WWW Development Guide for University Outreach
and Extension Offices and Programs
Task Outline | Roles and Responsibilities | Maintenance
Planning | HTML Learning Resources |
Task Outline
This task list should be used as a tool for groups who are just beginning to plan their
Web presence.
- Phase 1: Getting organized
- Use the Planning Worksheet and go through it
carefully, discussing issues with other folks who will be involved with developing the
site and providing content for it.
- Assign roles and responsibilities: choose a Web Manager, and
designate at least one Maintainer.
- Decide what the first content pieces will be that you put on your Web site. Don't bite
off more than you can chew -- start simple with one or two main things. Do them well, then
expand.
- Web Manager: obtain a Web site account from the UO/E Webmaster
- Decide what software will be used to develop the site.
- Set a time frame for having your site ready to "announce." Be realistic
-- allow yourself time for the "learning curve".
- Phase 2: Development
- Use the Web Site Design Worksheet (coming soon!) to help you plan the organization and
structure of your Web site, including organization, navigation, graphics, headers,
and footers.
Some questions to ask yourself about the design and structure:
- Are pages consistent among each other (footer info, graphics, etc.) so that it's clear
your pages all belong to the same site?
- Is the navigation intuitive and easy to use?
- Does the overall look reflect the image you wish to present?
- Does the overall look appeal to the target audience?
- Will it look good on all browsers and all screen resolutions?
- Break your content into chunks and prioritize them by what order you want to get them up
on the Web site. Again, don't bite off more than you can chew because it's easy to get
overwhelmed.
- Start "webifying" your content and building your site, one section at a time.
- Phase 3: Maintenance
- Web Manager assigns ongoing tasks to individual Maintainers.
- Described how much time Maintainers will spend updating the pages regularly.
Schedule this time into the normal work week for Maintainers.
- Make sure your site is taking full advantage of being on the Web -- linkages to other
pages within UO/E and related sites out on the Web. (Be cautious about
"endorsing" commercial sites or products.)
- Continue to add content to your site gradually, enhancing what is already there and
adding new sections, documents, newsletters, etc.
- Check your site regularly for broken links and dead ends. These will turn visitors off
quickly.
- Check Web server statistics regularly to see what pages are most used
- Phase 4: Marketing Your Site
