Web site designs for financial companies do not have to look boring, static and be full of financial jargon that switches most people off.
That`s the view of Caren Rennie, marketing manager at private client wealth management company, Citadel Investment Services. The company is currently having its Web site (www.citadel.co.za) redesigned by tinderbox, the award winning new media subsidiary of Prism Holdings, the JSE-listed operation focused on secure electronic payment.
"We regard our Web site as key to building and sustaining customer relationships So a visit to the site has to be a pleasurable and enjoyable experience that will make people want to come back," she says.
"Too many financial companies overlook this and forget that there`s a new generation of investor coming on the market. They`ve been weaned on the Internet and have high expectations when they visit a site.
Tinderbox was initially involved in the design and layout of Citadel`s Client Zone, which lets clients access their personal investment portfolio information, personal information and exclusive investment and economic research.
"This service was a first in SA and we had to come up with a novel and effective way of introducing it to Citadel`s customers. Working with tinderbox, we devised an Internet character called `Agent I` to guide clients through the different services available and how to personalise the zone," says Rennie.
Now Citadel`s 5000 clients, 70% of whom have Internet access, can have live portfolio valuations and even get SMS messages sent to them automatically to advise on significant events or portfolio changes.
"It all went very well according to the feedback we`re getting, with clients, even those not used to Web surfing, being able to use the facilities easily," she adds.
The re-designed Citadel Web site, due for re-launch in February, involves making it more user friendly, interesting and easier to navigate.
"A lot of today`s investor community are not necessarily financial wizards and are often not au fait with financial jargon, so we`ve tried to make the site of more general interest to these people, while still giving them valuable information.
"I think the end result is a visually exciting site, packed with relevant information that can be used to market the company to potential as well as existing clients and help ensure that the relationship between client and service provider remains a long one," concludes Rennie.
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