Lunch and learn - Spinning a Web

Spinning A Web Developing Effective Web Strategies Lunch and Learn October 3, 2013

Some caveats as we begin • Assistance provided by Marketing and Communications, Tech Group and Pitt Enterprise Web Infrastructure (EWI) • Current lab sites can be hosted on the Swanson School CMS (Ektron) or at EWI • Once sites are live, owners are responsible for uploading and maintaining content • As the Swanson School ramps up into redesigning/rebuilding the SSoE web site, all major site builds will be placed on hold • All current Ektron lab sites will automatically migrate into the new design • Next phase will allow for faculty to build from predesigned templates

If you want to move a site onto EWI •

Faculty maintain control of all content hosted on EWI through third-party content management systems or through Secure FTP.

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EWI supports centralized Microsoft SQL Server databases.

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Web sites hosted on EWI have access to the University's Google search tools. These tools allow you to create searches within your own site and enable results from your Web site to be displayed in the results of University-wide searches conducted from www.pitt.edu.

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Web site traffic can be analyzed with Urchin software from Google, another tool provided by the EWI service.

What makes an effective site • Remember your key users • How will they interact with it?

• Do you really know how people are using your site?

• Content is King/Queen – there is little point to building a web site if you do not update it • Images can make an impact • KISS...

...or this happens

If you design your own site... ...please review with us first

Third-Party Issues Adobe Muse Publisher Word WYSIWYGs Any web-based program-for-pay Lack of CMS, domain host

Navigation Go with the flow

Common Lab Navigation Map PEOPLE

RESEARCH

PUBLICATIONS

NEWS

P.I.

PROJECTS

AWARDS

STUDENTS

CAPABILITIE S

PATENTS

ALUMNI

EQUIPMENT

NEWS

CONTACT

RELATED LINKS

Using the Ektron CMS • Secure site • Acts as your lab database • Edit like Word or Excel • New functionalities coming in Version 9 with site redesign

Works with SSoE template or your design

Now you have it...

How do you know people are using it?

We see you when you are sleeping

Analytic Data – Vorp Lab

Analytic Data – Source

Analytic Data – City

Key Takeaways •

Simplicity is key – the fewer pages and clicks, the better

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Design your site for your intended audience

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Keep your content fresh

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Repeat - Keep your content fresh

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Analytics are your friend

Next VORP Lunch & Learn

November 14, 2013 SBIR/STTR – Making Connections: Universities & Small Business Working Presenter: Paul Petrovich, Office of Enterprise Development An SBIR/STTR program primer and discussion to understand and explore strategies for proposal submission and the benefits for a university and surrounding community.