March 2013: MasonrySystems.Org

March 2013

MasonrySystems.Org

MasonrySystems.Org Website Launches

By Imani Brodie

The MCAA’s overall goal for the MasonrySystems.org (MS.org) website was to create a user-friendly, aesthetically pleasant, and informational website to be used as an industry standard, not only for mason contractors, but also for architects, owners, masonry suppliers, and other interested parties. With this new design, I do believe we have achieved all of these goals.

We designed this site so that the user could come here to find everything he would need to know about masonry as a building system, without ever having to leave the familiar home screen. Not only is this to be a marketing tool for our industry, but also it will serve as an educational tool to any and all who have the desire to learn more about masonry in general.

We have highlighted our Wall Systems section, which allows the user to access cut sheets, tech notes, wall schematics, life cycle info, and other facts about a variety of different masonry wall systems. Also to be found on the site are the updated and easily visible Benefits, Gallery, Knowledge, Communication, and Resources sections, which can be accessed directly from the home screen. Each section includes updated graphics, hyperlinks to other resources, and cross references to other sections on the site. We do have external links to standards and tech notes from those respective websites and sources. We will be constantly updating the content of this website, so if ever there is information, notes, pictures, or questions in the forum that you want to add, we encourage you to reach out and do so.

One way you can support the website is to become a sponsor or advertiser on the site. As of now, a company can purchase either a $500 (per year) banner advertisement or, for $250 (per year), be listed as an online sponsor. However, the most cost-effective and influential thing you can do as an individual to help our website would be to simply use it! By visiting our site regularly and encouraging others to do so, you will aid in increasing website traffic. This will encourage participation from advertisers and sponsors.

So on behalf of the entire MasonrySystems.org committee, I encourage and all but demand that you go check out the new site for yourself. My hope is that you are both pleasantly surprised and inspired to return to the site in the future.