Three Things to Consider Before Building a Website for Your Mining Company
Websites are an important tool for all businesses, large and small. In today’s techno-savvy world, just any old website will not suffice; especially for a mining company.
Many mining and related companies have outdated websites (i.e., 3+ years old), while others still do not have a website at all. Perhaps those who don’t have a website think of it as unnecessary, or a strategic way to hide from their community, or management has never got around to building a site because of time, energy, skills and/or cost needed to take on the project.
Written by Alyssa Burley
Websites are an important tool for all businesses, large and small. In today’s techno-savvy world, just any old website will not suffice; especially for a mining company.
Many mining and related companies have outdated websites (i.e., 3+ years old), while others still do not have a website at all. Perhaps those who don’t have a website think of it as unnecessary, or a strategic way to hide from their community, or management has never got around to building a site because of time, energy, skills and/or cost needed to take on the project.
Whatever the case may be, it’s time to evaluate your company’s website, or lack thereof, and turn it into a rock solid marketing tool.
Here are three things to consider when building your company website:
#1 Responsive Design
The number 1, top of the list, requirement for a mining website is it MUST be built with a responsive design. Period. A responsive (also known as adaptive) website changes appearance based on the device’s screen size. The content shifts, adjusts and scales automatically to ensure the content displays properly on the screen.
Let’s take a moment to consider how visitors may be accessing your mining website and from where. Many of your visitors are not sitting behind a desk starring at a computer screen; they may be out in the field using a mobile device.
According to "The State of Mobile Web US 2015" whitepaper by SimilarWeb.com, nearly 53% of internet traffic reported for the "Business and Industry" category was from smart phones and tablets, not desktop computers. So, why would you want a website that was designed just for desktop users? You wouldn't.
Large companies sometimes develop a separate mobile website (often indicated by an ‘m’ before the URL; m.yourcompany.com) used by mobile devices. A mobile site is a separate website from a traditional website that must be built and maintained at an additional cost. Instead of building a separate mobile website, mining companies should seriously consider one responsive website that adjusts to fit the viewing device.
According to an article published by Atilus in December 2015, “since the responsive movement/standard is still fairly new, many websites that are 2+ years old probably aren’t responsive and may need a redesign or retooling to work.”
Is your website responsive? Let’s find out. From your smart phone or tablet, enter your company website URL in the internet browser. If you don’t have a website, use www.EnviroMINEinc.com.
You may notice how the images and text fill the screen and are readable. And, the navigation bar shrinks to three horizontal bars in an upper corner. These are hallmarks of a responsive website. If you didn’t see those things, compare the version on your mobile device to the one you see on your computer or laptop screen. Are they slightly different or completely the same? If they look the same, it’s probably time to redesign your website to be responsive.
The EnviroMINEinc.com website is built on a responsive platform. The desktop, tablet and smart phone displays look different based on the device’s screen size.
The EnviroMINEinc.com website displayed on a desktop, tablet and smart phone screen using a responsive website design.
The EnviroMINEinc.com website displayed on a desktop, tablet and smart phone screen using a responsive website design.
Before the dawn of responsive web design, traditional web pages viewed on mobile devices merely shrank the content to fit the screen. This resulted in very small text and images. The only way to read the content was to zoom in, a lot.
Take a look at the old EnviroMINEinc.com website developed on a non-responsive platform, shown below. You’ll notice the desktop version fits the screen, since it was designed in the early 2000s for a desktop computer or laptop. However, when viewed on a tablet or smart phone, the content is so small it cannot be read without zooming in, considerably. This type of platform is no longer acceptable for mobile devices.
The old EnviroMINEinc.com website displayed on a desktop, tablet and smart phone screen using non-responsive website design.
The old EnviroMINEinc.com website displayed on a desktop, tablet
and smart phone screen using non-responsive website design.
Consider a website redesign using a responsive platform to ensure all your visitors can view your website content with ease.
#2 Quality Content
High quality content is the key to attracting and keeping website visitors. Search engines look at the content within your website. So, make sure your text and image descriptions utilize commonly used industry keywords! Keywords are the terms people type into a search engine. It also doesn’t hurt to use variations throughout your content to help search engines identify and rank your website.
Explain what you do in laymen terms. Your online audience may be a client, neighbor, public official, 6th-grade student researching reclamation, or someone looking for a career. This is your chance to speak directly to your customers and community members. Explain what your company does, why you do it and how it benefits the community. Think about including how you provide the community with well-paying jobs and the materials used to build a safe and functional infrastructure to ensure your community’s quality of life.
When developing the content for your mining website, consider:
- Who you are as a company;
- Your audience;
- Products or services you provide;
- Problems you solve; and
- How to be contacted.
#3 Website Maintenance
As a website publisher, you will need to determine the best way to manage and maintain your website based on the type of content you wish to publish, experience level, and budget.
There are two types of content on a website: static and dynamic. Static content doesn’t change very often like the "About" page and contact information. Dynamic content changes on a regular basis and can be incorporated from social media feeds (e.g. facebook, twitter, instagram, etc.), blog posts, newsletters and videos, where companies highlight their new products/services and community involvement.
A web designer experienced in the mining industry can help you determine what type of content is best for your business or project website. For the mining industry, a mixture, heavy in static content, with some dynamic content sprinkled in seems to work best for a company on a modest budget. For example, a project specific website may include static information like a project description, maps, visual simulations, and general information about your company. You may also include some dynamic content like blog posts with video and articles about community events. Dynamic content encourages visitors to repeatedly come back to your website.
Knowing your experience level is also a factor when determining who and how your website will be maintained. If you are not comfortable physically updating the site, hire an expert! In the long run, it will save you time and money while ensuring a professional result.
Be upfront about your budget and realistic about your abilities.
There are thousands of website designers and developers who build beautifully crafted websites, but there are not many that specialize in websites specifically designed for companies in the mining industry. EnviroMINE has a public relations and community outreach staff who have built company and project specific websites that are engaging and professional.
Contact Crystal Howard at (619) 284-8515 or crystal@enviromineinc.com for more information.
Alyssa Burley is the Community Outreach and Marketing Manager at EnviroMINE, Inc.
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What Trump's Proposed Wall Means for the Construction Aggregates Industry
With the presidential election campaign season is in full swing, the experts at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. decided to publish a report analyzing the economic benefactors of the Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump’s proposed border wall between the United States and Mexico.
The report estimates, Mexico’s Cemex SAB will benefit the most from the project as well as Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua SAB, for which Cemex SAB owns a stake. Other companies who stand to benefit include Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., Vulcan Materials, Co., and CalPortland, Co.
Written by Alyssa Burley.
Source: Google Maps, Company data, Bernstein analysis
Source: Google Maps, Company data, Bernstein analysis
With the presidential election campaign season is in full swing, the experts at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. decided to publish a report analyzing the economic benefactors of the Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump’s proposed border wall between the United States and Mexico.
The report estimates, Mexico’s Cemex SAB will benefit the most from the project as well as Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua SAB, for which Cemex SAB owns a stake. Other companies who stand to benefit include Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., Vulcan Materials, Co., and CalPortland, Co.
Barrier Wall Separating Israel from the West Bank. By Zero0000, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=201840
Barrier Wall Separating Israel from the West Bank. By Zero0000, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=201840
According to the report, the project would cost more than $15 billion for a 1,000-mile long, 10-inch wide, 40-foot high (plus 7-foot underground) wall spanning the U.S.-Mexico border. The proposed wall would likely be similar in design to the wall separating Israel from the West Bank.
In comparison to other notable walls, the proposed U.S.-Mexico wall would be about 1/5 the length of the main portion of the Great Wall of China built by the Ming Dynasty.
How much material would an American Great Wall require? It would take about 7 million cubic meters (9.1 million cubic yards) of concrete.
To put the volume of concrete in perspective, a concrete mixer truck can carry around 10 cubic yards of concrete. This project would require roughly 910,000 truckloads of concrete with an estimated cost of $700 million for the concrete alone.
The report also includes necessary ancillary construction projects like building roads so the crews can access construction sites through desert and mountain areas, which contributes to the $15 billion price tag.
“Despite arguments concerning which government will pay for construction, the large quantities of materials required may necessitate procurement from both sides of the border,” writes Phil Roseberg, lead researcher for the Bernstein report.
If Trump’s wall is built, the aggregates industry along the southern U.S. border with Mexico will see a sharp increase in demand, and thus the price of construction aggregates will soar. Assuming the planning and land acquisition for the project takes about two years, “the impact on demand for materials would occur from 2018 at the earliest,” according to the report.
While many regions like Southern California are already facing construction aggregates shortages due to a lack of permitted resource and a continuing reduction in resource availability, come this November, the industry will know if they will need to prepare for a massive spike in demand in the coming years.
According to the California Geological Survey’s 2012 “Aggregate Sustainability in California” study, San Diego County only has 16% of the estimated 50-year demand of permitted construction aggregates needed. Adding an additional large scale project to the region will put even more pressure on the local aggregates supply.
Where the materials will come from is still up in the air as counties like San Diego are already struggling with a construction aggregates shortage.
Alyssa Burley is the Community Outreach and Marketing Manager at EnviroMINE, Inc.
Project Cornerstone Forms to Educate Community about the Importance of Construction Aggregates Industry
SAN DIEGO, CA – At a meeting on March 25, 2014, a group of local San Diego construction aggregate producers decided to form Project Cornerstone, Inc. The organization is intended to be a grassroots effort dedicated to educating the public about the importance of local construction aggregates (i.e., sand, gravel and crushed stone).
“The construction aggregate providers of San Diego are happy to announce the formation of Project Cornerstone, a grass roots effort focused on educating the public on the importance of having a sustainable local supply of these resources,” said Crystal Howard, Executive Director for Project Cornerstone. “Construction aggregates are the cornerstone of our communities and we are excited to provide a program that will illustrate how these materials are used in our everyday lives."
SAN DIEGO, CA – At a meeting on March 25, 2014, a group of local San Diego construction aggregate producers decided to form Project Cornerstone, Inc. The organization is intended to be a grassroots effort dedicated to educating the public about the importance of local construction aggregates (i.e., sand, gravel and crushed stone).
“The construction aggregate providers of San Diego are happy to announce the formation of Project Cornerstone, a grass roots effort focused on educating the public on the importance of having a sustainable local supply of these resources,” said Crystal Howard, Executive Director for Project Cornerstone. “Construction aggregates are the cornerstone of our communities and we are excited to provide a program that will illustrate how these materials are used in our everyday lives."
Local aggregate production sites are dwindling. As the supply of permitted aggregates declines in San Diego, imports from locations outside of the County are increasing. The result is higher material costs and increased truck traffic.
Aggregate is the essential raw material in all public works projects, including mass transit, renewable energy, schools, flood control channels, roads, hospitals and all other infrastructure vital to communities. Project Cornerstone promotes the use of local aggregate supplies, which results in lower costs and a decrease in truck traffic.
Because construction aggregates are essential to building and maintaining communities, Project Cornerstone strives to:
inform the public that using locally sourced minerals have environmental and economic benefits;
demonstrate how construction aggregate is produced and where it is used in our everyday lives;
promote the use of local resources to satisfy projected demand; and
endorse the conservation of classified and designated mineral resources for future development.
“The local construction aggregate producers have established Project Cornerstone to enhance the public’s understanding of the importance of producing construction material from local sources,” said Jon Cloud, Hester’s Granite Company. “It is important that we all understand that construction aggregate is the cornerstone of our communities. Every civilized society has at least five things: 1) schools, 2) hospitals, 3) public facilities (including water and sewer systems), 4) transportation systems and 5) the construction materials to build the first four. To maintain the quality of life for our County, we need to ensure we have a sustainable supply of construction aggregate materials.”
Project Cornerstone strives to reach the public by providing compelling educational materials, offering classroom activities and school field trips to local mining sites, as well as conducting presentations for local groups and organizations. The goal is to provide the public with accurate information so they can understand the importance of producing aggregate from local sources and, as a result, foster support for the local mining industry.
About Project Cornerstone
Founded in 2014 by members of the construction aggregates industry, Project Cornerstone is a grassroots organization whose mission is to educate local community members, public agencies and policy makers that mineral resources are the cornerstone of our communities. The organization offers field trips to local mining operations, in-class activities for San Diego County students, and group presentation for planning agencies, service clubs and policy makers.
Media Contact:
Alyssa Burley, Director of Marketing and Community Outreach
Alyssa@Project-Cornerstone.org
(619) 284-8515
Advancements in Paperless Lending
Advancements in paperless lending software are shaping the way lenders do business in 2012. Many lenders have discovered managing their loan files electronically offers significant advantages over the old paper file method.
Utilizing a paperless lending system saves time and money. Quite simply, having all documents in an electronic format and accessible in one place eliminates wasted time spent looking for a physical document. Lenders also see a savings in their paper and printer ink costs because employees do not need to print or copy documents like they did previously. In the ProLender System, users can generate a Loan Approval and make it accessible both internally and online without printing a single page.
Advancements in paperless lending software are shaping the way lenders do business in 2012. Many lenders have discovered managing their loan files electronically offers significant advantages over the old paper file method.
Utilizing a paperless lending system saves time and money. Quite simply, having all documents in an electronic format and accessible in one place eliminates wasted time spent looking for a physical document. Lenders also see a savings in their paper and printer ink costs because employees do not need to print or copy documents like they did previously. In the ProLender System, users can generate a Loan Approval and make it accessible both internally and online without printing a single page.
Receiving documents is simplified with paperless lending software. Uploading a digital version of borrower documents ensures the processor and underwriter have access to important information as soon as it is submitted. There is no need for brokers or loan officers to email or mail documents anymore. In the ProLender System, individual document image files are uploaded via the web and automatically linked to the appropriate conditions on the loan. This allows the underwriter to quickly review and sign off a condition shortly after the document is uploaded into the system. Underwriters no longer have to rely on having a physical loan file in their hands to review documents. They can easily click a button on the condition screen and view the document at any time.
“Document accessibility is highly important for an efficient workflow” said Kevin Roczey, President of ProLender Solutions, Inc. In 2009, ProLender Solutions launched its integrated Electronic Document Management (EDM) feature known as ImageCenter.
The ImageCenter portion of the ProLender System is completely integrated, meaning all loan documents are linked to the specific loan and are accessible internally and online. When the broker or loan officer uploads a document to satisfy a condition, it is time and date-stamped automatically. So, the broker or loan officer can see the document has been submitted, reviewed and signed off in real-time. Brokers and loan officers can see what is happening on a loan without having to wait for the underwriter to send an updated Loan Approval.
Paperless lending software streamlines the lending process, including the Post-Closing function. Since all loan related documents are digitally archived within the system, shippers only need to select the pre-defined package they want to send to the investor. They no longer have to manually pull documents out of a physical file, package and ship them out. Paperless lending software can automatically parse the correct documents that need to be sent. This ensures shippers send all the required documents to the investor.
Lenders looking to better manage their back-office, provide better service and simplify their document management should consider a paperless lending system. ProLender Solutions develops software used by mortgage lenders to manage back-office functions like underwriting, secondary marketing, closing, post-closing and loan-level accounting while integrating a paperless loan file.
ProLender users enjoy an interface with IDS for Disclosures and Closing Documents. To learn more about the ProLender – IDS integration, watch a short video at http://www.prolender.com/innovations/Videos.aspx?Data=iSy3F3AHeqE=&utm_source=IDS%2BBlog&utm_medium=Blog%2BPost&utm_campaign=IDS%2BIntegration%2B2012 . Contact the ProLender sales department at sales@prolender.com or (619) 258-3595 for a live online demonstration.