EDU Checkup

Site Scores:

Today’s Tip:

Items that are not part of the actual content of the site should not be part of the structure of the HTML. They should be included with the style of the site. Basically if it should not be printed it is part of the visual design of the site and not the structured information on your page. It not only takes up HTML space but also gets the attention of search engines and screen readers when it is not needed.

Episode Links:

• HighEdWeb Conference 2009

Site Scores:

Today’s Tip:

Integrating multimedia items into your university news or events column not only shows that you have a lot going on but also that you are integrating multimedia into your every day activities. Too many universities place multimedia items on their site as an afterthought and they are usually self contained. Including them with traditional news items will get users to notice them without seeking out a separate section on the site.

Episode Links:

• Getting started with HTML5
• Follow @ericstoller

Site Scores:

Today’s Tip:

Putting dates on your site to not only let people know when deadlines and milestones are coming up but also creates a sense of urgency. Many universities use a lot of real estate dedicated to news and events but fail to create a call to action as well as an upcoming date and button.

Site Scores:

Today’s Tip:

If you are going to use a full width template make sure there is a maximum width for the main text. People are buying wider and wider monitors, the longer the lines of text the harder they are to read. Short lines, bullet points and headers make users happy.