Next Step Navigation [CASE V]

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Institutional websites today rarely lack in content. But our sites are so big that even the greatest content can quickly get lost in long navigation lists and buried pages. What can you do to make sure the most important actions, stories, and information for your users are at their fingertips? Discuss how to extend the exposure of actions, news, profiles, and social content throughout your site by naturally including the next steps users should take to stay on the site. We will cover: - Identifying primary and secondary content - Building a content categorization strategy- Understanding content types - Designing a page to promote action and stickiness By the end of the session, you will know how to flatten your site to give a visitor a more robust experience.

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Follow the 2010 CASE V Conference on Twitter#CASEV

Next Step Navigation

Communications and Web Track sponsored by Alumni Magnet

@ehodgso

Higher education web for 10 years

Consulting and implementation background

University of Iowa Foundation

Two Guiding Principles

Web sites are built for visitors Web sites are built for a purpose

bankofamerica.com | google.com

Key Takeaways

Anticipate user next steps

Build a content categorization strategy

Understand content types

Design a page to promote stickiness

Why go to the trouble?

Photo by Bert Werk via Flickr

“The Web is a selfish place. People don’t have time. They scan pages looking for something specific. Most people have absolutely no interest in links such as ‘What We Do’ and ‘Who We Are’. They only care about what you can do for them.”

- Gerry McGovern

The Ugly, The Bad, and The Good

www.cocc.edu | www.ttu.edu | www.du.edu

Anticipate their needs

Photo by James Cridland via Flickr

User Experience

Assume every visit is the user’s first

Assume the user knows nothing about you

Photo by wsimmons via Flickr

User Experience

Their browser, their rules

They have one task in mind

Photo by Al Power via Flickr

Site Analytics

The more clicks, the more data

Path tracking

Continual site improvement

Photo by muir.ceardach via Flickr

Popularity contest

Pages

Actions

Keywords

Let them tell you

Content categorization

Photo by dfulmer via Flickr

Categories

NavigationAcademics, About, Admissions, Development…

AudiencesFuture students, Current students, Parents, Faculty and staff…

ActionsApply, Visit campus, Give, Register…

Photo by Mykl Roventine via Flickr

www.champlain.edu

Content inventory

Page title

Content categories

Page owners/authors

Parent page

Navigation structure

Renewal plan

Photo by (nutmeg) via Flickr

Content types to categorize

Marketing

News and events

Actions

Photos and videos

Profiles

Navigation

Social Content

www.utexas.edu

www.iue.edu

Design for stickiness

Photo by Tjflex2 via Flickr

Design Principles

Stacked layout

Flexible content areas

Scan ability

Photo by Mike Rohde via Flickr

Wireframes

Templates Home page Sectional page Content page Specialty pages

Wireframe elements Page minimums Navigation structure Content types Flexible elements

www.fiu.edu

www.bu.edu

www.okwu.edu

Getting started

Set categories for all content

Train your authors

Document your activities

Photo by Phil Gyford via Flickr

Session handouts are available at

www.casefive.org/conference/presentations/

Username: CASEV_attendee | Password: Chicago

Follow the 2010 CASE V Conference on Twitter@CASE_DistrictV. Use the #CASEV hashtag when you tweet!

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