Creating Successful Creating Successful Theme-based Web PagesTheme-based Web Pages

Theme-based web sites provide users with a Theme-based web sites provide users with a coherent in-depth narrative on a single topiccoherent in-depth narrative on a single topic

Nancy N. SoreideNOAA/PMEL

NOAA Webshop 2003NOAA Webshop 2003Longmont, CO, June 3-6, 2003Longmont, CO, June 3-6, 2003

Successful, theme-based web pages support NOAA’s Successful, theme-based web pages support NOAA’s mission strategy: mission strategy: “Engage, advise, and inform “Engage, advise, and inform individuals, partners, communities, and industries to individuals, partners, communities, and industries to facilitate information flow, assure coordination and facilitate information flow, assure coordination and cooperation, and provide assistance in the use, cooperation, and provide assistance in the use, evaluation, and application of information” *evaluation, and application of information” *

Websites that present NOAA science, data, analysis Websites that present NOAA science, data, analysis and information in a manner that is clear, scientifically and information in a manner that is clear, scientifically validated, useful, interesting and intelligible by a validated, useful, interesting and intelligible by a broad audience support NOAA in promoting thebroad audience support NOAA in promoting the ““increased use and effectiveness of climate increased use and effectiveness of climate information for decision makers and managersinformation for decision makers and managers” *” * * NOAA Strategic Plan for FY2003 – FY2008 and Beyond

http://www.osp.noaa.gov/docs/NOAA_Final_Strategic_Plan_March31st.pdf

NOAA Strategic PlanNOAA Strategic Plan

Congress has directed OMB to issue Congress has directed OMB to issue government-wide guidelines for:government-wide guidelines for:

““ensuring and maximizing the quality, ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of objectivity, utility, and integrity of information disseminated by Federal information disseminated by Federal agencies …"agencies …"

* Section 515(a) of the Treasury and General Government Section 515(a) of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001

Data Quality ActData Quality Act

What is a “theme-based” web page?What is a “theme-based” web page?

A “theme based” website is focused on a A “theme based” website is focused on a specific project, topic, idea, issue or data specific project, topic, idea, issue or data collection. collection.

Theme-based web sites provide users with a Theme-based web sites provide users with a coherent in-depth narrative on a single topiccoherent in-depth narrative on a single topic Examples:Examples:

TAO Project Office websiteTAO Project Office website El Nino and Arctic Theme PagesEl Nino and Arctic Theme Pages OAR Intranet WebsiteOAR Intranet Website OSCAR Satellite Data WebsiteOSCAR Satellite Data Website

Steps to building a successful Steps to building a successful theme-based web pagetheme-based web page

Define the website objectives and target audienceDefine the website objectives and target audience Assemble a team of experts Assemble a team of experts

scientists, senior staff, web developers, graphics artistsscientists, senior staff, web developers, graphics artists

Assemble and organize the material to be presentedAssemble and organize the material to be presented Create project, outreach, resource and/or data web Create project, outreach, resource and/or data web

pages focused around the themepages focused around the theme Use a “layered approach” to present the content in a Use a “layered approach” to present the content in a

manner that is clear, scientifically validated, useful, manner that is clear, scientifically validated, useful, interesting and intelligible by a broad audience. interesting and intelligible by a broad audience.

Market the website and monitor it’s success Market the website and monitor it’s success

Define the website objectives and Define the website objectives and target audiencetarget audience

Know what material you want to provideKnow what material you want to provide What do you want the website to What do you want the website to

communicate to the audience?communicate to the audience? Each website should have a “punch line” Each website should have a “punch line”

Know who your target audience isKnow who your target audience is A well-designed, layered website can be A well-designed, layered website can be

approachable for a broad audience. approachable for a broad audience. Information for generalists immediately available Information for generalists immediately available Information for specialists a mouse click awayInformation for specialists a mouse click away

Define objectives & Define objectives & audienceaudience

Assemble a Web teamAssemble a Web team

Members of an effective teamMembers of an effective team Scientists, support programmers, web developers Scientists, support programmers, web developers

and graphics artistsand graphics artists The team may be only a single person, but it is The team may be only a single person, but it is

essentialessential that a scientist be involved. that a scientist be involved. CoordinationCoordination

A good choice of team leader is a senior member A good choice of team leader is a senior member of the project with a strong understanding of the of the project with a strong understanding of the science and also of information technologyscience and also of information technology

The team leader should be able to communicate The team leader should be able to communicate effectively with all team members and facilitate effectively with all team members and facilitate contributions from each in their area of expertise.contributions from each in their area of expertise.

Web TeamWeb Team

Assemble and organize the web Assemble and organize the web site content materialsite content material

Assemble the website content materialAssemble the website content material Local project information and dataLocal project information and data Links to websites with relevant materialLinks to websites with relevant material

Organize the website content materialOrganize the website content material Once assembled, the content information Once assembled, the content information

will fall into natural groupings. will fall into natural groupings. These natural groupings form the lower These natural groupings form the lower

level pages of the website and the topics in level pages of the website and the topics in the navigation bar and/or menusthe navigation bar and/or menus

Web site content Web site content

Prototype the Web PagesPrototype the Web Pages

Identify a few graphics that illustrate the Identify a few graphics that illustrate the themetheme The NOAA Photo Library is a great source of The NOAA Photo Library is a great source of

graphics that are not restricted by copyrightgraphics that are not restricted by copyright Copyright is not necessarily a barrier, simply Copyright is not necessarily a barrier, simply

request permission to use the graphic request permission to use the graphic

These graphics can be incorporated into These graphics can be incorporated into the web page appearancethe web page appearance

Mock up the web page (one or more Mock up the web page (one or more design ideas)design ideas)

Create the Web PageCreate the Web Page

Website NavigationWebsite NavigationGood navigation is critical to website success!Good navigation is critical to website success!

Bring content to the top level pageBring content to the top level page Use a Navigation BarUse a Navigation Bar Use menus if a Navigation Bar is not sufficient to bring Use menus if a Navigation Bar is not sufficient to bring

content to the top level content to the top level Decide on the topics for Navigation Bar and/or MenusDecide on the topics for Navigation Bar and/or Menus

Initial determination of navigation bar / menu items follows Initial determination of navigation bar / menu items follows naturally from content groupingsnaturally from content groupings

Finalize navigation bar / menu items by adjusting them to Finalize navigation bar / menu items by adjusting them to focus on the website’s theme or “punch line”focus on the website’s theme or “punch line”

Select the navigation topics so that your target audience will Select the navigation topics so that your target audience will resonate with themresonate with them

Keep the same navigation/menus on every page in Keep the same navigation/menus on every page in the websitethe website

Create the Web PageCreate the Web Page

Navigation bar and menus bring Navigation bar and menus bring all content to the top level. all content to the top level.

Navigation bar and menus are the same on every Navigation bar and menus are the same on every page. Users can browse the content of the entire site page. Users can browse the content of the entire site from any page.from any page.

The Navigation Bar on The Navigation Bar on this website brings all this website brings all content to the top level content to the top level with no need for menus.with no need for menus.

Complexity of a topic may Complexity of a topic may require the use of a menu in require the use of a menu in order to bring content to the order to bring content to the top leveltop level

Tabs are another way to bring Tabs are another way to bring content to the top levelcontent to the top level

Use a “layered approach”Use a “layered approach”

Objective of “layered approach”:Objective of “layered approach”: To present NOAA science, data, analysis and To present NOAA science, data, analysis and

information in a manner that is clear, scientifically information in a manner that is clear, scientifically validated, useful, interesting and intelligible by a validated, useful, interesting and intelligible by a broad audience. broad audience.

A user from the general public should find A user from the general public should find clear information immediately at the top clear information immediately at the top levellevel

A specialist user should be able to go quickly A specialist user should be able to go quickly and easily (one mouse click) to the details or and easily (one mouse click) to the details or the data of interest.the data of interest.

The topic is explained right on the home page.The topic is explained right on the home page.

Details for the public and the specialist or scientist are Details for the public and the specialist or scientist are a mouse click away with the Navigation Bar and Menusa mouse click away with the Navigation Bar and Menus

The topic is explained right on the The topic is explained right on the home page.home page.

Details for the public and the Details for the public and the specialist or scientist are a mouse specialist or scientist are a mouse click away with the Navigation Bar click away with the Navigation Bar and Menusand Menus

CredibilityCredibility

Work with all the web team experts at each Work with all the web team experts at each stage of development!stage of development! A final review by a graphics artist can provide A final review by a graphics artist can provide

small but critical improvements in presentationsmall but critical improvements in presentation Continual science input and final science review is Continual science input and final science review is

critical the credibility of the website and the critical the credibility of the website and the accuracy of the information presented. accuracy of the information presented.

Follow NOAA Web Page guidelines, policies Follow NOAA Web Page guidelines, policies and regulations! and regulations! E.g., NOAA Logo, Privacy Notice, Disclaimer, E.g., NOAA Logo, Privacy Notice, Disclaimer,

Accessibility, etc.Accessibility, etc.

Marketing the websiteMarketing the website Submit the site to search enginesSubmit the site to search engines

85% of users find web pages with search engines85% of users find web pages with search engines Use the Submit It! Utility or submit by handUse the Submit It! Utility or submit by hand Submit to every search engine you use or hear about!Submit to every search engine you use or hear about!

Register with Yahoo!Register with Yahoo! Request that other sites link to your websiteRequest that other sites link to your website

Search the web for sites that you wish were linking to youSearch the web for sites that you wish were linking to you Send email to the webmasterSend email to the webmaster

Briefly describe the merits of your websiteBriefly describe the merits of your website Politely offer your site as a candidate for them to link toPolitely offer your site as a candidate for them to link to Include the URL of your site & your own email/contact informationInclude the URL of your site & your own email/contact information

Consider contacting NOAA Public Affairs & NOAA Consider contacting NOAA Public Affairs & NOAA WebmasterWebmaster

Monitor success and correct site based on user emailMonitor success and correct site based on user email More on Marketing your Website at: More on Marketing your Website at:

http://www.epic.noaa.gov/talks/nns/outreach2002/http://www.epic.noaa.gov/talks/nns/outreach2002/

Steps to building a successful Steps to building a successful theme-based web pagetheme-based web page

Define the website objectives and target Define the website objectives and target audienceaudience

Assemble a team of experts Assemble a team of experts Assemble and organize the material Assemble and organize the material Create easily navigated web pagesCreate easily navigated web pages Use a “layered approach” for a broad Use a “layered approach” for a broad

audienceaudience Market the website and monitor it’s success Market the website and monitor it’s success

Marketing your Website Marketing your Website http://www.epic.noaa.gov/talks/nns/outreach2002/