writing and managing content the design of sites: patterns for creating winning web sites

Writing and Managing ContentThe Design of Sites: Patterns for Creating Winning Web Sites

05-650: BID Amin Nassiri

Page Templates

Need to keep the pages consistentProblem

Solution Use gridsDefine global templatesDefine individual templates


Content Modules

Need to keep the content freshHard to constantly update the content

Problem

Solution Create (use!) a publishing systemDefine position of each content typeCreate admin pages


Content Management System


Headlines and Blurbs

Most contents are buried into pagesNeed to grab visitor’s attention

Problem

Solution Write a hookStore them in the database


Personalized Content

Engineering a dynamic website is hardIntentional vs. automatic

Problem

Solution Require minimal personalizationInvite visitors to personalizeCategorize contentCreate a scoring systemTrack customer visits with cookies


Message Boards

Managing message boards is a tedious taskNeed to keep the quality high

Problem

Solution Anonymous posts?Moderate posts?Make the message board visibleRequire new comers to registerPresent clear rulesAdd admin pages


Writing for Search Engines

Need to rank high on search enginesDifferent search engines, have different algorithms

Problem

Solution Write distinctive titles for each pageWrite descriptive text at the topUse <meta> tagUse <alt> tag for multimedia contentsAvoid counterproductive strategiesUse robots.txt


Robots.txt from sun.comUser-agent: * Disallow: /products-n-solutions/government/ Disallow: /storagetek/im3 Disallow: /starofficesearch/ Disallow: /software/star/staroffice/search-en.xml Disallow: /software/products/appsrvr_pe/ Disallow: /cgi-bin/sun/webdesign/ Disallow: /cgi-bin/go.cgi Disallow: /offers/docs Disallow: /remove.jsp # robots.txt for www.sun.com # Requests for updates should be filed through: # http://www.sun.com/contact under Web Site Feedback # Updated: September 5, 2008


Inverted-Pyramid Writing Style

On the average Web page, users have time to read at most 28% of the words during an average visit; 20% is more likely. (useit.com)

Problem

Solution


Printable Pages

Not all page elements need to be printed

Problem

Solution Remove extra elementsAdd labelsAvoid tables


Distinctive HTML Titles

Pages with ambiguous titles can be confusing

Problem

Solution Vary titles from page to pageUse titles as bread crumbs


Internationalized and localized Content

Not accounting for language, cultural, and economical differences would limit your audience

Problem

Solution Store strings separate from codeHire translatorsCentralized vs. decentralizedAvoid terms that are not widely knownBeware of cultural differencesTransform dates, currencies, measures


Internationalized and localized Content (cont.)

Consider devices used for web surfingUnderstand legal issues

Solution


Style Sheets

Updating site design can be time-consuming without style sheets

Problem

Solution Define a standard style sheetDefine separate CSS for printingDefine separate CSS for mobile devicesImprove accessibilityTest with different browsers

Writing and Managing ContentThe Design of Sites: Patterns for Creating Winning Web Sites

writing and managing content the design of sites: patterns for creating winning web sites

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