Paul Mundy and Bob Huggan 1 Websites.

Paul Mundy and Bob Huggan www.mamud.com 1

Websites


What is a website?

A website is a set of text and graphics on the Internet

Organized into interlinked webpages Click on link and jump to another page


Why a website? (1)

Provide information Contact details, list of staff,

Provide access to documents Newsletters Annual reports Technical documents Research results Press releases


Why a website? (2)

Show visuals Photos, diagrams, etc.

Allow interaction Allow people to ask questions Get feedback Sell products

Archive and retrieve information Reliable filing system Most recent version always available


Advantages of websites

Quick Always available Available anywhere (with internet access) Lots of space Easy to update Very cheap Different formats: text, images, audio, video Interactive, dialogue possible


Disadvantages of websites

Org needs computer, software, skills, connectivity

Users also need computer, skills and connectivity

Access can be slow Access only in cities, only for richer clientele Hard to get people to visit your site


Creating a website

You create website on your computer You upload it to the Internet

Users visit the website and download information from it

Users can interact with site (eg, post comments, send email, fill in forms)


So do you need a website?

Yes! Even if it’s only one page Absolute minimum

Your organization’s name What it does How to get in touch

Perhaps part of larger site (eg, parent organization or ministry)


More than the minimum?

Publications News, events Description of activities, services and outputs Information about your organization’s topic area Links to other sites and useful information Organizational structure Staff list Online services Etc…


What you need for a website

Equipment Services Software Design Content Management



Equipment Computer, modem, phone line

Services Internet service provider account Webhosting account (this gives you a domain name eg

www.mamud.com Software

Web design software (FrontPage, Dreamweaver…) Graphics software (Photoshop, Corel, Photodraw…) Uploading software (FTP) (Filezilla, WS_FTP…) Web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox…)



Design Structure of site Format, styles, layout

Content Text and graphics to put on the website Constant updates

Management Skills to gather and rewrite info for web Skills to design site Skills to manage computers and use software Organizational structure to get info from different units Funding


Designing a website

1. Who is audience for your website?2. What are your website’s objectives?3. Decide general design, appearance and layout4. Decide on content5. Decide on software to use6. Decide who will create and maintain the site7. Create site8. Upload9. Test10. Launch site11. Manage 12. Update


Do it in-house, or contract it out? Questions

Do you have the resources (staff, skills, computer, connectivity)?

How much work will it take? (complex, frequent updates)

How much will it cost? Alternatives

Do it all in-house Contract out the design, then do updates in-house Contract out all design and management


Do it in-house, or contract it out? Design and manage the website yourself if…

Small, simple website Few updates Skilled computer operator Good connectivity Big organization with necessary staff and skills

Contract an outsider if… Large, complex website Frequent updates No computer skills Poor connectivity


Website content

Useful and of interest to users Rewrite info for web

Short, “chunked” text Use headings, bullets, boldface

Avoid long pages Simple, easy navigation Provide access to documents: journals,

newsletters, reports, etc PDF or HTML formats


Website content

Update regularly to keep site fresh Separate content into “stable” and “changeable” Consider using a blog for news

Use graphics Use attractive images (photos, graphics) But use sparingly No fancy moving graphics


Announcing your website

Register with search engines (Yahoo, Google…) Put web address on letterhead, business cards,

signboards, publications, news releases… Announce website to members, clients and partners Announce website in meetings, events, visits Put web address on signature line of emails Ask other webadmins to put link to your site


Evaluating websites

Information available? Does the site tell you what you want to know?

Easy to navigate? Is it easy to find the information you want?

Easy to read? Can you understand what is said?

Downloads quickly? Does the info come up immediately, or you have

to wait?


A possible website structureHome

Activities About us Publications SearchContactNews Links

History

Mission

Services

Staff directory

Newsletter

Reports

Farmers’ guides

N Region

W Region

C Region

Paul Mundy and Bob Huggan 1 Websites.

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