Content Supply: Making Web Sites Out of Nothing at All ISU WebComm School Graham Garner Adapted from “The Illusionist: Pulling Web Content Out of Thin Air, by Suzanne Wayne, Penn State College of Education

Preparation: Look for similar sites Check the Big Sky institutions Eastern Washington University Idaho State University The University of Montana Montana State University - Bozeman Northern Arizona University University of Northern Colorado Portland State University California State University, Sacramento Weber State University

Check the Big Sky institutions

Eastern Washington University

Idaho State University

The University of Montana

Montana State University - Bozeman

Northern Arizona University

University of Northern Colorado

Portland State University

California State University, Sacramento

Weber State University

Preparation: Look for similar sites Check other regional institutions Boise State University University of Idaho University of Utah Utah State University Check peer institutions Ask departments who their peers are Look for keywords and descriptions

Check other regional institutions

Boise State University

University of Idaho

University of Utah

Utah State University

Check peer institutions

Ask departments who their peers are

Look for keywords and descriptions

Preparation: Look at print material Web is the new Print Everything starts on paper Look for: Brochures Posters Booklets Press Releases Planning Documents Strategic Plans Grants proposals

Web is the new Print

Everything starts on paper

Look for:

Brochures

Posters

Booklets

Press Releases

Planning Documents

Strategic Plans

Grants proposals

Preparation: Talk to client Ask the client: What kind of information do people regularly ask for? What kinds of information do you look for when visiting peer departments or institutions? What do you want your audience to know about your department? What action do you want your audience to take?

Ask the client:

What kind of information do people regularly ask for?

What kinds of information do you look for when visiting peer departments or institutions?

What do you want your audience to know about your department?

What action do you want your audience to take?

Preparation: Talk to the PR folk University Relations Photographic Services Public Information Officers Development Officers

University Relations

Photographic Services

Public Information Officers

Development Officers

Basic Content List Global navigation (includes search box) Contact information Department addresses and phone numbers Directory of faculty & staff Unit identifiers Logos, wordmarks Calendar Events, meetings About Us (mission statement)

Global navigation (includes search box)

Contact information

Department addresses and phone numbers

Directory of faculty & staff

Unit identifiers

Logos, wordmarks

Calendar

Events, meetings

About Us (mission statement)

Where to Look Academic Catalogs Class Listings Online Directory E-mail footers Faculty/Staff Directory Related Departments Web sites

Academic Catalogs

Class Listings

Online Directory

E-mail footers

Faculty/Staff Directory

Related Departments Web sites

Keep it Simple Short and scannable Outline first, then design Provide “nosearch” link to client Set and share deadlines Clearly mark missing content Say something like: “I have been able to give priority to this site up to this point. However, due to my work schedule, if I do not receive your final content changes by this date, the site will be delayed.”

Short and scannable

Outline first, then design

Provide “nosearch” link to client

Set and share deadlines

Clearly mark missing content

Say something like: “I have been able to give priority to this site up to this point. However, due to my work schedule, if I do not receive your final content changes by this date, the site will be delayed.”

Steal from Yourself Original grant proposals Original program proposals Strategic plans Press releases E-mails and letters

Original grant proposals

Original program proposals

Strategic plans

Press releases

E-mails and letters

Copy, but Don’t Copy-and-Paste It’s OK to get ideas from other Web sites, but don’t just copy-and-paste Use others’ content as a suggestion If you want it verbatim … Seek permission Provide attribution (credit). Best solution: Share content with client, and ask for something similar.

It’s OK to get ideas from other Web sites, but don’t just copy-and-paste

Use others’ content as a suggestion

If you want it verbatim …

Seek permission

Provide attribution (credit).

Best solution: Share content with client, and ask for something similar.

Web is the New Print Web Site = Printed Brochure Client/Content Owner = Client/Content Owner Writer/Editor = Writer/Editor Web Designer = Graphic Designer Programmer = Printer You wouldn’t ask your printer to write your brochure, would you?

Web Site = Printed Brochure

Client/Content Owner = Client/Content Owner

Writer/Editor = Writer/Editor

Web Designer = Graphic Designer

Programmer = Printer

You wouldn’t ask your printer to write your brochure, would you?