Website Content

 

Website Content

Anyone can build a site like this, thanks to the new and improved google sites. When you first start your site, you are given a home page. You can pick from a variety of themes, and start creating your pages. Click on the pages tab on the right, and click on the add icon to create a new page. After creating the title, you can then click on the insert tab to start making your page. This page was created using the text box insert, and additional items such as pictures, links, and videos can be added using the upload feature. Once you are done creating your website, simply click on the publish icon on the top, and your website is ready to go. The website can be edited at any time from your google sites account. 

Sketching

It’s super helpful to sketch any ideas we have in our heads before we start actually building them. It’s an exercise that can save us a lot of time when we get to the coding part.

Maybe what’s in our heads just doesn’t look right once it’s on paper? Maybe some new problems and questions come up in our sketch? Maybe our design is just too busy? Many of these problems will show themselves in our sketches.

Headings are clear and descriptive; content is relevant to the page headings

Page content and title/headings should speak the same topic. Write-up content is in a simple and understandable language. Avoid the use of industry/technical jargon or acronyms.

Use of pagination

Long content requires users to continuously scroll down, therefore use of pagination aids organizing content. Keep in mind to maintain the ease of navigating through the paginated pages. Users should be able to navigate to the first or last page at any point of time.

Use of suitable and recognisable web icon metaphors

Web icons are useful for users to recognize links or functions. A PDF icon beside the text link lets users know that the link is pointing to a PDF file. A cart icon is often associated with a shopping cart function, while the mail icon is associated with inquiry or email functions.

Availability of FAQ/Help section

Relevant information of your site’s offered product, services and policies is publicly available. This will lower the number of email inquiries sent by users.

Multimedia Content

No splash entrance page

Flash introductory movie, with whooshing graphics and heart throbbing music, as splash entrance page is obsolete. Slow loading flash will deter more users from visiting again.

No excess use of flashing/blinking animated images

Flashing/blinking images distract users’ attention on your website.

ALT/TITLE attribute on graphics and images

Enhance the browsing experience of users with disabilities. Providing useful, accurate information in the ALT/TITLE attributes can make your graphics and images more discoverable on the web. Example of ALT/TITLE attribute in an image file:

<img src=”LOGO.JPG” alt=”XXX” title=”XXX” />

Use of infographics

Infographics depict colorful, easy-to-read illustrations and important data points to users. Companies are publishing infographics as a new style of white papers. It is also easily made available for users to share among the community.

Use of streaming media

Video clips are more interactive and capture attention of the users, compared to chunks of paragraph text. Embedded video clips in web pages using tools, i.e. Vimeo, Youtube allows community sharing too. Use of transcripts in your video page facilitates search engine optimization.

Use of map images for contact location

Embed map images by using tools, i.e. Google Maps, Bing Maps to display your business’s physical location.