Content Supply: Content Supply: Making Web Sites Out of Making Web Sites Out of

Nothing at AllNothing at AllISU WebComm School

Graham GarnerAdapted from “The Illusionist: Pulling Web Content Out of Thin Air, by Suzanne Wayne, Penn State College of Education

Preparation: Look for similar sitesPreparation: Look for similar sites

Check the Big Sky institutions◦Eastern Washington University◦Idaho State University ◦The University of Montana ◦Montana State University - Bozeman ◦Northern Arizona University ◦University of Northern Colorado ◦Portland State University ◦California State University, Sacramento ◦Weber State University

Preparation: Look for similar sitesPreparation: Look for similar sites

Check other regional institutions◦Boise State University◦University of Idaho◦University of Utah◦Utah State University

Check peer institutions◦Ask departments who their peers are

Look for keywords and descriptions

Preparation: Look at print Preparation: Look at print materialmaterial

Web is the new PrintEverything starts on paperLook for:

◦Brochures◦Posters◦Booklets◦Press Releases

Planning Documents◦Strategic Plans◦Grants proposals

Preparation: Talk to clientPreparation: Talk to client

Ask the client:◦What kind of information do people regularly

ask for?◦What kinds of information do you look for when

visiting peer departments or institutions?◦What do you want your audience to know about

your department?◦What action do you want your audience to

take?

Preparation: Talk to the PR Preparation: Talk to the PR folkfolk

University Relations

Photographic Services

Public Information Officers

Development Officers

Basic Content ListBasic Content List

Global navigation (includes search box)Contact information

◦Department addresses and phone numbers◦Directory of faculty & staff

Unit identifiers◦Logos, wordmarks

Calendar◦Events, meetings

About Us (mission statement)

Where to LookWhere to Look

Academic CatalogsClass ListingsOnline DirectoryE-mail footersFaculty/Staff DirectoryRelated Departments Web sites

Keep it SimpleKeep it Simple

Short and scannableOutline first, then designProvide “nosearch” link to clientSet and share deadlinesClearly mark missing contentSay something like: “I have been able to give

priority to this site up to this point. However, due to my work schedule, if I do not receive your final content changes by this date, the site will be delayed.”

Steal from YourselfSteal from Yourself

Original grant proposalsOriginal program proposalsStrategic plansPress releasesE-mails and letters

Copy, but Don’t Copy-and-Copy, but Don’t Copy-and-PastePaste

It’s OK to get ideas from other Web sites, but don’t just copy-and-paste

Use others’ content as a suggestionIf you want it verbatim …

◦Seek permission ◦Provide attribution (credit).

Best solution: Share content with client, and ask for something similar.

Web is the New PrintWeb is the New Print

Web Site = Printed BrochureClient/Content Owner = Client/Content

OwnerWriter/Editor = Writer/EditorWeb Designer = Graphic DesignerProgrammer = PrinterYou wouldn’t ask your printer to write

your brochure, would you?