Web Services:Introductions and Vision

The Merger

Corporate Communications Services (Department of Policy and Planning)

Web Services Corporate Communications Imaging, Design and Print

Web Applications TeamBUCS

Web TeamMarketing and Communications

Web ServicesMarketing and Communications

August 07

March 08

•BUCS and Marketing teams merged to form single unit

•Head of Web Services role created

The TeamAlison Wildish, Head of Web ServicesAndrew Male, Web Development Manager

Software Development:•Andy Savin•Kelvin Gan•Tom Natt•Phil Wilson

Structure, design, css, usability:•Anil Herat•Yvonne Aburrow•Tom Trentham•Jacki Hargreaves

What we’ve done…

LMF (Learning Materials Filestore)

Wiki

PiP(Personal Information Portal)

Person Finder

OPuS(Online Publications Store)

CMS

Web Training(Writing for the web, CMS, CSS)

Podcasts

Group Manager

What we do…

•Develop applications•Advise on content, structure, layout•Support •Train: writing for the web, CSS, dreamweaver, CMS

“ensure the University's use of web technologies bears comparison with the best and the website is structured as a customer-focused, market-

facing, corporate

resource”

What we do…

•Develop applications•Advise on content, structure, layout, marketing•Support •Train: writing for the web, CSS, dreamweaver, CMS, managing your professional identity, utilising the web as an effective marketing tool, understanding your audience•Manage the web presence (policy, strategy, direction…) •Design

Key changes

Look and feel

•Web Designer post created •Identifying the University of Bath brand•Work on visual identity (for both web and print)

Content

•Manage the website structure•Move from university-focussed to user-focussed

What’s the problem?

•80,000 + website

•Duplication of content

•Inconsistent: style, tone, language…

•Everything to everybody

Why?

Website reflects University structure rather than routes and channels to information

A few facts…

Our most popular page is webmail.bath.ac.uk

Prospective students go straight to Study

3/4 of our site never gets looked at!

So…

Our Vision…

University of Bath website…

•Provides a seamless end-user experience

•Is clear about our intended audience(s)

•Gives a consistent message and experience

•Is user-focussed

How?•Provides a seamless end-user experience

Managed architecture

•Is clear about our intended audience(s)

Move staff and students to own space

•Gives a consistent message and experience

Encapsulates the Bath ‘brand’, uses same tone, and style as print media

•Is user-focussed

Reflects how the user looks for information

A word about the CMS

Work on Information Architecture will precede migration to the CMS

(With the exception of Academic departmental websites)

We will…

•Work with you to develop a user-focussed website structure

•As the website progresses move all the information into the CMS

•Provide appropriate training (CMS, writing for the web, marketing)

•Avoid need for duplication (eProspectus, OPuS)

We will…

•Support you

•Train you

•Advise you

(We hope!) You will…

•Work with us to create a user-focussed site

•Let us know what you need from us

Questions?