ReferWeb FAQs
What makes ReferWeb a better option than other I&R Web Sites ?
- Precise Area Served Searches
- Accurate service search results organized by proximity
- Easy use of the AIRS Info line Taxonomy
- Web Page design is customizable
- Search features are customizable
- Uses the AIRS Standard database structure (ServiceSite)
- Unlimited optional features
- Uses the Taxonomy and/or Keyword systems for searching
What else can ReferWeb do?
Not only is ReferWeb the most sophisticated and easiest to use I&R Web App available, it doesn't stop there.
ReferWeb can be further customized with these optional modules:
- User Statistics and Reporting
- Sign-in and Password protection
Why is ReferWeb a better choice for a public search engine?
In one word - ACCURACY! There are two methods utilized by web search engine vendor's to display resource information to the user: the Shotgun method and the Direct method.
The Direct method utilizes sophisticated search logic to return accurate lists of service providers. When the user enters their ZIP or city, the displayed service provider will serve the entered area. If the user enters their age and gender, the service provider will serve their age and gender. Any additional information entered by the user will also filter out service providers not meeting the search criteria. The displayed list of service providers will be accurate. To help the user further, the list of service provider should also be listed by proximity to the user. Why display ten service providers when only four are viable for the user?
The Shotgun simply displays all service providers that offer a service selected by the user, whether or not the service provider actually serves the user's ZIP code or city. Many web search engines using the Shotgun method also use text searches to find service providers. Example: Food is entered as the search criteria therefore all service providers that have the word Food in any text are displayed, including the providers with the phrase "offer no food services".
In short, the Shotgun approach always displays "False Positives", which means a significant number of the displayed service providers are not viable for the user. This approach is akin to walking into a library and the librarian says, "The book you are looking for is in there somewhere".
The majority of service provider web search engines offered by other I&R software vendors use the Shotgun method. RTM Designs only uses the Direct method.
Can I select which service providers are displayed on ReferWeb?
You can specify what data from your resource database is displayed on the Web and you can create specialized databases for different segments of the community (e.g. Aging, Recreation, Children's services) with one or more ReferWeb interfaces.
When RTM Designs hosts my ReferWeb site, how is data uploaded?
All RTM Designs I&R software systems include a ReferWeb data upload system that automatically posts your current data to your ReferWeb site. You set the upload interval (everyday, once a week, bi-monthly or monthly) and the data is posted to ReferWeb the night of the scheduled upload. Included in the automatic ReferWeb upload system is the ability to export sub-sets of the resource data for specialized ReferWeb sites. ReferWeb takes over from there. It's that easy!
How do users access my ReferWeb site?
Generally, a button, hotlink or picture is placed on your organization's home page that links to your ReferWeb site. This button (or Hotlink) can be added to your homepage by your Web Designer. Because ReferWeb is custom designed to integrate with your existing website and displays your organizations branding, the transition is seamless (unlike other vendors web applications that have the same interface design for all customers). Users can also access your ReferWeb site directly buy entering the URL (Web Address supplied by RTM Designs) in their Internet Browser.
