2007 SS& EM Web Site Audit Presented by: Jason Swackhamer, Director of Web Communications February 13, 2007

Rationale Here’s what we know about Web users: Impatient; Don’t want to have to dig too far for info Don’t want to read more than absolutely necessary Very short attention span, but long memory According to Eyetrack III, a 2004 study of how people read on the Web Most people just look at the first couple of words—and only read on if they are engaged by those words. The eye doesn’t read in a flow, rather in a series of jumps, and subsequent stops and starts. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

Rationale 6 C’s of Killer Content Who Cares (what does the audience care about)? Is it Complete (broken links, modern look)? Is it Concise (“chunked” text, organized)? Is it Correct (accurate and up-to-date)? Is it Compelling (does it speak to audience)? Is it Clear (navigation, info easy to find)? Best practices of award winners from other higher education Web sites. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

Recent Changes

Standards

SS&EM Web Standards Office location, phone number & contact E-mail should appear as a header in each page. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

Hours of operation should appear on the home page. SS&EM Web Standards Hours of operation should appear on the home page. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards A list of the department’s services should appear on the home page and/or a welcome message from the director. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards All content blocks that appear in the department’s main menu or linked within the department’s Web site must have content. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards Content that crosses departments should be linked to a single place of origin. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards Image header should include pictures of students and/or be customized to department. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

All Web site linkages should not return an error. SS&EM Web Standards All third party and out-university Web site links should be current AND open in a new window. All Web site linkages should not return an error. Anything link that connects to a Web site that is not SVSU must open in a window. This displays that linked Web site is not operated by SVSU and ensures that Web users do not drift off into cyberspace, never to return to SVSU. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards Text links that appear in a bulleted list inside a content block that are also links in the department’s main menu navigation should be deleted. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards Content should be easily scannable through the use of CMS page styles and when possible images of students or graphics. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards An “About Us” page should appear as part of the primary navigation which must include a staff listing and where applicable, mission and vision statements. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

SS&EM Web Standards Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

Overall we are at 78% completion Good and Bad News Overall we are at 78% completion Header content 86% Hours of Operation 67% Welcome/Services 79% No blank content 78% Single origin of content 92% Image header 79% 3rd party links 81% Redundant menu links 86% Scannable content 58% About Us page 70% Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

Moving Forward Following this, I’ll distribute department audit results to each director. I will contact you by end of next week to schedule a consultation. Discuss audit results Discuss challenges and goals Determine a production schedule Goal is to have all departments at or near 100% compliance by August 1, 2007. Focus groups and extensive research helped us craft our branding messages, our promise.

Questions?

2007 SS& EM Web Site Audit Presented by: Jason Swackhamer, Director of Web Communications February 13, 2007