Preparing for the Content Management System

Ronna JohnstonWeb Content Best Practices 10/26/2015

Today’s Topics

1. Content Management System2. New template design3. New navigation structure4. Content Improvements

CMS Briefly

About the CMS•Pages converted by web authors•Page types provided•Converted in phases•Starts in February •More details about CMS:• http://www.unco.edu/websupport/ass

ets/content%20sessions%20admin%20CMS.pptx

• http://www.unco.edu/websupport/assets/content_sessions_CMS_academic.pptx .

CMS and Content •Opportunity to clean up web sites•Remove old files from WWW•Old site will be archived and removed•New site published fresh

New UNC web design

Responsive design

UNC brand

Top level navigation  

New UNC Look

Top Level Links

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Basics•Sticky nav•On every page•Includes drop-down links•Horizontal

Also includes•Breadcrumbs•Site title

Top Level Links

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Pluses•Users don’t want too many choices•Allows wider screen space•Makes more sense for mobile usability

Downside•Many web sites will need restructure of content

Example

Old New

What You Can Do Now

Get ready

Step 1

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First step – step back

•Think about your mission or purpose at UNC

•What are your goals within that mission?

•What “value added” content is critical to your mission?

Step 2

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Second step - look at your current content •Delete old info

•Seriously consider if page is needed

•Combine pages

•Rewrite content as needed

Evaluating Content

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The page is accurate, up to date, and ready for migration

The page is required but needs corrections before migration

Page can be combined with another

The page is obsolete or no longer needed and should not be migrated

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Step 3

Navigation

Page Options

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Home Page

Academic Dept Wireframe – Geography Example

*

Geography image

Footer For Faculty *The word “programs” is a link to a page listing the program names and there will also be a drop down with the program name(s). Links to each program opens a top level program page. **Maybe Support College, Research, etc.

UNC header

About Us Programs* Our Faculty New Students Current Students Home

A A

Examples Departments Staff Community Outreach Employment Reading Center UNCTQ

Contact Us Dept Location Phone Fax Email

Value added links

Examples Research Projects Study Abroad K-12 Resources Field Course Student Opportunities Building Your Career

Page Options

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Program List

Page Options

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Current Student Page

Organizing Your Site

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Navigation Sample

Every Page is a Link

.Remember – every link is a page with content

Footer

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Optional Links

Navigation Summary

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• Top Level Links – About 6

• Drop Down Links – Limit to 9

• Level Three Links – Limit to 9

• Footer Quicklinks – 5 or 6

Step 3

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Organizing Content on the Page

Examples

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When to Use…

Basic pageRight side navigationRight side boxesHighlight panelQuicklinks

Mix and match carefully!

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Step 4

Writing Content

•Use relevant headings

•Start with the conclusion

•Concise writing

•Chunk content – one topic per paragraph

•Use bullet points

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About Writing…

Tone •Write clear, simple sentences in a conversational tone

•Second person

•Active voice

•Have a goal in mind – call to action

•Explain acronyms

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About Writing…

Search Engines

• Terms used by users

•Keep content fresh

•Titles start with most important word and are no longer than 55 characters

•Descriptions no longer than 150 characters

•Keyword your image alt tags

•Proper HTML

.

About Writing…

Accessibility • Do not use click here

•Make links meaningful

•Make image alt tags descriptive

•Don’t use color to require understanding

•Use tables only for tabular data

•Don’t use all CAPS for regular words

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Summary

1. Understand the navigation choices

2. Review existing web content

3. Delete, cut, combine, improve, move

4. Be kind to your web author

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Timing

Four phasesAcademic departments and recruitment administrative sites firstBegins in FebruarySpring 2016, summer 2016, fall 2016, spring 2017_________________________400+ top level sites350+ web authors3.5 Web Communications staff

Questions

Place imae(s) in this area.

Ronna JohnstonWeb Content Best Practices 10/26/2015