1. EERE Content Standards Presenter: Allison Casey March 26, 2008

2. Content Standards Purpose Content QA Checklist Writing Process EERE Style Guide Maintenance

3. Purpose Content is the EERE Web site’s most important product! Web writing is different from print writing Standards provide: –Consistency –Quality

4. What are content standards? Requirements for Web site and page content Best practices Based on industry standards and training – Holtz, McGovern, Spool, Nielsen Norman Group, Federal Web Content Managers

5. Reaching the Standards Site EERE Home Page Assistant Secretary’s Office Communication Standards http://www.eere.energy.gov/communicationstandards/

6. Web Content Guidelines

7. Content QA Checklist

8. Content QA Checklist Topics Information architecture Section landing pages Each page as a whole Header text Introductory text Subheaders Body of content Links Images

12. Library of Approved Navigation Labels

14. Introduction to section content Links to content within section Links to any related sections Section Landing Pages

16. Page Elements

17. Header text Header Text

20. Introductory Text

22. Subheaders

24. Body of Content

26. Links Tell visitors when they are leaving EERE –Example: See ENERGY STAR's information on Federal Tax Credits for Energy EfficiencyFederal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency Tell users where they are going; i.e., Avoid “Click here” Emphasize only the distinctive words in a list of links: –Wrong: "renewable energy info for homeowners, renewable energy info for small businesses" –Right: Renewable energy info for: Homeowners Small businesses

29. Writing Process

31. Before Writing Who is the audience? What is the objective? –What message do you want to convey? –What tasks will your audience complete? What is the scope?

32. While Writing Refer to your original objective and plan Refer to the EERE Style GuideEERE Style Guide Refer to the Content QA ChecklistContent QA Checklist Ensure content is optimized for search Do not duplicate existing content

33. After Writing Does the page meet the objective? Does the page meet the needs of your audience? Could you easily complete your audience’s tasks using the content on this page?

34. Style Guide

35. EERE Style Guide

36. Style Guide Hierarchy: –EERE Style GuideEERE Style Guide –The Associated Press Style Book (2006) –Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Edition) –The Chicago Manual of Style (15th Edition). Common errors: –ENERGY STAR ® –Web site, Web page

37. Maintenance

38. Follow maintenance planmaintenance plan –As needed: contacts, news, organization charts –Scheduled: link scans, content reviews Remove old content Plan for maintenance as you write

39. Benefits of Content Standards

40. Easier to maintain your site Improved search results Achieve program goals Users will find what they want and return to your site

41. Summary Purpose Content QA Checklist Writing Process EERE Style Guide Maintenance

42. Content Standards Resources Content Standards Content QA Checklist Writing Process Links Style Guide Approved Navigation Labels Page Elements Types of Pages Search Optimization Maintaining Content Maintenance Plans Content Analysis Project Charters Subscribe to Standards Listserv Communication Standards Blog