Danielle Ryan, MJE
Taking your website to the next level
Six steps that will take your sites from good to great.
Every good site should have……✤ A large photo or carousel to
greet the reader.
✤ Solid storytelling.
✤ Engaging photos.
✤ Multiple posting categories with a variety of stories that are updated regularly.
✤ Updated sports scores or calendar.
But who wants to produce just a GOOD site? Adding a few tools to your toolbox will not only engage your staff but will take your site to the next level.
DisclaimerMany of these suggestions are tested in my newsroom.
Some of them are ideas I have for next year.
Some of them I have begged my kids to do for years because I know they are best practices and engaging tools… but they sit unused. I’m sure you can relate!
Step 1- Improve your story pages
✤ Create variety in your story lengths: Long- form narrative, standard length and briefs.
✤ Update your stories as info becomes available- why do all stories have to be complete? They are editable!!!
✤ Add pull quotes to break up long stories.
Step 1- Improve your story pages
✤ Add polls in your stories to engage your reader.
✤ Use all those great pictures and turn them into slideshows- either attached to stories or as photo stories.
✤ Use hyperlinks to validate your position or give your reader more information.
Shamu spashes in a bigger
tank
Step 2- Improve your multimedia content
✤ Video- you have to have it! The pros do it… why can’t we? Vary your video storytelling to engage your audience.
✤ Audio- NPR has an incredible library of audio reporting or podcasts. Some are even done by students.
✤ Soundslides- really cool way to marry great photos and multimedia storytelling.
Step 3- Go all-in with social media
✤ Introduce multiple accounts that meet your audience’s interests. Remember that your audience is not just your students.
✤ Create social media posting expectations and rules- avoid emojis, no inside jokes, news purposes only, etc. Look to the pros to see how they handle their accounts.
✤ Try to avoid intersecting purposes- Twitter might be for straight news while Instagram might be more laid back and give a behind the scenes look.
✤ Live tweet events- not everyone can be at away games.
Tips for Effective Social Media Reporting
✤ Some news can just be a tweet or Instagram post.
✤ Be selective- don’t push every article.
✤ Avoid generic push messages- create a unique message for each post and tag featured students.
Tips for Effective Social Media Reporting
✤ Create a separate account for live tweeting. Excessive posting can annoy readers if they don’t like the event you are covering.
✤ Tweet when students will read them- lunch, end of the day, homework time…. during class.
✤ Create a team who is in charge of the accounts BUT guard that password AND change it at the end of the year.
The Fires
Tip 4- Try some fun, new tools
Storify coverage of Poinsettia Fires
Storify
ListicleMake visual Top 10 lists.
Step 5- Manage your site… EVERY DAY
✤ Create class standards for publication.
✤ Name a managing editor.
✤ Schedule your posts- try to post every day.
✤ Watch for unplanned white space and column drops.
✤ Use an organization system like Trello or SNO Flow.
✤ Study Google Analytics
Step 6- Learn from the pros and assess your work
✤ Use professional news sites for inspiration.
✤ See what other high schools are doing- NSPA Pacemaker winners, School Newspapers Online winners list
✤ Get a critique from NSPA
✤ Find contests to enter.
✤ Write your own critique forms.
Questions?Email- [email protected]
Twitter- @CbadNewsTeacherSlideshare- http:www.slideshare.net/danielleryan15
