Icon viewers have discovered several new features added to the Icon this week.

These include:
• an enhanced presence for advertisers,
• improved photos viewing and a
• sports calendar.

Ryan Lowry is the Icon's technical editor. He installed these new features. Here are the details:

Advertiser enhancement
The Icon improved its “Ad Index.” The index is found on the black horizontal scroll bar near the top of the home page.

The index allows easier access to the Icon’s 75-plus advertisers’ websites and phone numbers. When a viewer opens the “Ad Index” all advertisers continue to be listed alphabetically with a phone number and link to the advertiser’s website.

New to that page, viewers may now access advertisers by category in an easy-to-use visual format. Viewers might think of this new feature similar to Yellow Pages listings.

Advertisers are grouped in the following categories:
• Banking-financial services-accounting
• Automotive, small engine, bicycles
• Computer, social media, web design
• Contract services, pet care, storage, plumbing heating, home repair
• Education, instructional fitness
• Insurance, business professionals
• Medical, retirement communities
• Real estate, rental properties
• Restaurant, catering, food
• Retail
• Theatre, live performances

Once a viewer clicks on the box for a particular category all the advertisers in that category appear with the company logo or graphic, a phone number and website link.

The new advertising feature is no extra cost to advertisers; rather it is an additional benefit to advertise on the Icon.

The popular restaurant menu feature continues. By click on “Menu” viewers have access to printer friendly menus of all Icon restaurant advertisers. “Menu” is also found on the black horizontal scroll bar near the top of the home page.

Photo enhancement
Viewers may have noticed two new photo features.

First, in addition to the large feature photo of the day, located on the top of the home page, viewers now see the previous four-day photo features below it. By clicking on any of the previously featured photos, the Icon opens to all the feature photos of that month.

Also, individual feature photos by the month now have a brief identification. By clicking on a photo, the photo automatically enlarges.

A second enhancement is the small “magnifying glass” located on the bottom right corner of all photos. This feature reminds viewers that when clicking on the photo image it automatically enlarges.

Sports calendar
A monthly calendar listing sports events is in the works.

“Calendar” is also found on the black horizontal scroll bar near the top of the home page. When a viewer clicks on “Calendar” a drop down “Sports Calendar” option appears. That calendar will soon list all sporting events in the Bluffton school district and Bluffton University. Sports calendar listings will be posted later this week.

Thanks viewers
Viewers suggested these features. The Icon staff appreciates feedback and attempts to accommodate as many helpful features suggested by viewers as possible.