An Introduction to Content Management

By the end of the session you will be able to... Explain what a content management system is Apply the principles of 'writing for the web’ Create and manage web pages and attachments

What is Content Management?

The Jadu CMS Document Editor Non-technical word processing Familiar tools and functions Copy and paste Create links Apply styles Add images Format text Much more…

Categories and Navigation Categories are essential to make sure that your information is filed in the right place. The web site uses navigation categories to index and display information. It is important to understand what categories your content should be given as related content (FAQs, Downloads etc) will be automatically joined together. Guidance will be provided to help you place your content appropriately.

Metadata Metadata is used to ‘label’ information Metadata is simply relevant keywords It is used to describe the information so that other web sites, search engines and the website itself understands what the information is. Think about alternative terms, abbreviations, old terminology, acronyms, etc. It is easy to do! It must be done for ALL content

Preparing Your Content Write content in Word or similar Don’t spend too much time formatting - as all formatting can be done in the Jadu Control Control Centre Be brief and concise where you can Apply the principles of ‘writing for the web’ Ensure that any additional resources (e.g. images, etc.) are available Give yourself time

Why is ‘writing for the web’ different from print? How do you read a webpage? Not the same as reading a book / magazine 80 percent of users scan the page rather than read word for word Reading from computer screens is 25 percent slower than reading from paper

Tricks to Use Punchy page titles Break up content into ‘bite-size’ paragraphs Use bulleted lists Simplify for understanding Start with the conclusion Current, accurate and credible

Be Clear and Concise Web pages should generally have half the word count of printed pages. If the word count is cut by half, usability improves by around 50 percent. Similar improvements apply if the content is easier to scan. Writing concise copy can take more effort than writing a piece three times as long but the effort is worth it. Delete words - if it is possible to delete a word then delete it. The same applies to phrases and sentences. Cut anything that is superfluous. Write for the reader - keep the reader in mind at all times and remember that they are in a hurry to find information.

Elements of a Good Webpage Introductory paragraph Headings Sub-headings Short paragraphs Short sentences Bullet points Contact details

Enhancing Your Content Are there any web pages either on your site or others that are relevant to your topic? Are there any frequently asked questions relating to your topic? Are there any related downloads? Should there be a link to an online application / feedback form?

Spellchecking and Proof Reading Checking your work is vital since spelling mistakes and bad grammar give an unprofessional image and can slow readers down. The Spellchecker won’t spot words that you’ve spelled wrong but that are still words, e.g. when you write ‘form’ instead of ‘from’. This is why it is important to get all your work proofread. This may be easier if you take a break first and read a printed version of the page. Try to be as objective as possible and cut down on any unnecessary words or phrases. Read your copy once from the top down to check meaning, then read it again from the bottom up to check for errors. Rewrite anything that is unclear. Get a second person to proof your work, as you might find it difficult to spot your own mistakes.

Keeping Your Pages Updated Remember - all the web pages you create need to be maintained and if appropriate removed and archived. The main objective online is to provide College-focused information that is accurate, useful and current. Information that is out of date or incomplete reflects poorly on the College as an organization. Review your content regularly, and update your pages with new information (eg contact details or consultation results) when necessary. It may be an idea to set yourself a schedule so that you can thoroughly review your information at a regular interval. Use the Content Scheduling options in the CMS to set yourself reminders to revise pages with time-sensitive information.

Any Questions?