Agency Websites in a “2.0” World Bob Vernon - Indiana University Darlene Lynch - Ball State University A little context….

Overview Just what makes a good agency website? Legal and ethical worries Design process Basic inclusions Choices in a 2.0 world

Just what makes a good agency website? Agency and Services Information to major audiences! Resources Bring resources into your agency! Design Issues Access, access, access Let’s see some good examples…

Agency and Services Agency Credibility Service Information Location Popular Education Advocacy Resources DonationsDonations Donations Volunteers StudentsDonations Volunteers Students Design Issues Download Time Literacy Multiple Audiences Ability Just what makes a good agency website?

Design: Process overview Website planning - Mission Statement Define goals, objectives and user needsMission Statement Technical planning - MOU Website sophistication, technical needs, hosting issues, usability testing, personnel planningMOU Website construction Actual programming, testing, revisions Roll out Website promotion, adaptation and modification Ongoing maintenance Policies, mechanics, personnel

Legal and ethical worries Just when you thought it was safe… Security issues Internal when it crashes External when it gets hacked Confidentiality dangers For your employees For your clients Copyright issues Who owns what? Do you have releases? Politics of links A link is an endorsement!

Design: A website for whom? Audience specification… Clients Fellow professionals Board Internal employees Donors Accreditors Other agencies …determines sophistication Some bad news… Reading ability is worse: 43% 2000, 29% 2005 Literacy is worse: 8.8 th grade th grade 2005 Multiple languages: 6 websites in websites in 2005 Who has what unique need?

Design: What do you need to say? The Basics Agency name Auspice Location Contact information Mission History Affiliations Accreditation Board information Staff information

Design: What do you need to say? Services information Descriptions Eligibility Geography Application procedures Fee information Apply online?

Design: What do you need to say? Additionals Board’s business Recognitions, awards, stories Volunteer information Student information Donations Jobs Events Publications Links Advocacy Popular Education Local Services Other languages Advertisements “2.0” stuff…

Design: More considerations “Two clicks” Every activity should be no more than two-mouse clicks away Time Ten seconds max to download the homepage One second max for navigation between pages One tenth of a second max for interactive stuff FOR DIAL-UP!

Which brings us to “Web 2.0” Web 1.0 Wi Fi Skype Wireless Mashups RSS Feeds Webcasting Virtual Worlds Bookmarking Listservs Podcasting Flickr Blogs Networking Collaboration DATA Sharing Virtual Worlds Communications Wikis BlueTooth Folksonomies FeedTrackers

“1.0” 1993 ~2003.html Read only Push information “webpage” Browser only Code writers, specialists “2.0” ~2003 – future.asp, jsp, php,.pl,.cgi Read and write Push and pull “posting” Browser, RSS readers, viewers, pda’s, cell phones Everyone, mass amateurization Which brings us to “Web 2.0”

How much “Web 2.0” do you need? A loose taxonomy for “apps”… Communications Social Networking Collaboration Data Sharing Virtual Worlds That need to be linked with SPECIFIC AUDIENCES!

Communications “Virtual Communities” of people with common interests Linked together by …for example Listservs…

Choices: Issues: Publicly accessible Privately accessible Low maintenance, high spam risks High maintenance, low spam risks Unmoderated Moderated Low maintenance, high flame risks High maintenance, low flame risks Communications Listservs…

Individual websites Others can add information Choices in setting up: Anyone can add to it or Only approved people can add …for example Communications Blogs…

Collective websites Others can add information Choices in setting up: Anyone can add to it or Only approved people can add …for example Communications Wikis…

Communications “Really Simple Syndication” A way to push content Blogs, wikis Audio files (podcasting) Website updates Receive content Must subscribe to a feed …for example RSS Feeds…

Social information about oneself Personal networks of friends, coworkers File sharing, communication “Types” or “genres” Large public-accessible Personal, immediate contact Professionals, specialized groups Social Networking

Getting together Coordinating meeting times and places Coordinating meeting times and places Collaborative meeting spaces Video, audio, whiteboards, text, ppts Video, audio, whiteboards, text, ppts Mashups Conferences real and virtual Conferences real and virtual Collaboration

Database Sharing GIS Photos and graphics Videos and Machinima Podcasts and Webcasts Social Bookmarking Survey Research Data and Media Sharing

Website-based or coordinated Multiple apps tailored to audience(s) needs and interests Multiple apps tailored to audience(s)needs and interests Virtual Worlds Artificial “sims” created by participants Artificial “sims” created by participants Virtual Communities and Worlds

Help and contact information Dr. Darlene Lynch Social Work AR 227A Ball State University Muncie, IN Dr. Bob Vernon Indiana University School of Social Work 902 West New York Street Indianapolis, IN Website: Helpful online resources (handout)