Help users find the information they want on your website

Good habits

  1. Use logical folder structures.
  2. Use lower case and underscores _instead_of_spaces in filenames.
  3. Ensure that the page prints OK.
  4. Provide alternative text (alt text) for all images and graphics.
  5. Fill in page ‘title’ field in the following format: Page title - [Group (optional)] - Department - University of Canterbury.
  6. Regularly review and clean up folders.
  7. Save older versions of files to an ‘/old’ folder, review and clean it 3–4 times a year.
  8. Use good navigation. Link to pages within your site and to relevant pages within the UC website, e.g. to UC Scholarships.
  9. Check your links work and go to the right places.
  10. Ask a colleague to check your work before you make it live.
  11. Check that any changes you make work, when ‘put’ on the live site.

Good content

  1. Keep it simple. Small, accurate up–to–date sites are always better than complicated out–of–date sites.
  2. Organise your information from the most to least important to increase the chance that your key messages will be read.
  3. Use headings (heading styles 1, 2 and 3).
  4. Use plain english:
    • Use short paragraphs, short sentences.
    • Use active verbs (subject then verb then object).
    • Write directly to the audience.
    • Choose words appropriate for the users.
    • Don’t be afraid to give instructions.
    • Use lists (with bullet points if it improves readability).
    • Use positive language.
  5. Proof–read, spell and grammar check pages before putting them live.
  6. Use the University standard terminology.
  7. Be consistent. Always use uppercase for the 4 letter course codes, e.g. PSYC 103 not Psyc103, use 100 Level, 200 Level etc. for the course levels.
  8. Don’t use the ampersand sign ‘&’.
  9. Where emphasis is required, use bold (sparingly) rather that italic or capitals (CAPITALS can be misinterpreted as SHOUTING).

Good design

  1. Use the University standard templates and design.
  2. Pages should be kept short, ideally no longer than an A4 page.
  3. Limit the use of tables — using percentages not pixels for size.
  4. Limit the total size of graphics to less than 40K
  5. Limit the total number of graphics per page.
  6. Use white for backgrounds so as not to compete with or obscure the information on the page.
  7. Do not use animated images or blinking or scrolling text.
  8. Do not use Flash or any other introductory pages, go straight to the homepage.

Keep information up–to–date

  1. Review information regularly.
  2. Get ideas and suggestions from other staff.
  3. Provide the information your audience needs.
  4. Encourage ideas and suggestions.
  5. Encourage involvement.
  6. Make sure people keep you up–to–date.
  7. Link to University databases e.g. Course Information System (CIS).
  8. Avoid duplication by linking to existing information rather than re–creating it.

Design your home page carefully

  1. Use the University standard templates and design.
  2. Avoid the need to scroll by limiting the amount of information on a page.
  3. Limit your news area to 3–5 items, each linking to a separate news page containing the full news stories.
  4. Limit the number of links in each section (‘For’ and ‘About’) to around 7 links.
  5. Contact Web Support if you need help with the design of your Home Page.

Provided by UC Web Support

Email: websupport@canterbury.ac.nz

http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/web/