UWSAG talks to Julie Niehoff
of the Visit Dallas Website

Owner: Visit Dallas
Winner: UWSAG Top Ten! for June, 2003

1. What got you started in website design?
   
   "Started using BBS systems in college for fun, became fascinated by the Internet back in 1990's. I ended up working in TV/Film Broadcasting and produced a show that was "Convergent Programming" which meant we needed a website. I had to build one - things moved very quickly from there. Eventually saw the marketing applications available in web design and began to pursue this line of work full-time."
   
   
2. What do you hope to accomplish with your website?
   
   "With VisitDallas.com, my goals mirror those of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau as an organization - to incite travelers (business and leisure) to choose to come to Dallas, to get excited about their upcoming trip to Dallas, to bring their business meetings and conventions to Dallas and to enjoy the services provided by all of our world-class restaurants, hotels, attractions and services. It's a lot of fun to sell a city online."
   
   
3. What advice would you give to new webmasters?
   
   "Look at what the competition is doing - your client's competition. Then, take what you like and leave what you don't. Make your sites a combination plate of all the good parts of other sites. Continue to make it better."
   
   
4. What was the biggest problem you faced with your website?
   
   "Getting content was a challenge. We have a lot of information about the city, but putting it together is often a different story. We had to overcome the hurdle of thinking everything would be perfect from the beginning. A website is like a child. You birth it, nurture it, help it grow and eventually it takes on a life of its own ?and might call for a little extra money every few years for good measure."
   
   
5. If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
   
   "Not much. I'm very happy with the site as it is."
   
   
6. What plans do you have for the future?
   
   "We're adding an interactive mapping feature that allows the user to build a custom map based on their itinerary. So, if I am coming to Dallas and want to have a map with just my hotel, a few restaurants that I want to go to and maybe the zoo and Six Flags, I can have that. We're also adding a complete multicultural/diversity section and a special event planner, like for weddings and reunions. People will be able to welcome their guests to the city and post pictures after their trip."
   
   
7. What else do you like to do?
   
   "Write music, sing, hang out with my family - professionally, I love consulting work. I particularly enjoy working with the hospitality industry."