[Sigia-l] General access versus members-only sites

[Anders Ramsay]

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 09:28:17 -0800, Anthony Hempell
<anthony.hempell at blastradius.com> wrote:

> Although I haven't started the design process yet, I'm already having
> some concerns about how to divide up the content of the two sites.
> 
> Specifically:
> 
> - how to manage content that would be of use to both sites;
> 
> - strategies and tactics for making the general / member site concept
> clear to users who may be confused which is which;
> 
> - any evidence that this is or isn't a good idea, specifically with the
> additional time involved to create and manage two sites instead of one.

First off, bank sites may be doing this for security reasons, the
members/account holders area is being maintained in a secure
environment, while the non-members environment is just brochureware.

It seems you've come up with a design solution and are now trying to
justify it.  It also seems you are creating unnecessary complexity (as
per your own questions/comments above.) I would ask myself what the
businuess needs and user goals (hopefully one and the same, and
something carefully researched and documented by the time you start
thinking about design solutions) that are driving this need and see if
there is a solution that does not require two separate areas.

-Anders