"Best of" presentation at the ACUHOI Business Conference by Dr. Ray Gasser, Kathryn Magura, and Amy Jorgensen. This provides a bit more detail from the presentation.

1. ACCESSIBILITY
NAVIGATION
Information must be easily accessible to
minimize customer searching time by
reducing the number of pages (clicks) and
consolidating information. This means
there should be more of a horizontal
navigational structure rather than a
vertical navigational structure. Clear and
simple navigation is the top priority;
important information like locations,
contact information and booking methods
are readily available to reduce prospective
customer frustrations.
Current and urgent topics may be
highlighted as a focus-point on the main
landing page. These topics are changed
based on the primary audiences that will
be using the website at the time in order
to ensure the message is received
successfully. Work with your content
experts to determine the priorities and
schedules.
USING WEB ANALYTICS
So now that you’ve started the brainstorming process,
how can you leverage your navigation to increase
consumer satisfaction? Web analytics, such as Google
Analytics, provide clear feedback from your consumers
– and plainly tell you what they think is most important.
Plus they can be free!
For more info & tips: www.google.com/analytics
STARTING OR REDESIGNING A NEW WEBSITE
Starting a new website can be
intimidating. Take a deep breath and start
by playing online! Look at your favorite
websites (housing or not) to look at what
you like or dislike. Use this research to
then determine the following for your new
site:
1. Website purpose
2. Customers (users)
3. Desired user experience
4. Redesign goals
5. Overarching Design
6. Timeline & Benchmarks
7. Responsible Managers (content &
management)
HTML: HYPERTEXT MARKUP LANGUAGE
HTML is a markup language that enables the creating and publishing of web
content. It is currently the fundamental way to publish content for web
browsers.
CMS: CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Web designers developed CMS systems using HTML and Javascript to
simplify updating and managing websites. CMSs include Drupal, Expression
Engine, Wordpress, and more!
@DrRayGasser
@Kmagura
@AmyLJorgensen
CMSVSHTML
PROS
• Easy
• Quick
• Consistent Branding
• Add/Delete Pages Easier
• Not highly technical
CONS
• Difficult to change design
• Expensive
• Less flexible
PROS
• Arguably better coding
• More design control
• Lower pricing
CONS
• Technical skills needed
• Start everything from scratch
CONTENT
Content development can be one of the most difficult areas
to tackle when redesigning your website. Messaging on the
website should be seen as “push marketing” messaging.
All websites have full control over the content and there is
very little opportunity for a customer to engage with this
one-way communication. Customers know this and
therefore want to find the information they can seek quickly
and easily.
Websites are designed to provide information about
services, facilities, culture, and guidance on how to live in
campus housing. Always work with the content managers
to ensure accuracy and ideas on how the text can be
simplified or better organized for the end user. The
information in the website news should be succinct,
current, and relevant.
Website development best practices include being
succinct, relevant, accurate, innovative, intentional, and
dynamic. One of the most difficult practices is to be
“succinct”. All customers expect to find their information
quickly and easily – and this can be difficult if there is a
large amount of text or too much explanation. Try to
harness your “Twitter” skills and summarize as much as
possible. Try leveraging your web analytics as well to show
what the customers want.
Websites should be accessible to the broadest audience
possible. Factors to consider: screen readers for visual
impairments, navigation via keyboard only, dial-up or
low bandwidth connections, browsers that don’t have
javascript or flash enabled, and mobile devices.
How to check if your site is accessible:
• Turn off images in your browser (make sure image place
holders are turned on)
• Turn off support for JavaScript
• Tab through the page, navigate without a mouse
• Try to change the standard font colors and styles in your
browser
• Try to increase the font size by using the browser (view
> text size > increase)
• Turn off support for stylesheets, does your site still
makes sense?
MORE INFO:
http://wave.webaim.org/
http://web.mit.edu/atic/www/accessibility/guidelines.html
In order for our message to be appealing and engaging, the website could include
updated photographs, videos, location maps, and departmental connection opportunities
as well as customer reviews. Look at what you already have & get started!