crestlogosml.gif (2k)
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Web
Authoring that Works: |
By Katherine Robinson,
Rutgers
Cooperative Extension, Cook Computing Services, and
Cindy Eves-Thomas, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
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In Lesson 6, you will learn how to design for constant updates and future makeovers; learning the best methods to evaluate the effectiveness of your site. To do this, we will consider the following:
To help you improve your sites we will offer: |
You've worked for months on your Web site and it is finally finished . . . or is it? If you think about it, are Web sites ever really finished?
Keeping your Web pages up-to-date is important if you want your user to view your site -- and your organization -- as a credible and reliable source of information. You will need to regularly update timely information, retire or perhaps archive outdated pages, and periodically adjust or overhaul your design to show users that your site is a reputable and current resource.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take now to make updating easier in the future.
In Lesson 5: Using Web Technology Effectively, you learned how style sheets can help you make quick global changes to your site.
Other technologies exist that can help you with updating or revamping your site. By adding a META-variable tag to a page, you can supply special instructions such as an expiration date to Web browsers, automatically "retiring" your page. JavaScripts and scheduled pictures can be used to display timed rotations of images. Integrating databases into your Web site will allow a variety of dynamic, on-the-fly changes. Depending on the software you use, you may be able to make global changes by using shared borders or themes. (Check your software manual for specific features and instructions.)
If you use an image (like a logo) or background attributes (like your organization's "official colors") on many pages, consider inserting them by using an absolute URL. The absolute URL links to a single image or template in a single location. If your logo changes, you need to make the change in only one place, yet the change will appear throughout your site.
crestlogosml.gif (2k)
Example
of html used to insert an image with an absolute URL into your site
<img src="http://www.umaine.edu/images/crestlogosml.jpg"
alt="University of Maine Logo"
width="150" height="45">
In Lesson 2: Organizing Your Information Effectively, you learned about the importance of preplanning and how to use relative and absolute links and how to name your files with an eye toward your site's future growth. Thoughtful file names and page titles, a logical directory and navigation system, and constant housekeeping -- verifying hyperlinks, "pruning" (culling out) out-of-date and "orphaned" (unlinked) files, checking for component errors -- will keep your site clean and working the way it should.
Occasionally, you might need to redirect users to a new URL because you moved or renamed one of your Web pages, created a new sub-web or retired an entire Web site. To redirect visitors from an old URL to a new one, use the "refresh" META tag. An "http-equiv" refresh META tag will cause the browser to take visitors to the new URL in a specified number of seconds. Here is an example of an http-equiv refresh META tag (NOTE: The META tag goes in the <HEAD> section of the HTML document):
<html>
<head>
<title>University of Maine Cooperative Extension</title>
<META http-equiv="refresh" content="5;URL=http://www.extension.umaine.edu>
</head><body>
You will be redirected to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension's new home page automatically in 5 seconds.Please bookmark the new page at <a href="http://www.extension.umaine.edu"> http://www.extension.umaine.edu.
</body>
</html>By changing refresh content="5 to refresh content="2, you can shorten the amount of time the redirecting page displays. Refresh content="0 will take your visitors immediately to the new URL without ever seeing the redirecting page.
Because not all browsers support the META "refresh" function, also include a clickable link to your new URL.
Throughout this course, we've stressed the importance of testing your site on a variety of platforms and browsers. Testing should extend beyond the "look" of your pages. You should thoroughly test all interactive features, plug-ins, widgets, etc.
Use different browsers, different platforms, and different connection types to test download times. Your editing software may calculate download times for you based on the modem speed you set. Keep in mind that these calculations are approximations and may not always be accurate. It is better to test download times yourself on a computer that is connected to the Internet through a dial-up connection (the slowest connection).
What is too much time? A lot will depend on the user's experience with other downloads and how much the user needs the information provided on your site. Consider testing some sites you often visit, record the times and compare them to the time you measured for your site.
There are a number of Web sites that will test download times for you.
If downloading your site takes too long, you may need to make some adjustments. For more information, return to Controlling Download Times in Lesson 5: Using Web Technology Effectively.
Check your pages on different platforms and different browsers. How does your design look on a PC? On a MAC? In Netscape? In Microsoft Explorer? Is the text clear and easy to read? Are all graphical elements visible? How about color?
Test the monitor resolutions of 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768. You may also want to check 640 x 480 if your visitors are using older computers.
Check the monitor color at various settings -- set to 24-bit, 16-bit, and 8-bit. Visit some of the web sites below to check on colors that may not be coming through as desired.
- Getting Help with VisiBone
- Hypersolutions -- Help with Color
- Paletteman -- select color and receive RGB
Try viewing your pages on WebTV and a PalmTM handheld.
Check hyperlinks, navigation features, sound clips, video clips, forms, databases, etc. Is everything working as it should? Have you provided clear instructions for the user? Confirm that your site is easy to use, appealing, and functional.
Not all browsers support all features. To find which browsers support features such as java, frames, plug-ins and style sheets, go to Webmonkey's browser reference.
Test your site using a screen reader and go to Bobby or other sites that test for accessibility. (See Accessibility Issues and Solutions in Lesson 1: Designing for Your Audience.)
Evaluating your site is not the same as testing it. Testing ensures that all the technical features are working as they should. An evaluation, however, helps you to determine how effectively your site does what you intend it to do.
There are a variety of methods you can use to evaluate your site, including focus groups, peer reviews, user surveys, and statistical analysis software.
Start by defining the broad goals of your evaluation. What are you hoping to find out? Are you evaluating one specific tool (the search feature, for example), the site's navigability, or the overall appeal, including the look, content and interactivity?
Decide who will participate in the evaluation, what you are going to ask, and what format you will use. Your questions may be general (What's the first thing you notice on the page?) or very specific (Where do you expect this link to take you?).
Peer reviews
Solicit reviews from colleagues before you release your site to your users. Reviews can range from informal trials and discussions to more formalized and lengthy questionnaires.
Focus groups
If you decide to use a focus group, assign a moderator and at least one assistant to observe and take notes. (You may want one observer/notetaker for every participant.) The moderator must take care not to "lead" the respondents. The observers should watch participants' body language, in addition to recording verbal responses. Note expressions of confusion, surprise, or satisfaction and their causes.
User surveys
User surveys may be offered online or used in a more structured environment, perhaps in conjunction with focus group testing.
Adjust your site as needed based on the feedback you receive. (See a sample evaluation form below in the Activity section.)
Statistical analysis software2
When activated, your server's logs collect data about who visits your site, when they visit, how long they stay, where they arrive, where they exit, what type of browsers and operating systems they use, etc. The server saves log files as raw data text files and, unfortunately, these can be difficult to read and almost impossible to compare over time.
Here is an example of a raw data log file:
206.135.203.174 - - [19/Jul/1999:00:00:04 -0600] "GET /studio/drives.html HTTP/1.1" 200 20607 "http://www.webdevelopersjournal.com/studio/hard.html" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.0; Windows 98; DigExt)"3
In this example:
- 206.135.203.174 is the numerical address of the user's computer
- [19/Jul/1999:00:00:04 -0600] is the date and time the user visited
- "GET /studio/drives.html HTTP/1.1" is where the user came from
- "http://www.webdevelopersjournal.com/studio/hard.html" is the URL of the page the user visited
- "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.0; Windows 98; DigExt)" identifies the user's browser and operating system
Log analysis software can help you read raw data files and track user information such as4
- most requested pages;
- least popular pages;
- top entry pages (pages where users enter your site);
- top exit pages (pages where users leave your site);
- single access pages (pages users enter and exit without viewing any other page in your site);
- top users;
- users' browsers and operating systems.
Choosing an appropriate Web traffic analysis software or commercial service will depend on what kinds of information you hope to collect and how much money you have to spend for it. Many free choices exist and can be downloaded from the Web. NOTE: "No cost" options provide only basic statistics and sometimes require you to place the service's banner ad on your site.
Prices and options vary for more comprehensive statistical analysis software packages. Be sure to shop around for the product that best suits your statistical needs and budget. You can start by checking out the log analysis tools comparison charts at InfoWorld. Some popular off-the-shelf packages include:5
NOTE: Even the most sophisticated software cannot tell you whether or not your user was influenced (made a life change) as a result of reading the information on your site. To find out how your user was affected by the content of your site, you will need to ask them.
BEWARE: Simple "hit counters" are of limited value. Although hit counters record each request from a browser for a page (a "hit"), most don't tell you much more than that. Some counters even report an inflated number of hits because they are set to record a "hit" each time a graphic or a page file on that page is downloaded. For example, if a user logged onto a page that contained 5 graphics and 10 links, and then clicked on all the links, the one visit would count as 16 "hits" for one user accessing one page.
Does my site meet my original purpose? Will it meet the needs of my intended audience? If your site is about nutrition, you should have information on balanced diets, healthy recipes, and links to related topics, but nothing about car racing.
Does my site do what it claims? If your site is a 4-H site, does it appeal to kids, include club forms, provide links to appropriate resources, and include up-to-date contact information?
Is there anything in my site that may be considered offensive? Remember, the Internet is open to people worldwide. If you plan to work with several countries, research the various cultures of the country in an attempt to avoid embarrassing misunderstandings.
Is the content accurate? Providing up-to-date information is one of the most important aspects of your site. Users will not return if your information is outdated or incorrect. Provide a "Last Updated" date at the bottom of your pages to assure readers of your timely information.
Is my site organized? Did I practice the "3-click" rule in organizing my information? If your site is properly organized, a user should be able to locate the desired material within 3 clicks. (See Lesson 2: Organizing Your Information Effectively to review various Web site organization methods.)
Is the typing error-free? Typos erode your reputation as a reliable source of information.
Is the navigation clear, consistent, and easy to follow? Does the user always know where they are on the site? Can the user get back to the original page? Always provide a way to return HOME or a way to return to a previous page. Make sure your links take the user to the correct place. Check your links periodically to ensure that they are not broken.
Are my graphics clear and appropriate? Graphics should add to your site's content, not distract from it. Too many graphics will slow downloads.
Does my site meet the 8-second rule? It should take between 8 and 25 seconds to download your site. If it takes longer, the user may leave before they see your site.
Advertise your site by placing a short introduction article about your site in trade magazines and free newsletters. Search for related sites and email the webmaster, introduce your site and suggest the possibility of linking to your site. Print your Web site address on any documentation related to your organization, i.e., letterhead, business cards, brochures, newsletters, etc.
Register your site with several search engines: Excite, Yahoo, Infoseek, Google, etc.
Add keywords and a description in the META tag of each page. When a user initiates a search, the search engine evaluates your page's content by searching your META tag for a matches to user's inquiry.
Remember, your META tag should appear in the <HEAD> of your HTML document. Your HTML code will look like this:
<META name="keywords" content="This is where you enter keywords followed by a comma">
<META name="description" content="This is where you enter information about the Web site">
For more information about META tags, see How To Use HTML Meta Tags.
Update, update, update
Establish a schedule to periodically review and update your Web site. Check your content for changes and check all your links. If some of them have become inoperable, try to get the new URL address or remove the broken link from your site.
Meet user needs
Alter your Web site based on your users' needs. If their needs change, so should your content. Remember, your Web site is a commodity and there are lots of other sites competing for your users' time.
Once your site is ready for the public, it must be hosted on a Web server to make it accessible on the WWW. Your organization may provide server space for your Web pages. If not, there are other options.
You can use your own computer as a Web server by adding appropriate software. However, maintaining your own server may involved more time than you have available.
Locating a reasonably priced server may be a better choice.
For more information, type "web hosting" into your favorite search engine to access updated offers. Check out the prices, the size of the site being offered, technical support, local telephone number for no-cost uploads, and any other special add-ons. If you select a host only to find they don't offer the services you require, switch to another host.
Your "domain name" is your on-line identity and it appears in the first part of your URL (directly following the http://). No two organizations can have the same domain name.
When selecting a domain name, choose one that is easy to remember, easy to spell, and short. Your organization may have domain naming guidelines or standards, so be sure to check what is acceptable.
All .com, .net, and .org domain names must meet these requirements:5
- They cannot exceed 67 characters, including the characters in the suffix (63 characters plus the 4 character .xyz -- the period counts as a character)
- Only letters, numbers, or hyphens are permitted.
- A domain name may not begin or end with a hyphen.
You may register and own an unlimited number of domain names, if you wish. Each domain name can cost $17 to $35 (or more) per year, depending on the Registrar. If you already own a domain name, you can transfer it to another Registrar for a fee.
Whois, a public domain name database, contains contact information for all domain names. You can search the Whois database to find available domains and lookup Whois records. There are many Registrars that register .com, .net and, .org domain names, and each Registrar maintains their own public domain database.
Use the checklist below to evaluate your Web site:
Purpose of Site Yes No Is the site's purpose clear? Does the site avoid social bias (gender, racial, religious, or other types)? Design and Stability Yes No Is information easy find? Is the site design appealing/appropriate to the intended audience? Is the text uncluttered and readable? Are users able to move around the site easily? Are links well-chosen and obvious? Do pages download in 10 seconds or less? Are interactive features clearly explained? Do all interactive features work the way they were intended? Content Yes No Is there enough information to make visiting the site worthwhile? Is the subject matter and reading level appropriate for the intended audience? Is spelling and grammar always correct? Is information current and accurate? Is there a "last updated" date? Are graphics relevant and appropriate to the content? Can titles and sub-titles stand alone as complete thoughts? Other Considerations Yes No Is the site interactive and engaging? Does every page include contact information and appropriate credentials? Is the site accessible to everyone with Internet connectivity? If you answered "no" to any of the questions, your site needs to be revised.
What other questions might you add to this checklist?
The examples of innovative Web designs at lynda.com are sure to inspire you with their creative use of color, navigation, rollovers, typography, illustration, animation, simple and experimental designs. Bear in mind, however, that flashy does not equal effective. When looking at experimental sites like these, consider how they may or may not suit the needs of your users.
Accessibility Issues and Solutions:
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1Using
the Meta Tage "Refresh" to Redirect to a Different URL, Indiana
University
2How
Log Files Work, Charlie Morris
3Ibid
4Software
for Analyzing Your Web Site Traffic, Bruce Morris
5Use
Site Traffic Analysis Tools, workz.com
6Choosing
a Domain Name, Yahoo!Store
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