Creating Successful Theme-based Web Pages Theme-based web sites provide users with a coherent in-depth narrative on a single topic Nancy N. Soreide NOAA/PMEL NOAA Webshop 2003 Longmont, CO, June 3-6, 2003

 Successful, theme-based web pages support NOAA’s mission strategy: “Engage, advise, and inform individuals, partners, communities, and industries to facilitate information flow, assure coordination and cooperation, and provide assistance in the use, evaluation, and application of information” *  Websites that present NOAA science, data, analysis and information in a manner that is clear, scientifically validated, useful, interesting and intelligible by a broad audience support NOAA in promoting the “increased use and effectiveness of climate information for decision makers and managers” * * NOAA Strategic Plan for FY2003 – FY2008 and Beyond NOAA Strategic Plan

Congress has directed OMB to issue government-wide guidelines for: “ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information disseminated by Federal agencies …" Section 515(a) of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 * Section 515(a) of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 Data Quality Act

What is a “theme-based” web page?  A “theme based” website is focused on a specific project, topic, idea, issue or data collection.  Theme-based web sites provide users with a coherent in-depth narrative on a single topic  Examples:  TAO Project Office website  El Nino and Arctic Theme Pages  OAR Intranet Website  OSCAR Satellite Data Website

Steps to building a successful theme-based web page  Define the website objectives and target audience  Assemble a team of experts  scientists, senior staff, web developers, graphics artists  Assemble and organize the material to be presented  Create project, outreach, resource and/or data web pages focused around the theme  Use a “layered approach” to present the content in a manner that is clear, scientifically validated, useful, interesting and intelligible by a broad audience.  Market the website and monitor it’s success

Define the website objectives and target audience  Know what material you want to provide  What do you want the website to communicate to the audience?  Each website should have a “punch line”  Know who your target audience is  A well-designed, layered website can be approachable for a broad audience.  Information for generalists immediately available  Information for specialists a mouse click away Define objectives & audience

Assemble a Web team  Members of an effective team  Scientists, support programmers, web developers and graphics artists  The team may be only a single person, but it is essential that a scientist be involved.  Coordination  A good choice of team leader is a senior member of the project with a strong understanding of the science and also of information technology  The team leader should be able to communicate effectively with all team members and facilitate contributions from each in their area of expertise. Web Team

Assemble and organize the web site content material  Assemble the website content material  Local project information and data  Links to websites with relevant material  Organize the website content material  Once assembled, the content information will fall into natural groupings.  These natural groupings form the lower level pages of the website and the topics in the navigation bar and/or menus Web site content

Prototype the Web Pages  Identify a few graphics that illustrate the theme  The NOAA Photo Library is a great source of graphics that are not restricted by copyright  Copyright is not necessarily a barrier, simply request permission to use the graphic  These graphics can be incorporated into the web page appearance  Mock up the web page (one or more design ideas) Create the Web Page

Website Navigation Good navigation is critical to website success!  Bring content to the top level page  Use a Navigation Bar  Use menus if a Navigation Bar is not sufficient to bring content to the top level  Decide on the topics for Navigation Bar and/or Menus  Initial determination of navigation bar / menu items follows naturally from content groupings  Finalize navigation bar / menu items by adjusting them to focus on the website’s theme or “punch line”  Select the navigation topics so that your target audience will resonate with them  Keep the same navigation/menus on every page in the website Create the Web Page

Navigation bar and menus bring all content to the top level.

Navigation bar and menus are the same on every page. Users can browse the content of the entire site from any page.

The Navigation Bar on this website brings all content to the top level with no need for menus.

Complexity of a topic may require the use of a menu in order to bring content to the top level

Tabs are another way to bring content to the top level

Use a “layered approach”  Objective of “layered approach”:  To present NOAA science, data, analysis and information in a manner that is clear, scientifically validated, useful, interesting and intelligible by a broad audience.  A user from the general public should find clear information immediately at the top level  A specialist user should be able to go quickly and easily (one mouse click) to the details or the data of interest.

The topic is explained right on the home page. Details for the public and the specialist or scientist are a mouse click away with the Navigation Bar and Menus

The topic is explained right on the home page. Details for the public and the specialist or scientist are a mouse click away with the Navigation Bar and Menus

Credibility Credibility  Work with all the web team experts at each stage of development!  A final review by a graphics artist can provide small but critical improvements in presentation  Continual science input and final science review is critical the credibility of the website and the accuracy of the information presented.  Follow NOAA Web Page guidelines, policies and regulations!  E.g., NOAA Logo, Privacy Notice, Disclaimer, Accessibility, etc.

Marketing the website Marketing the website  Submit the site to search engines  85% of users find web pages with search engines  Use the Submit It! Utility or submit by hand  Submit to every search engine you use or hear about!  Register with Yahoo!  Request that other sites link to your website  Search the web for sites that you wish were linking to you  Send to the webmaster  Briefly describe the merits of your website  Politely offer your site as a candidate for them to link to  Include the URL of your site & your own /contact information  Consider contacting NOAA Public Affairs & NOAA Webmaster  Monitor success and correct site based on user  More on Marketing your Website at:

Steps to building a successful theme-based web page  Define the website objectives and target audience  Assemble a team of experts  Assemble and organize the material  Create easily navigated web pages  Use a “layered approach” for a broad audience  Market the website and monitor it’s success Marketing your Website