http://www.ipa.co.uk/
The IPA launched its web site on Wednesday and is one of the first UK trade bodies to go onto the Internet. The site contains all the information advertisers need to know and is available on both open-access and member’s only access.
Features on open access include the IPA newsletter, with advertising news and developments; a member’s and contact’s database; a publications database; an ‘Ad Effectiveness’ report facility; marketing appraisals and careers information.
Members of the IPA can additionally find information in the form of bulletins and more specific information regarding media, legal and training matters. A list of diary dates for advertising events in also available.
All the information is relevant and up-to-date, but the most useful features of the site are the interactive sections such as the members database, publications facility and ‘Ad Effectiveness’ database. The members database features a map to select which agencies to search for, or this can alternatively be done via drop-down menus. A list is then accessed with all the agencies in the area, their address, ‘phone number and e-mail/Internet address. Publications relevant to the advertising industry are also listed and after selecting which titles are required completed order forms can be printed from the screen. The ‘Ad Effectiveness’ section is especially helpful: information can be searched for under relevant sections such as product category, author, case study, brand, agency or client. Once the category or name is chosen the relevant lists of data appear.
Another useful feature, on the members section, is the facility to search the IPA’s bulletins for pertinent information. This can be found either by looking at individual bulletins or by typing in terms to be searched for by date or score.
Overall it is a quick and easy site to use with up-to-date and helpful information. It is light on graphics, though attractively presented, and so pages do not take long to download.
The site is designed and hosted by MediaTel.
IPA: 0171 235 7020 http://www.ipa.co.uk/
