Categories in the Member Directory - Your Input Please

As I mentioned in a previous post we're working on adding an AIMS member directory to the website. (Everyone will have the option of choosing whether they want to be included and what contact information should be displayed)

We're planning on adding two categories to each persons profile. The intent is to make it easier to find the types of companies and products/services you're looking for. The initial list of categories is shown below.

I'd really like to get some feedback from members - Are these categories useful? Are we missing any key areas?

Please respond in the comments below or send me an email - klagden@aimscanada.com.

Industry:

• Advertising/Marketing
• Associations/Not for Profit/Charity
• Automotive and Transportation
• Consulting
• Education and Training
• Financial Services and Insurance
• Government
• Healthcare/Pharmaceutical
• Industrial Products
• Legal
• Manufacturing
• Media/Entertainment
• Other
• Packaged Goods
• Professional Services
• Publishing/Printing
• Recruitment/Staffing
• Retail
• Technology
• Telecommunications
• Travel and Hospitality
• Utilities and Energy Services

Type of Service:

• Analytics (or ‘Metrics/Measurement’)
• Copywriting
• CRM
• Ecommerce
• Email Marketing
• Games/Contests
• Graphic Design
• Hardware
• Internet Service Provider
• Marketing/Communications Agency
• Other
• Promotions
• Public Relations
• SEO/SEM
• Social Media (blogs, podcasts, etc.)
• Software
• Software Development
• Video
• Web Development
• Wireless/Mobile
• Word of Mouth

Comments

[Judy Gombita]

From my own employment environment/experience, I offer the following suggestions.

Associations (not-for-profit) and charitable organizations (non-profit) are two very different animals. I'd suggest you break them out. You might also want to find a home for non-government agencies (e.g., Skills for Change).

Regarding "types of service," I'd recommend you broaden public relations to include the sub-set category:

Public Relations/Media Relations

Looking forward to seeing the end result. Thanks for taking on what must be a mammoth task for more member value-add, Kathryn!

[Kathryn Lagden]

Thanks Judy - you're the second person to suggest that charitable organizations requires its own category. I'll definitely do that.

I've received a few emails with suggestions, here's what else I've added based on feedback.

Additions to 'Industry':
- Contests & Sweepstakes
- Online Media
- Real Estate

Additions to 'Type of Service':
- 'Copywriting' changed to 'Writing Services'
- eMarketing and/or eMarketing consultant
- Interactive Agency
- Internal Communications (not sure if this is a seperate category or part of 'Marketing/Communications Agency'