul
From June-August 2010 the physical work to overhaul BalsallCom.Com project was undertaken to create a brand new incarnation.
The changes were a huge success and saw the site’s traffic grow to 20,000 page reads per month from a range between 2500-3500 unique visitors, including growing numbers viewing the site from their smart phones and iPads whilst on the move.
2013 and another new look
The speed at which technology has been changing meant it wasn’t long before we needed to review our approach again and in early 2013 we delivered further website changes, in an effort to keep up with ongoing changes in the number of devices that people use to visit the site and generally keep the site relevant and up to date.
Community ethos – the one true constant
The one thing we’ve remained committed to throughout all the changes is a desire to maintain a community focus with what we do. In that regard we always welcome feedback, criticism and ideas which we can use to improve what we’re dong and help us deliver on this commitment. Please email your comments to
admin@balsallcom.com
The aims of BalsallCom.Com:
- Raise awareness of what’s going on in and around the villages of Balsall Common, Berkswell and outlying areas.
- Offer residents a place they can make friends and enjoy friendly discussion. This includes a Balsall Common Facebook page for Facebook fans at: https://www.facebook.com/balsall.common
- Boost community activity and encourage people to get involved with local clubs, societies, sports and events.
- Provide news and information that’s relevant to the people of Balsall Common and Berkswell.
- Help promote local businesses
- Make the site accessible from different media (e.g. PCs; laptops, mobile phones).
- Foster a healthy sense of humour.
Facebook fans are invited to share their suggestions on our dedicated page at: https://www.facebook.com/balsall.common
Anybody wanting to correspond with us more privately can email us at
admin@balsallcom.com
See BalsallCom as it was ..
a twinkle in the eye (2003) …. almost there.. (2004) … up and running (2004) … events (2005) … forums (2007) … video (2008) … TBC
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