University of Louisiana at Lafayette Web Style Guide Style Guide.pdf · PDF file !e!!!!! University of Louisiana at Lafayette Web Style Guide How to communicate our brand & story

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette Web Style Guide

How to communicate our brand & story online

Contact  [email protected]  with  questions.  

Last  updated  Tuesday,  April  2,  2013  

T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

Overview  ............................................................................................................................  1  

Mission  ...........................................................................................................................  1  

Required  Design  &  Content  Elements  ................................................................................  3  

Official  University  Templates  ..........................................................................................  3  

Template  Banner  ........................................................................................................  3  

Navigation  ...................................................................................................................  3  

Page  Content  ..............................................................................................................  4  

Right  Float  Boxes  ........................................................................................................  4  

Footer  .........................................................................................................................  4  

Accessibility  ........................................................................................................................  6  

Creating  a  Usable  site  .....................................................................................................  6  

Resources  and  Background  ............................................................................................  7  

Content  Development  ........................................................................................................  8  

Key  Messages  .................................................................................................................  8  

Basic  Web  Writing  Tips  .................................................................................................  10  

Headlines  and  Paragraphs  ............................................................................................  11  

Headings  should  describe  the  content  .....................................................................  11  

How  search  engines  use  headings  ............................................................................  11  

Using  the  Heading  1  effectively  ................................................................................  11  

Links  ..............................................................................................................................  12  

Web  Writing  Resources  ................................................................................................  12  

Images  and  Videos  ............................................................................................................  13  

Wear  Red  and  Utilize  Our  Logos  ...................................................................................  13  

Real  Settings  .................................................................................................................  13  

Atmosphere  ..................................................................................................................  14  

Interesting  Views  &  Perspectives  .................................................................................  14  

Actions  &  Emotions  ......................................................................................................  14  

Photography  Resources  ................................................................................................  14  

Approved  University  Colors  ..............................................................................................  16  

Complementary  Colors  .................................................................................................  16  

Approved  University  Logos  ...............................................................................................  17  

Writing  Conventions  .........................................................................................................  19  

Abbreviations  and  Acronyms  ........................................................................................  19  

Academic  Departments  and  Centers  ............................................................................  21  

Academic  Titles  .............................................................................................................  21  

Athletic  Team  Names  ...................................................................................................  22  

Bullets  ...........................................................................................................................  22  

Capitalization  ................................................................................................................  22  

Composition  Titles  ........................................................................................................  23  

Date  ..............................................................................................................................  23  

Graduation  Years  ..........................................................................................................  24  

Web  Terms  ...................................................................................................................  24  

Numbers  .......................................................................................................................  24  

Punctuation  ..................................................................................................................  25  

Spacing  .........................................................................................................................  26  

Spellings  ........................................................................................................................  27  

Time  ..............................................................................................................................  27  

University  Name  ...........................................................................................................  28  

Appendix  ...........................................................................................................................  29  

Website  Statement  of  Purpose  and  Policy  Summary  ...................................................  29  

Sub  Site  Blueprints  ........................................................................................................  30  

Writing  Samples  and  Comparisons  ...............................................................................  34  

Sub  Site  Development  Road  Map  .................................................................................  38  

Stage  1:  Blueprint  .........................................................................................................  38  

Stage  2:  Design  .............................................................................................................  38  

Stage  3:  Test  .................................................................................................................  38  

Stage  4:  Launch  .............................................................................................................  38  

Glossary  ........................................................................................................................  39  

UL  LAFAYETTE  WEB  STYLE  GUIDE