Connected!
What's worse? Not having permission to obtain information or having permission but not being able to locate what you need?
In today's world, we're ravenous for information. We expect it to be available (for free), and we demand that it's quick and easy to obtain.
Last month, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International launched free Wi-Fi service at the world's busiest airport. It wasn't cheap, but that didn't deter airport officials. They felt that a lack of free Wi-Fi was putting their airport at a competitive disadvantage. It was, indeed, their number one source of customer complaints. "Wi-Fi is no longer considered an amenity; it is a necessity for today's travelers," said the airport's press release. Kudos to the leadership at Atlanta International for taking action.
Soon after, I was at another airport that also recently began offering free Wi-Fi. While I was happy to have free Wi-Fi, it was a struggle to find it on the airport's website, fill out the form and log on. The "price" of the free Wi-Fi, in terms of the effort needed to get it, just wasn't worth it. I suspect that many time-pressed travelers will simply opt to log on elsewhere.
My point is that free is good, but only to a point. Why invest anything in a product or service if using it is a hassle?
We used the same formula when developing our website, www.airportimprovement.com. On it, profiles of airport projects aren't hidden behind three or four sub-pages; and you don't need to register to see what we have available. All current issue content is there for you on the homepage. You don't need to click to a portal or another site first to link to our content. One click, and it's yours. And any Airport Improvement article ever generated is two clicks away via our search page or by category at the top of the homepage. I know you're busy. We respect your time and don't junk up our website with non-airport
information that doesn't pertain to you and your jobs.
Whether you run an airport or airport publication, it's all the same. Keep your good stuff on the homepage and easy for customers to access.
Cheers!
