Webinar "Using the Web to Maximize Your Regional Group's ...

Using the Web to Maximize Using the Web to Maximize Your Regional Group's Your Regional Group's EffectivenessEffectiveness Prepared by Fleishman-Hillard

December 9, 2009

1. What is a Web site?

2. Why do I need a Web site?

3. What are the building blocks of a Web site?

4. Who builds Web sites?

5. How is a Web site created?

6. Who will host my Web site?

7. How do I grow my Web site?

8. How do I manage and maintain my Web site?

Eight Common Questions about Web Sites

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WHAT IS WHAT IS A WEB SITE?A WEB SITE?A website (also spelled web site) is a collection of related web

pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are addressed

with a common domain name or IP address in an Internet Protocol-

based network. A web site is hosted on at least one web server,

accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area

network.1Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Website

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Website

WHY DO I NEED WHY DO I NEED A WEB SITE?A WEB SITE?

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ATTRACTENGAGESPEAKLISTENTRANSACT

WHY YOU NEED A WEB SITE

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR

USERS

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WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE BUILDING BUILDING BLOCKS OF A BLOCKS OF A WEB SITE?WEB SITE?

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WEB SITE BUILDING BLOCKS

Internet Landscape

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Providers Include

• Network Solutions, http://www.networksolutions.com

• Go Daddy, http://www.godaddy.com

• Hundreds of others available


Domain Name Registration

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http://www.networksolutions.com/

http://www.godaddy.com/

Providers Include

• Network Solutions, http://www.networksolutions.com/whois

• Who Is, http://www.whois.net/


WHOIS Lookup

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http://www.networksolutions.com/whois

http://www.whois.net/


Content

CONTENT IS KINGif you don’t have good content, you don’t have a good Web site

Video TextAudio

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Functionality

Calendar

Photo Galleries

Membership/User-Registration

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Functionality

E-commerce TransactionSearch Functionality

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WHO BUILDS WHO BUILDS WEB SITES?WEB SITES?

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• In-house Web Team• Full-time staff or contractors

• Agencies• a.k.a., Web Development, Web Design,

Digital Development, Digital Media Agencies

• Freelancers• One or more part-time independent contractor(s)

• “Site-in-a-box”• www.webs.com• sites.google.com• www.networksolutions.com/business-solutions

WHO BUILDS WEBSITES

YOU USUALLY GET WHAT YOU

PAY FOR

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WHO BUILDS WEBSITES

Cost

Quality

Precision and Expertise Reliability and Risk Reduction

Flexibility and Control

In House

Freelancer

Agency

Site in a Box

KEY

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HOW IS A WEB HOW IS A WEB SITE CREATED? SITE CREATED?

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HOW A WEB SITE IS CREATED

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HOW A WEB SITE IS CREATED

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HOW A WEB SITE IS CREATED: User Experience

User Experience: Scalable for any project

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Persona Example: Investors

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Persona Example: The Investment Researcher

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Site Map

Site maps provide an outline of every page on a site and is used through out the content, design and build phase.

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Wireframe

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HOW A WEB SITE IS CREATED: CONTENT

Creating Content for the Web

Attributes IMMEDIACY RELEVANCE UTILITY APPEAL

Value Creatio

n

Value can be created through delivering content in an “on-demand” format. Users can get what they want, when they want it.

Value can be created through contextual relevance. Users come to a site for one purpose, but are served with additional targeted, relevant content.

Value can also be created through providing a service or information that users are in need of, but cannot find elsewhere.

Value can also be created through enjoyment or entertainment, resulting in an enriched and positive user experience.

Results

Content provider becomes a

facilitatorfacilitator

Content provider becomes a

resourceresource

Content provider

becomes an instrumentinstrument

Content provider

becomes an

entertaineentertainerr

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• People don’t read the Web, they scan

• To keep your audience’s attention you must:• Keep content relevant and fresh• Keep it short• Use bullets, short paragraphs and simple sentences• Uses photos, video and multi-media• Use links to cross-promote other content• Use SEO


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Bullets

Short ParagraphsImagery

Cross Promotion

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HOW A WEB SITE IS CREATED: DESIGN

Wireframe - revisited

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HOW A WEBSITE IS CREATED: DESIGN

Visual Design and Branding

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Good Design and Branding consists of four steps

1.Defining and Researching your concept and Brand

2.Honing and Translating those findings into memorable and meaningful online experiences

3.Designing the online experience through a tried and tested series of steps and iterative process to get it right

4.Synthesizing the final product to ensure the site and message are ready for engagement.

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HOW A WEBSITE IS CREATED: TECHNOLOGY

Technology

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Accessibility

Browser/Device Compatibility

Interactivity

Search Engine Optimization


Front End Coding

Transactions and Forms

Databases

Integration with other systems

Content management systems

Back End Coding

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What is a Content Management System (CMS)

A Web Content Management System (CMS or WCMS) is software, implemented as a Web application, for creating and managing HTML content. It is used to manage and control a large, dynamic collection of Web material (HTML documents and their associated images). A WCMS facilitates content creation, content control, editing, and essential Web maintenance functions.Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_content_management_system

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_management_system

• Allow non-technical people to create new pages

• Allow a large number contributors with controlled access

• Reduce repetitive tasks and duplicative input

• Support workflow and publishing

• Maintain consistency

• Separate content from presentation


Why do I need a CMS?

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CMS products range from little or no cost to high-end commercial solutions. Three Open Source CMS platforms with no license fee:

•Drupal, http://www.drupal.org

•Wordpress, http://www.wordpress.org

•Joomla!, http://www.joomla.org


CMS Examples

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http://www.drupal.org/

http://www.wordpress.org/

http://www.joomla.org/


Wordpress Example

Back End/ Content Page Published Page

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Modules and Plugins

Add to Any (Sharing Tool)

Cincopa (Photo/Video Gallery)

Calendar Events Tool

WP-Polls

WP-Polls

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WHO WILL HOST WHO WILL HOST MY WEB SITE?MY WEB SITE?

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• In-house Data Center

• Physical Hosting (Managed or Self-Managed)

(examples: IBM, AT&T)

• Shared or “Dedicated Virtual” Web Hosting Service

(examples: Media Temple, Go Daddy, DreamHost)

• Free Web Hosting

(examples: Webs.com, Google Sites, GeoCities, Wordpress.com)

WHO HOSTS A WEB SITE

Levels of Service

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http://www.mediatemple.net


Media Temple

• Good tech support

• Easy upgrade path

• Developer-friendly, full control

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http://www.godaddy.com/hosting/wordpress-hosting.aspx


Go Daddy

• Pre-installed Wordpress

• Low price

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http://www.dreamhost.com/hosting.html


DreamHost

• Built-in Wordpress installer

• Low price

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Wordpress.com vs. Wordpress.org

Wordpress.com provides hosting and management of Wordpress software, which can be downloaded from Wordpress.org and installed on your own server

BENEFITS CONS

Wordpress.com •Free, easy setup•Managed upgrades, backups, spam, security, etc.•Scales for traffic spikes

•No custom themes•Limited plugins

Wordpress.org •Custom themes•Access to all plugins•Complete control

•Requires hosting plan•Self-managed upgrades, backups, spam, security

Source: Wordpress.com

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HOW DO I GROW HOW DO I GROW MY WEB SITE?MY WEB SITE?

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As important as building your Web site, is sharing and promoting it:

•Google Analytics• Evaluating Your Web site based on metrics

•Search engine optimization and marketing• Using language to attract missed opportunities

•Link Building• Cross-promoting the site internally and externally

GROWING A WEB SITE

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Google Analytics and Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

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Distributing Content and Conversation

• Email programs

• Social media • Widgets, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

• Content Aggregation • RSS Feeds

GROWING A WEB SITE

DON’T BUILD YOUR WEB

SITE IN A SILO47

Twitter and Facebook

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HOW DO I HOW DO I MANAGE AND MANAGE AND MAINTAIN MY MAINTAIN MY WEB SITE?WEB SITE?

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• Assign an in-house Web Manager

• Retain technical and design support

• Keep your content fresh

• Get to know your users

• Pay attention to your Web analytics

• Visit your own Web site every day!

MANAGING AND MAINTAING A WEB SITE

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

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THINGS TO REMEMBER

YOU USUALLY GET WHAT YOU

PAY FOR

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR

USERS

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

CONTENT IS KING

DON’T BUILD YOUR WEB

SITE IN A SILO

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QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

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GLOSSARYGLOSSARY

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3x3’s – Three different conceptual screen layouts that organize the information in varying ways that follow a simple task 3 layers deep.

Aggregator – Software or a Web application that aggregates syndicated Web content such as news headlines, blogs or podcasts in a single location for easy viewing. Also feed reader, news reader.

Application (social network) – A mini-program that leverages a social network’s platform to deliver customized experience and content.

Content Optimization – The editing or altering of Internet content, including text, graphics and interactive assets, to improve a Web site’s usability and effectiveness. Also site language analysis, link strategy.

Dedicated Virtual Hosting – A hosting service that partitions a server into multiple operating systems and resource units that are each dedicated to a single customer.

GLOSSARY

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Data Center – A facility where servers and computer components are housed (telecommunications, security devices, back-up power, etc.). Also known as a server farm.

Domain Name – An identification label that defines authority or control in the Internet (e.g. nbaa.org). A domain name is based on the Domain Name System (DNS).

DNS – Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical naming convention for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. DNS makes it possible to assign domain names to groups of Internet users in a meaningful way, independent of each user's physical location.

E-mail Marketing – A form of direct marketing that uses e-mail as a means of communicating with an audience. Can be used to deliver a message, promote a service or product or enhance relationships with the audience.

HTML – The most popular front-end language for Web sites. Stands for HyperText Markup Language.

GLOSSARY

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HTTP – Defines how Web servers and browsers should transmit messages on Web sites. Stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol.

Information Architecture – The blueprint that describes how information is organized and structured on a website.

Mashup – A derivative work consisting of two pieces of media conjoined, such as a video clip with a different soundtrack applied for humorous effect, or a digital map overlaid with user-supplied data.

Online Advertising – A Web-based equivalent of traditional advertising. Advertisers purchase Web site real estate, typically from online advertising networks, for the purpose of displaying brand messages.

GLOSSARY

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Open Source – Started as the notion of a free program with source code available to the general public for use and/ or modification; programmers improve upon the software code collaboratively and share changes with the community.

Personas – Profiles of user types including key tasks, goals, pain points, search behaviors and activities. They help the team keep the intended consumer of the programs that we are creating in mind and also to remind us that we are not the users.

Podcast – Audio recording, hosted on a Web page and accessible for individual downloads by using “pull” technology, such as RSS feeds and MP3 players.

GLOSSARY

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RSS – An acronym for Really Simple Syndication. Plug and play technology, typically called a “reader” which allows users to easily pull in (by way of subscription) select Web content such as a blog, Twitter feed, news, press releases, etc.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – The act of editing or altering Web site content, including text, graphics, interactive assets, to improve a Web site’s natural visibility and rank or prominence in search engine results.

Shared Web Hosting – A service or offering where multiple sites are hosted on one Web server.

Social Media – An online tool and digital platform used to share opinions, insights, experiences and perspectives. Includes blogs, message boards, podcasts, social networking sites, and wiki sites.

Tags – Keywords or phrases assigned to Web content, such as blog posts, wiki entries, photos, podcasts, etc., to facilitate easy organization, called indexing and searching.

GLOSSARY

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URL – An address identifying a location of a page or site on the Internet. Stands for Uniform Resource Locator (example, http://www.nbaa.org/folder/page.html)

User experience – A term used to describe the overarching experience a person has as a result of his or her interactions with a particular product or service, its delivery and related artifacts, according to their design. Also UX, or UE.

User Requirements – The “must haves” governing the project's deliverable or product as expressed or demonstrated by the users.

Web 2.0 – A term coined to loosely describe Web-based services such as wiki sites and social networks that emphasize online collaboration and content sharing among users.

GLOSSARY

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http://www.nbaa.org/folder/page.html

Web Syndication – A form of syndication in which a section of a Web site is made available to other sites, often by information feeds. Subscribers receive a regularly scheduled summary of the most recently added news and posts.

WHOIS – A query that is used for determining the registrant and contact information (where applicable) of domain names or IP addresses.

Widget – A “mini-Web page” or piece of content that can be embedded in personal Web sites. Distribution usually includes tools that allow users to easily port or grab code to embed the widget across their own sites and social network profiles.

Wireframes – Sketches of screens that help visualize the structure, function , organization, navigation and interaction.

GLOSSARY

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Webinar "Using the Web to Maximize Your Regional Group's ...

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