Title: Yes You Can Build a Web Site or Enewsletter Without Knowing HTML or Spending Money
1Yes! You Can Build a Web Site or E-newsletter
Without Knowing HTML or Spending Money
With University Communications and Marketing
2Why Do I Need a Web Site?
3Why Do I Need a Web Site?
- Admissions officials know their Web sites are
the first point of contact for prospective
students. It has changed from the Internet being
a supplement to the Internet being the first
source. - - Recent quote in The Chronicle of Higher
Education by Judy Hingle, director,
professional development, National Association
for College Admission Counseling
4Why Do I Need a Web Site?
- To communicate with students, faculty, staff and
other interested parties like alumni - To recruit undergraduate and graduate students
- To attract world-class faculty and staff
- To support research, teaching and learning
- To be there when someone is looking for you
5What is CommonSpot (Cspot)?
now that youre convinced
6What is CommonSpot (Cspot)?
- CommonSpot is a content management system
provided to the university community to help
techies and non-techies alike to build, manage
and update Web sites.
7What is CommonSpot (Cspot)?
- CommonSpot offers users the convenience of
- Pre-designed templates
- Format updatable from any computer with Internet
access - Information Services-maintained system
(failover, upgrades, security, data back ups) - Immediate editing, updating and publishing
- Little Web or coding experience or skills
required
8What is CommonSpot (Cspot)?
- CommonSpot offers users the convenience of
- Link management (uploading files, managing
files, validating internal and external
links) - Freshness reminders and publish dates
- Meta tags and keywords
- HTML option
- Web accessibility features alt tags and
text-only version of site - WebTrends
9What is CommonSpot (Cspot)?
- CommonSpot demonstration
- http//cms.kent.edu/ucm/login.cfm
10What is CommonSpot (Cspot)?
- Some things you should know about CommonSpot
- Pre-designed templates
- Limited control of source code
- Content is stored on central server
- Youll need to rethink your Web presence
- Migrating content ? fun
11How Can I Get Started?
- Contact University Communications and Marketing
and we will get the ball rolling on this
four-phase process
12Phase I Scope Meeting
- Evaluate your needs (current and future) and any
advanced functionality issues - View a demo and learn about CommonSpot
- Preview available templates
- Departmental templates http//newmedia.kent.edu/d
ept/dept-variations.htm
13Phase II Assessment
- Review templates and reflect
- Make template selection
- Notify UCM if you plan to use CommonSpot
- Identify point of contact for project
- UCM will request a database for your Web site
14Phase III Pre-Production
- Prepare content maps
- See sample content map from College of Nursing
- Make some important decisions
- One word for URL http//www.kent.edu/yoursite
- How many tabs?
- Relationship between tabs and left-hand
navigation? - Alternating images?
- Determine workflow
- Who needs a user account and permissions?
- Schedule CommonSpot training
15Phase IV Production
- Develop your Web site
- Create pages and subsites/sections for your site
- Move content
- Having a content map makes this section much
easier - Coordinate photo needs with UCM
- Up to 25 photos with treatment applied at no
charge - Verify links
- Set up redirect at former address and identify
other areas that need updating as well - Request go live (allow 3-5 days)
16Who Else is Using CommonSpot?
- As of December 2005
- 52 sites now live, including administrative,
academic and regional campus Web sites - 10 departments or organizations currently in
migration or awaiting training - 4 e-Newsletters, but weve only just begun
17E-newsletters
18E-Newsletter Overview Advantages
- Published at a fraction of the cost
- Delivered instantly ideal for communicating
timely information - Can allow for tracking of accessed content
19E-Newsletter Overview Distribution
- Through e-mail
- Through a Web site
- A combination of above
20E-Newsletter Overview Types
- Plain text e-mail
- Requires any e-mail program
- HTML e-mail
- Requires software e-mail program that renders
HTML - Web
- Requires Internet browser
- PDF
- Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
21E-newsletter Overview Challenges
- Some spam filters prevent receipt of
e-newsletters - Capturing e-mail addresses
- Keeping e-address list current
22Getting Started
- http//www.kent.edu/ucm/SolutionsServices/Web.cfm
- Review available e-newsletter templates
- Demo A
- Demo B
- Demo C
- Find out how to get started with a CommonSpot
based e-newsletter.
23E-newsletter Process Scope Meeting
- Meet with PR/Marketing Coordinator to
- Identify audience
- Identify core messages/content areas
- Identify frequency
- Identify how to maintain e-mail list
- Set up listserv https//secure.kent.edu/list
- Identify process for production, timelines (share
with UCM coordinators and editors)
24E-newsletter Process Production
- Write/gather content and images
- Image preparation
- Microsoft Office Picture Manager manual
- Image Resizer manual
- Send copy to UCM editors for review (allow 5-10
days) - Build pages in Commonspot
- Send e-mail with link to current issue
25E-newsletter Examples
- www.kent.edu/enews/momentum
- www.kent.edu/enews/rags
- http//www.kent.edu/comm/communique/
26Final Thoughts
- Remember to include an opt-out option for those
who wish to unsubscribe
27Questions?