FTW and Cargo Info developing single brand

FTW’s online sister publication, Cargo Info News, has seen dramatic readership growth over the past year, with its audience now approaching the 9 000 mark. While the most popular features include our daily news service, sailing schedule information, the customs tariff, jobs and training listings, the site is being constantly monitored and developed in line with reader input. “Ongoing surveys provide an accurate assessment of our readers’ key priorities and we are upgrading the website in line with these,” says business unit manager, Anton Marsh. “The Customs tariff module, which is widely used by the industry and to which several of our readers are referred by SA Revenue Service staff, is our current focus,” says Marsh.” The upgrade will be accomplished in several phases, with Phase 1 due to be up and running early next year. “This will see the introduction of a better search facility, providing an historical function that will enable the user to see how things have changed,” he said. “We see it as a work in progress and will continue to introduce additional functionalities in a phased approach.” Last year saw the introduction by FTW of a digital edition as well as an e-book version of the weekly print publication – and growing readership is evidence of its appeal. Advertisers have particularly welcomed the additional exposure – with readers able to click through to websites on those advertisements that include a web address. The growing synergy between the print and electronic publication has prompted a redesign of the website, integrating FTW and Cargo Info into a single brand with a new look and easy-to-use functionality. This is currently under way and due for launch early in the new year. The website can be accessed at www. cargoinfo.co.za