International Longshore and Warehouse Union
www.ilwu.org
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) partnered with Beaconfire
to redesign its public Web site and implement a new content management system
(CMS). ILWU sought to improve its ability not only to enhance public-facing
communications but also to use the site as a business tool for efficient communications
with and among their members. Beaconfire’s solution was a site redesign
that is easier to navigate and presents a much improved view of the union. The
solution includes a new CMS that allows the union’s non-technical staff
to maintain content on their own.
The Challenge
ILWU faced the common challenge of serving diverse audiences.
It needed a solution that enabled unions to share information with key constituencies,
provided timely union-relevant information to news agencies and potential members,
and stimulated mobilization and activism among members and union supporters.
They also needed tools to improve and simplify site content creation and posting.
The Solution
ILWU engaged Beaconfire to completely redesign its Web site and conduct an objective
evaluation of content management systems. Beaconfire carried out an informal
software evaluation to select a CMS for the new site. This preliminary step
identified options for content management solutions that were suited to ILWU’s
functional, timeline, and budgetary needs.
Based
on the evaluation, PaperThin's CommonSpot was selected as ILWU’s CMS.
CommonSpot allows ILWU staff to publish content simply and efficiently. They
are able to easily create forms and entire content areas; they can schedule
new content uploads and retire old content from the site. By using the AFL-CIO's
Working Families Network implementation of GetActive, ILWU was able to integrate
robust email marketing and fundraising tools with minimal budgetary impact.
Beaconfire also developed a leadership directory and calendar function that
is integrated with the CommonSpot platform.
The new site design provides a much improved navigational structure,
with greater focus on the ILWU’s brand, mission, and priorities.
Beaconfire implemented, configured, and integrated several technologies and
vendors. These included PaperThin’s CommonSpot (for content management),
GetActive (for email communications and fundraising, custom development for
the calendar, and leadership directory), and NI Solutions (for hosting of the
site and applications). ILWU’s plans for the next phase of the site include
multi-language support, integration between offline and online publishing systems,
expanded site reporting, and syndication of “national” content to
local sites.
The result is a toolset with which ILWU can grow and a redesigned site that is a more engaging, usable, and effective in furthering ILWU’s focus and mission. Check out ILWU’s new site at