About Waterloo website

Project reportJune 2012

Outline • Overview of process• Project deliverables• Lessons learned

SEW: Effective Web Content Planning1. Prepare project management plan2. Identify target audiences3. Conduct web content analysis4. Conduct competitive analysis5. Define Website visitor content requirements6. Specify area business requirements 7. Plan web information architecture8. Prepare website content9. Obtain required training10.Create web content update and maintenance plan

Project deliverables• Project management plan

– Project Schedule– Content Strategy– Content Inventory– Competitive Analysis– Information Architecture– Content Plan (Page Tables)

(Templates available from CPA staff or SEW Sharepoint)

Project Schedule

• Identify key tasks and dependencies• Assign work-time estimates• Review with stakeholders• Establish real timelines

Content Strategy• High level overview, answering:

• Who are our audiences?• What do we need to say to them? • How do we need to say it?• What are we trying to do?

• Provides a reference point for content questions

• Provides a framework for measurable goals

Content Inventory

• Assess what content exists• Itemize what content needs to be generated

Competitive Analysis• Assess the competition• Identify patterns for user expectations

– Navigation– Specific content– Standard terminology

• Establish common language for stakeholders• Encourage thinking as a user

Information Architecture

Content Plan• Page tables used to establish

priorities at a page level, assigning components of the strategy to each page

• Can serve as a writing brief as well as a record

• Update and maintenance plan included

• Less content intensive sites could use the Content Inventory revised to include further detail

Human ResourcesProject Management, Project Deliverables• Director, Digital Initiatives• Manager, Digital Communications and Content Strategy• Manager, Information Architecture and User ExperienceContent Deliverables• Communications Officer• Communications and Public Affairs Coordinator• Manager, Web DesignTechnical Implementation and Support• Waterloo Content Management System Team

Lessons Learned• Communicate with ALL stakeholders early and often

– Establish clear priorities and expectations– Establish clear understanding of timelines and revise

with input from key dependencies• Photography and graphics are content but should be

treated as special– Include separate work tasks in schedule– Establish separate inventory– Capture art direction guidelines where appropriate

Questions?