What exactly is blah, blah? That was the topic of conversation at a web content workshop held on campus last week. David Poteet, President of New City, presented “Beyond Blah Blah: Creating Great Content for the Web.”
Approximately thirty representatives from across campus participated in this interactive workshop, including members of marketing and communications, web content management, undergraduate, graduate and part-time admissions, financial assistance, university advancement, and academics.
We talked about eliminating ROT - redundant, outdated and trival content, participated in group exercises and reviewed these 6 Tips for writing compelling web content:
Tip 1: Give them what they want
Tip 2: Not everyone thinks like you. Or, not everyone wants the same things you want
Tip 3: Use words that smell like goals
Tip 4: Write “visually”
Tip 5: Show don’t tell
Tip 6: Capture the imagination
David showed us some "before and after" redesigned web pages to illustrate some of his points. We also watched this enlightening video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilq9qeyVjT0 that tracks the human eye on a web page. Follow the blue dot as the person views the web page. If you think people are reading your web pages from left to right, top to bottom, think again.
The workshop was to begin preparing the web team and web liaisons for the process of editing and refining their existing web content. Content migration to the new website will begin in June. The web team’s goal is to have content reviewed and refined by end of June. WCM will be working with departments to assist and guide them in this effort.
On the design side of the house, things are moving along smoothly. The new SHU homepage design along with several secondary page designs have been reviewed and approved. All designs should be completed by mid-April.
If you have any questions/feedback regarding our web redesign project, please contact WCM at sitefeedback@sacredheart.edu
Thanks and stay tuned for more updates.
Web Content Management
Nancy Boudreau
Kim Galiette
Caitlin Robles
