04.30.2009 — The old CEDIA Web site was a labyrinth of tabs and overwhelming text.

The redesigned CEDIA Web site, launched yesterday, is a lot better.

The first thing I noticed on the new CEDIA.net is that it’s less text-heavy and easier to navigate.

For instance, there’s a “Find a CEDIA Member” tool on the home page that allows prospective clients to find a local integration company. It seems vaguely familiar, so it must have been buried on the old home page.

Now it really pops.

The primary goal of the redesign was to zero in on consumer elements. CEDIA wanted its site to be a better resource for consumers and potential builder or design partners, according to CEDIA director of public relations and marketing Jamie Antcliff.

The site’s focus on the organization’s member companies is secondary, not because they’re less important to CEDIA but because that’s the way the members want it, she explains.

Leading the redesign, Antcliff talked to member companies about what they want the site to accomplish. Basically, “they wanted tools that help consumers find them,” she says.

“When clients come to our Web site, we want them to be able to find a CEDIA member. CEDIA members, meanwhile, probably already know where they need to go to find what they need."

The main navigation is positioned above a central slideshow of nice home system installations. There are the four tabs that point everyone in the right direction:

Industry Professionals — Here, integrators can find information about CEDIA resources, including CEDIA University, events and marketing tools.

Homeowners — This section aims to educate prospective clients on why a CEDIA member might be a good choice for their home technology needs. It features technology tips that might help them ask the right questions when meeting with installation companies. It also features a video of a “Designing Spaces” segment in which the value of CEDIA-certified installers is touted.

Design & Build Professionals — Speaking directly to potential builder and design partners, this section aims to marry these industries with custom electronics. Those professionals can access education and networking opportunities here.

Media — This one is for people like me.

More resources that aim to educate consumers about custom electronics can only be a good thing for an industry made up of companies that lack advertising clout. Well-trained custom installation companies often watch helplessly as big-box retailers tout their product "expertise" in advertising campaigns.

Specialty electronics buying group Home Entertainment Source (HES) is rolling out a "multi-billion dollar national Web site" that its 500-plus member dealers can piggyback on, according to executive director Jim Ristow. The goal is to allow smaller, specialty companies to offer Web resources that are as rich and sophisticated as those of big-box competitors.

Every little step helps.