Like a moth drawn to a flame you may be feeling a stronger attraction than usual to SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION, which is by design — redesign that is. To help keep you the reader engaged we have made subtle yet distinct tweaks to the styles, colors and formats of the way information is presented throughout the magazine. Not so understated are the changes we have made online where we have just launched a complete re-imagining of www.securitysales.com.

The new site is a substantial upgrade from aesthetic (high-tech and graphically vivid), content (more online exclusives and interactivity) and user-friendly (popular and recommended articles, dynamic navigation menus) standpoints. Navigation has been made easy, intuitive and logical by organizing the site around seven “channels”: Business Management; IP / Video Surveillance; Access Control; Fire / Life Safety; Intrusion; Systems Integration; and Vertical Markets.

Additionally, it is chockfull of useful and fun multimedia and social media components, including video, Webinars, podcasts, photo galleries and much more. In particular, I am really fired up about our expanded offering of blogs. In addition to the “Under Surveillance” blog I regularly contribute to along with Managing Editor Rodney Bosch, there are five brand new blogs hosted by respected industry authorities familiar to SSI readers. They are: Al Colombo’s “Security Sense”; Bob Dolph’s “Tech Shack”; Peter Giacalone’s “Central Station Corner”; Bob Grossman’s “Enterprising Solutions”; and Steve Payne’s “Integrated Thoughts.”

In the interest of continuity, the new site’s design elements have been carried over to SSI‘s eControl Panel newsletter as well. Did you know it was the security industry’s first electronic newsletter? As I mark my 12th anniversary with SSI this month, I remember putting together and hitting the send button for the very first issue back in 1998. Shift to 2010 and, in the interest of delivering information as conveniently as possible across myriad platforms, we even produce a digital version of the magazine. We’ve indeed come a long way, baby!

Through these many years thousands of industry professionals have first learned of major news and happenings through SSI‘s electronic communications. And it continues to this day. How do I know? Because many of you have told me as much. Plus a new study of nearly 600 subscribers of security industry trade publications ranked SSI No. 1 in 10 of 12 online categories as the go-to site in areas including technical information, applications, news, research and business management. The results were equally dominant on the print side. And this was before the new improvements and enhancements. 

All of this would not be possible without the team effort, dedication and care that goes into SSI‘s production. Although dozens of folks contribute, recognition in particular for the changes noted above is due to Publisher Peggy Onstad, Art Director Marge Young and Web Producer Farrah Ginter. I’d like to also welcome four distinguished professionals to the SSI Editorial Advisory Board: Shandon Harbour of SDA Security, Jim Henry of Henry Bros. Electronics (HBE), Mike Jagger of Provident Security and Eric Yunag of Dakota Security Systems. Comprised entirely of readers (as opposed to vendors), the 12-member board supplies insight and feedback to help us better serve your needs. 

We also just finished mapping out the plan for 2011, and there are lots of new and exciting programs, articles, research and more in store. You can get a taste of it by looking at the hot-off-the-press editorial calendar. Drop me a line if you see any topics you would like to participate in (yeah, it’s that easy). Also be sure to share your thoughts about our redesigned print and electronic offerings. Thank you!

 

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