Out Of The Blue - Episode 34 - 6 things to remember when organising content on your school website

Summary

In this video, David and Mark share essential tips for organizing website content, particularly for schools. They highlight six key points: understanding your visitors, planning user navigation paths, using clear signposts, maintaining focused content, including multiple voices (staff, students, parents), and regularly gathering feedback. The goal is to make school websites more user-friendly and engaging, helping prospective parents and other visitors easily find the information they need. By following these tips, schools can create a more effective online presence that reflects their values and meets the needs of their audience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understand your website's audience: Consider the needs of prospective parents, current students, staff, and the local community to tailor content effectively.
• 😀 Plan the user journey: Map out how visitors will navigate your website, ensuring they can easily find what they need, whether through the homepage or directly via blog posts and links.
• 😀 Use signposts for easy navigation: Implement quick links and clear calls to action to guide users towards key information and prevent overwhelming them with too many choices.
• 😀 Stay focused with content: Each page should focus on one specific topic to make it easier for users to find what they need, improving both user experience and website management.
• 😀 Include diverse voices: Showcase testimonials from staff, parents, and students to give your website personality and offer a genuine look at your school culture.
• 😀 Request feedback from users: Continuously gather insights from visitors to identify areas for improvement, ensuring your website evolves to meet their needs.
• 😀 Make sure your website is user-friendly: The design and structure should prioritize ease of navigation and access to information, particularly for first-time visitors.
• 😀 Keep the user journey controlled: Like a well-organized school tour, control the flow of information on your website by guiding users through the most important content.
• 😀 Break information into digestible sections: Avoid putting too much content on a single page. Instead, split information across pages to keep the site clean and easy to navigate.
• 😀 Collect and use analytics to optimize content: Track the most visited pages using tools like Google Analytics and adjust content based on what users are engaging with most.

Q & A

What are the six key points to remember when organizing content on a website?

The six key points are: 1) Understanding your audience, 2) Planning the route users will take through the site, 3) Using signposts to make information easy to access, 4) Staying focused on content, 5) Including diverse voices, and 6) Asking for audience feedback.

Why is understanding your website visitors important?

Understanding your visitors helps you design a website that caters to their needs and makes it easy for them to find the information they're looking for. You need to consider different user groups like prospective parents, current parents, pupils, and staff to ensure a seamless experience.

What is the importance of planning the user journey on a website?

Planning the user journey ensures that visitors navigate the site in a logical, clear way. It allows you to control the flow of information and highlight key areas, such as your school's video or prospectus, to guide the user towards taking meaningful actions.

What is signposting in the context of website design?

Signposting refers to the use of clear, easily recognizable links or buttons that guide users to important information on your website. It helps prevent visitors from feeling overwhelmed by too much content and ensures they can find what they need quickly.

How can a website stay focused and not overwhelm visitors?

Staying focused means keeping pages simple and on-topic. Each page should cover one subject clearly, avoiding clutter. If necessary, break information into separate pages to make it easier to navigate and ensure a clean, user-friendly experience.

Why is it beneficial to include multiple voices on a school website?

Including multiple voices, such as staff, parents, and students, adds personality and authenticity to the site. It helps prospective parents and other visitors get a real sense of the school's culture and environment, making it more relatable and engaging.

How can schools use testimonials effectively on their website?

Schools can use testimonials from students, parents, and staff to provide authentic, personal insights into the school experience. These testimonials help build trust with prospective families by showcasing positive experiences from those who know the school best.

Why should schools regularly ask for feedback on their websites?

Regular feedback from visitors allows schools to understand how well their website is serving its audience. By gathering insights on ease of use, content quality, and user satisfaction, schools can make informed improvements and provide a better experience.

What role does data collection play in website design for schools?

Data collection, such as capturing names and email addresses, helps schools engage with prospective families. It allows schools to follow up with users, provide additional resources, and nurture leads, ultimately guiding them through the admissions process.

How does understanding the user’s needs impact website content creation?

By understanding the user’s needs, schools can create content that speaks directly to their concerns and interests. Whether it's prospective parents looking for information on extracurricular activities or uniform policies, tailoring content to meet these needs ensures the site is relevant and helpful.