Extendable Architecture
 The EmpowerTM system uses a modular architecture. This architecture allows any sort of functionality to be added to an Empower-based web site quickly and easily. Many modules of functionality are already built into the Empower system and more are added each month. Current modules include (but are not limited to):
- Announcements
- Banner advertising
- Blog
- Contact list
- Content rotator
- Discussion board/forum
- Document library
- Event calendar
- FAQ
- Guestbook
- Links list
- Maps
- RSS newsfeeds
- Video and audio player
- Form creator
- Photo album
- Survey
- And many more!
All of the standard modules are available to every client using the Empower system at no additional charge. We also offer specialized modules, such as an ecommerce storefront, for a nominal monthly fee. In addition, if you need to do something with your site that Empower does not currently support, we will write a custom module for you.
Benefit
You can be assured that your Empower site will grow as you do. There will never be a situation that forces you to switch to another vendor in order to add a particular function to your web site. Because we are constantly adding new modules of functionality, you always have the latest options available for your site. In addition, we can likely integrate your custom web application directly with your Empower web site.
Completely Flexible Graphic Design
 Traditionally, most “content managed” sites look the same. They all seem to share a common “template” or structure, with client-specific images added for effect. This is no longer the case with the Empower system. We can create a completely custom design for your site that reinforces your organization’s mission, vision, and values. Your site can contain any design or navigation elements available on the web today.
You may also choose to have different designs for each section of your site. You can use this method to visually separate various sections of your site based on the target audience or type of content.
Benefit
Your site will portray your organization’s character. No other site on the web will look like yours. The design of your site can be modified in any way should your requirements change in the future.
Open Membership Services
 Visitors can register to become members or registered users of Empower web sites. Once a visitor is registered, they can be granted access to particular pages of the site. It is even possible to charge a subscription fee for registration. This single membership is shared across all modules, including the discussion board and ecommerce modules, so your users will only need to sign in once to access all of your services. You can also send bulk email messages to registered users.
Empower’s membership services can also be integrated with your existing directory provider. If you have a Microsoft Active Directory or LDAP system in place the Empower system can be configured to pull user information directly from these systems.
Benefit
The goal of many modern web sites is community-building. The Empower system supports this at its very core through membership services. This also allows your site to serve many different purposes: providing secure information to employees, managing transactions with customers and constituents, providing a communications structure for users of your site, etc. Also, because Empower can be integrated with your existing directory system, user information can be maintained in the same central location.
Accessibility
 The Empower system meets or exceeds the U.S. Section 508 guidelines (see http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm) and the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (see http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT) for access to web sites by visitors with disabilities. In addition, we guarantee that browsers with a market share greater than 3% will be fully supported by your site.
Benefit
Your site will be usable by all visitors, including those with non-standard browsers and screen readers. Also, our cross-browser testing confirms that your site will look as intended in nearly every browser in use today. This allows your message to come across clearly and accurately for all users.
User Experience Monitoring
 Spence Hackney Design monitors every Empower site to ensure that the site is functioning correctly and is delivering the correct content to web site visitors. Should there be a problem with your site, Spence Hackney Design will proactively correct the issue with little or no intervention on your part.
Benefit
In today’s environment, even minimal web site down time can have a costly effect. Our monitoring services can help minimize the damages caused by technical failures or unauthorized modification of your site.
Usage Reporting
 Empower provides extensive reporting of how users are interacting with your web site. Not only can you see historical information about the pages of your site that users have visited, but you can also see how users are interacting with your site at the present time.
Benefit
This detailed reporting information provides you with the data you need about your users to make the best possible strategic decisions concerning content placement and site features. These analytic services can also be integrated with your marketing campaigns enabling you to gauge the effectiveness of various marketing channels.
 Localization
Empower includes a multi-language localization feature which allows administrators to easily translate their projects and portals into any language.
Benefit
It is easy to make your site available to a wide-range of people groups that speak disparate languages.
Integrated Search
 Search functionality is built directly into the Empower core. This search functionality not only allows searching of content created in the Empower system, but it can also be extended to index content from other sources.
Benefit
This integrated search feature allows robust searching of all content without any additional software. In addition, because other sources can be integrated into the system, all search functionalities can be integrated into one standard interface. |