Making Web Sites Out Of Nothing At All

Slide 1: 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

Slide 2: 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

Slide 3: 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 for similar sites

Slide 4: Web is the new Print  Everything starts on paper  Look for:  ◦ Brochures ◦ Posters ◦ Booklets ◦ Press Releases Planning Documents  ◦ Strategic Plans ◦ Grants proposals Preparation: Look at print material

Slide 5: 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 client

Slide 6: University Relations  Photographic Services  Public Information Officers  Development Officers  Preparation: Talk to the PR folk

Slide 7: 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)  Basic Content List

Slide 8: Academic Catalogs  Class Listings  Online Directory  E-mail footers  Faculty/Staff Directory  Related Departments Web sites  Where to Look

Slide 9: 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.” Keep it Simple

Slide 10: Original grant proposals  Original program proposals  Strategic plans  Press releases  E-mails and letters  Steal from Yourself

Slide 11: 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. Copy, but Don’t Copy-and-Paste

Slide 12: 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 is the New Print