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Planning Your Website

1. Identify Needs

Consider what information you are trying to convey to your audience and what their needs are. Anticipate what information they'll be looking for on your website, and how the website can be helpful to them. For example, if you frequently direct people to informational resources, that information should be on your website.

2. Outline Website Content

Make an outline of your website showing the section headings and the pages that go under each heading. Five to seven section headings is optimal. Section headings and page names should be short so users can read them at a quick glance. See a sample site outline in the sidebar.

Some people find it easier to write the content first and let the topics dictate the sitemap. If you feel more comfortable with this approach the CDL can help you extrapolate a sitemap from your developed content. Or you can plan the sitemap before writing any content, and modify it as necessary during the content writing process. However you'd like to do it, when you send your sitemap to the CDL it should be an accurate outline of your website, which the CDL can then use to build the architecture of your site.

3. Write Website Content

Writing the content for your site will probably be your biggest challenge. We strongly recommend that you write the content before the site is built, as changes to the sitemap will probably arise as you add information, or discover you don't have enough information for a topic you had planned. Also, if you send your content to the CDL before the site is built we will be happy to add your content during the site building process, saving you content publishing time later. You may find that the content-writing process requires significant project management: meetings, deadlines, and review procedures.

4. Request Custom Graphics

The CDL will create a custom banner graphic for your site, and a diagram showing your site's relationship to MERLOT. We are happy to incorporate your ideas for the the banner graphic if you have something specific in mind. The CDL will need your help in making sure the diagram is conceptually accurate.

5. Choose a Content Manager & Decide Team Access Levels

You will need to choose a content manager who will act as the main contact person between your department and the CDL. Your content manager will edit the site with Contribute, request changes from the CDL, and coordinate team members if multiple people will be editing the site. The content manager should familiarize him/herself with the Teaching Commons style guide (Word doc) and the CSU accessibility requirements.

Access levels determine the types of changes each user can make. Access can also limit users to editing specific pages of your website if you wish. The content manager should include directions for access levels when requesting connection keys for team members.

Access Levels

• Writer: Able to edit text and add images and documents, then send to Publisher for review and publishing to website.
  
• Publisher: Writer access plus publishing privileges.
  
• Content Manager: Publisher access plus ability to add and delete pages.

NOTE: Anyone making changes to the website should be familiar with CSU accessibility requirements.

 

 

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