YOUR WEB SITE REVISITED

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YOUR WEB SITE REVISITED

• Appearance, Organization, Tone

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General Web Page Design

• Should create a sense of unity
• Should fit the purpose of the site
• Should be consistent so that its apparent that
  all pages belong to the same site

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Consistent Design

• Create a clear hierarchy on the page
• Emphasize the most important elements
• Organize your content for ease in scanning and
  understanding and for pleasant reading
• Use the same basic grid for each page to
  emphasize consistency

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Purpose

• What site should accomplish
• Sites for 393 should show both personal and
  professional sides of the site owner, so
  educational, professional and personal
  information must be included. These sites are
  primarily informational. Other reasons for
  creating sites service, sales, links, pleasure
• Informational sites are usually detailed, but
  should also focus on speed and efficiency to make
  site visitors feel comfortable.

5
Your Audience

• 3 categories
• Users trying to accomplish some task, they want
  clear and easy navigation
• Viewers looking for entertainment, they want to
  be amused and engaged by the site. Clever design
  and graphics are important.
• Readers occupying the middle ground, they want
  information and entertainment.

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Web Writing

• Page length 50 less text for an onscreen page
  than for a print page to accommodate slower
  reading speeds online
• Short paragraphs essential, information
  presented in small chunks
• One length recommendation a single browser
  window (640x480 pixels)
• Variations often necessary for different
  audiences, ex. readers are willing to scroll,
  buyers relish speed

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Web Writing 2

• Anchors pages longer than one browser window
  need anchor links to provide an alternative to
  scrolling
• Create a navigation bar listing these links
• Bar can contain words only, words and icons, or
  icons only.
• Placement can be either horizontal or vertical
  but should be consistent on every page. On a
  long page, horizontal bars should appear at both
  top and bottom.
• The UMBC Styleguide contains anchor links.

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Organization

• Cues to interpret the site
• Headings hierarchy important
• word or phrase should be accurately descriptive
• Consistency in levels for heading throughout site
• Inverted pyramid format start with conclusion,
  then present supporting information and
  background details
• Length revisited revise text for conciseness
  with shorter text for onscreen reading

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Writing Style

• Tone language should match purpose of site
• Ex. Sales site conversational and informal,
  information site formal and serious
• Person first and second person preferred in
  informal writing to convey you attitude
• Voice active rather than passive
• Humor self-deprecation ok, no jokes at
  someones expense, nothing mean-spirited

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Web Examples

• User site www.nws.noaa.gov/ National Weather
  Service
• Viewer site http//www.artic.edu/aic/ The Art
  Institute of Chicago
• Reader site www.salonmagazine.com/ Salon
  magazine
• Style guide www.umbc.edu/Styleguide/ UMBC
  Style Guide