Building Better Web Sites weaving your web Shane Sher [email_address] PPL Computer Training Specialist Captain Blog Stephanie Chausse [email_address] PPL Web Weaver Wellness Well-doer . . .

Evaluate your Audience What are your patrons looking for? Are there special groups to target? Surveys

What are your patrons looking for?

Are there special groups to target?

Surveys

Technically speaking . . . Use XHTML with CSS Use include files for repeating items Analyze stats with counters like W3

Use XHTML with CSS

Use include files for repeating items

Analyze stats with counters like W3

Browsers

Resolutions

Decide on fluid or fixed width

Fluid

Fixed

Organize . . . logically list all topics on current Web site outline and group items create categories

list all topics on current Web site

outline and group items

create categories

Organize . . . visually clear, consistent layout use color purposefully use images sparingly, avoid clutter find royalty-free images morguefile.com Photos.com

clear, consistent layout

use color purposefully

use images sparingly, avoid clutter

find royalty-free images

morguefile.com

Photos.com

Ugly sites Phillips Designs The CSI Companies Brita It’s a mystery . . .

Phillips Designs

The CSI Companies

Brita

Usability = ease of use

Organize . . . practically think like a patron, not like a librarian use clear, simple navigation make page headings consistent with navigation make your information accessible

think like a patron, not like a librarian

use clear, simple navigation

make page headings consistent with navigation

make your information accessible

Usability

Other tools

Eye-tracking

Eye-tracking

Eye-tracking

Eye-tracking on Google search results

Organize . . . for search engines use clear, specific page titles in TITLE BAR use strong H1s use keyword rich meta-tags and fresh content

use clear, specific page titles in TITLE BAR

use strong H1s

use keyword rich meta-tags and fresh content

Web 2.0 can feel like tangled mess

User Organization Google Tagging Social bookmarking like del.icio.us RSS Feeding Badges

Google

Tagging

Social bookmarking like del.icio.us

RSS Feeding

Badges

Challenges Who will provide content? Who will support financially and technically? Sometimes it's better to do less better, than do more, less effectively.

Who will provide content?

Who will support financially and technically?

Sometimes it's better to do less better, than do more, less effectively.

Blogs

Archives old posts automatically

Commenting area

Tagging

Blog vs. Site Positives

Blog vs. Site Positives Blog Easy to use Many times free Easily adaptive to many needs Multiple editors Fresh content more manageable Tagging Web site Unlimited space Free reign Imagination (or your support person) is the only barrier No design constraints

Blog

Easy to use

Many times free

Easily adaptive to many needs

Multiple editors

Fresh content more manageable

Tagging

Web site

Unlimited space

Free reign

Imagination (or your support person) is the only barrier

No design constraints

Blog vs. Site Negatives

Blog vs. Site Negatives Blog Limited design Not always local Limited space Web site Expensive Need design skills Need software, Dreamweaver

Blog

Limited design

Not always local

Limited space

Web site

Expensive

Need design skills

Need software, Dreamweaver

View many sites

It's a lonely place . . .

… or not!

Biblio Old advertisements from Plan 59 Eye tracking from useit.com/eyetracking in case you're up for a challenge, the guy on the mountain offers classes Free counters from w3counter.com Building Better Website links

Old advertisements from Plan 59

Eye tracking from useit.com/eyetracking

in case you're up for a challenge, the guy on the mountain offers classes

Free counters from w3counter.com

Building Better Website links