Tag Archives: training

Managing site content

Posted in Site content on by Paul Boag

The majority of our clients now run content management systems on their sites but is a CMS really the answer to all our site management woes?

What makes content management systems attractive

It is easy to see why organisations find content management system attractive. So many web sites are full of out of date content, as well as being difficult to edit. A content management system appears to be the ideal solution because it allows anybody within the organisation to update web pages without the need for technical skills. Marketing departments can control the message being projected through their site while overworked IT departments don’t have to deal with a constant stream of changes. In larger organisations it is even possible to decentralise the running of the web site so that responsibility for sections within the site are deligated to individual departments.

The reality

Why is it then that only 27% of organisations using content management systems are not intending to make changes to the way it is used. Using a content management system to run your web site is good in theory but in reality it is not always that straightforward.

Content management is about more than technology

The problem lies in the fact that organisations perceive the implementation of a content management system as an answer in its own right. However a CMS is simply a tool that still requires people to use it correctly in order to maximise its potential. It is how a CMS is used within an organisation that determines it success, not the technology itself. There are three classic mistakes made when it comes to the use of content management systems:

Responsibilities

One of the most common problems is that responsibility for the web site is not clearly defined. It is rarely made clear to those expected to update the web site that this is a key part of their job. It is considered an additional chore that gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list. In many cases the web site is updated no more frequently than before a CMS was implemented simply because people dont have the time and motivation to do it. In my experience the time when CMS works best is when the individuals responsible for the web site have their role as web editor clearly defined in their job decsription and time is cleared in their schedules to allow them to undertake this role.

A single focus

Another common mistake is the lack of any single evangelist. There needs to be a single web master that not only ensures that other individuals contribute to the site when they are meant to, but also ensures that the contributions are consistant in language, style and message. Without this person there is no sense of "whole" in the message being communicated through the site. It will contain different writing styles and in some cases even contridictory content. You need one person that can set a style for the site as well as establish a vision for its future direction and development.

Training

Obviously there is a need to ensure that people know how to use the content management system, but that cannot be the end of the story. Its important to remember that many of those editing the web site might not be doing so on a regular basis. It is therefore important that they receive refresher training periodically to make sure they feel confident using the system. If they lack confidence they will avoid using it and once again content will become out of date.

Also training on the use of the content management system is only the tip of the iceberg. Web site editors need to have an understanding of how to write effective copy for the web. They need to know the basics of good layout and design as well as an understanding of how to structure the web site to ensure it is easy to find information.

Conclusions

So what is the lesson here? I guess it would be to invest as much time and money into the people who will run your web site as into the technology that will drive it. Make sure that there is somebody within your organisation who is a real evanglist for your web site. Somebody with a clear vision of where your site is going and the resources to make it happen.

Web accessibility & business

Posted in Accessibility on by Paul Boag

Why is it important for a business to make its website accessible and how to go about achieving it.

Background

On the web you can never be certain how the end user will view your web pages. Accessible website design, therefore, means designing for diversity. An accessible website works on a variety of different web browsers and hardware platforms (old and new). Site content will be available to someone with a 21" screen using the latest Windows PC, to someone viewing with WebTV, or a disabled person accessing the Internet through a speech-enabled device. It will be flexible enough to accommodate the access needs of the end user, e.g., a visually impaired user may need to enlarge text or change colours on the page

Why is web accessibility important

Accessible web design is important to businesses for legal, ethical and commercial reasons:

Legal

The Disability Discrimination Act requires organisations in the UK to make online information accessible to disabled people. Court action has never been taken in Britain although there have been high profile cases elsewhere. The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) intends to formally investigate online service providers in spring 2003. Court action on the grounds of discriminatory practice could be costly and damaging to public relations.

Ethical

It makes good business sense for organisations to demonstrate an inclusive and ethical approach – a good image will have an impact on customer perception and buying behaviour.

Commercial

Some organisations may be reluctant to prioritise web accessibility if they believe legal and ethical issues are the only driving forces. However, accessible websites have advantages: Websites designed to be accessible will attract a larger number of potential customers. The DRC found that disabled people in the UK have a combined spending power of £50 bn, yet still have difficulties gaining access to goods and services. Accessible websites are usually more ‘search engine friendly’ and, therefore, more likely to be found by potential customers. An accessible website, created in accordance with the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C] Accessibility Guidelines, costs less to maintain, and is ‘future proofed’ – more likely to continue working as browsers and hardware are updated. Accessible web design is important for organisations attempting to attract grant aid or funding, or contracts from public bodies. In the European Year of the Disabled 2003 the European Commission is more likely to consider funding organisations, which uphold the EC’s e-accessibility aims.

How do I achieve web accessibility?

Legally speaking, you achieve accessibility if your site is not deemed to discriminate against a user on the basis of their impairment. This is determined by how your site ‘measures up’ when judged against the W3C Accessibility Guidelines and the Disability Discrimination Act. The W3C Guidelines identify three levels of web accessibility: Level one compliance covers basic access issues, e.g., ensuring that all graphics have text descriptions (Alt tags). Level two compliance ensures that colour contrasts do not cloud legibility, that standard mark-up language is used to create well-structured documents and that navigation is clear and well organised. Level three compliance provides more advanced techniques, some not yet supported by current browsers. The level of accessibility you aspire to should be determined by the potential return on investment. For many companies level one compliance is adequate. However many people will still find it difficult to access your site. Achieving level two compliance will make a real impact on the number of people who can use your site. Ultimately all organisations should aspire towards level three compliance. Website accessibility is an on-going process not a one-off activity. Organisations, particularly larger enterprises, should develop a web accessibility policy and implementation plan. Objectives include: Deciding on the standards you will measure your site against. Auditing existing web pages as to their accessibility and how much work needs done. Testing pages using auditing tools such as Bobby and against different browsers and hardware platforms (both Mac and PC). Starting by making popular pages accessible. Ensuring that all new pages are designed to be accessible. Ensuring you have the tools that help you design and maintain accessible sites. Budgeting for training to develop expertise within your organisation.

Actions and Next Steps

Develop a web accessibility policy and implementation plan following the objectives included in ‘How do I achieve web accessibility?’ If building a new website, ensure that the web designer has expertise. Ask for examples of accessible sites they have designed. If designing the website in-house, budget for web accessibility training for web designers and content managers. Build the site using standard mark-up language [e.g. HTML); this will enable the site to work on a wide range of hardware and software. Use the techniques outlined within the W3C Accessibility Guidelines to ensure content will be flexible enough for many users’ needs.