A website management and evaluation meeting was held November 25, 2003, with WIETS Director and Operations Manager to plan and discuss the ongoing management and maintenance of WIETS new website. Each page of the website was reviewed for aesthetics, links and technical performance, content, graphics and possible future enhancements. We also discussed evaluations and feedback from WIETS staff and future website management vendor for changes and enhancements. At that time, we set forth the following goals and objectives for the ongoing maintenance, use, evaluation and future enhancement of www.WIETS.org.
Management
Several items have been added to the functionality of the webpages, including a Disclaimer: “WIETS is responsible for content created exclusively for www.WIETS.org and cannot guarantee accuracy of links.” In addition, a JavaScript was added to allow visitors to the site, and WIETS management, to be aware of the timeliness and “last changed” dates of content included on the site.
Future management activities discussed also include site promotion and limited staff involvement. Promotion of the new website could include:
- Cross promotion of www.WIETS.org on printed materials
- Establishing links from other community websites
- Registering with online search engines
- Embedding Meta tags to facilitate links from search engines
- Email promotion/announcement of website launch to employer-clients
- Email promotion/announcement of website launch to school contacts and juvenile-assistance agencies for youth programs
- Email promotion/announcement of website launch to community and social service organizations for adult job-seeker-clients
Involving staff in the future of WIETS online is also critical to its ongoing success, use, and growth in content and functionality. Staff Involvement could include:
- Training & introducing WIETS staff to website functionality & content
- Training of Marketing & Operations managers on uploading future calendars & newsletters
- Managing requests coming in thru online request form and emails to Information @WIETS.org
- Managing and updating contact information
Maintenance
Maintaining the WIETS website on a day-to-day basis and for ongoing site enhancements, content changes, and indexing backlog of newsletters will be managed by WIETS existing partnership with the company maintaining their desktop, server and software systems. This company will also host the site, or secure an inexpensive host for WIETS. A local company, familiar with their processes, budgetary constraints, and website goals, they have already reviewed the site and are prepared for a “live” launch by January 1, 2004 to coincide with or precede the launch of the Workforce Investment Board (WIWIB) website.
Additional maintenance activities will include:
- Securing a Dreamweaver software package and license for WIETS
- Confirming of and maintaining existing Domain registration
- Setting up email: [email protected]
- Securing final website maintenance & hosting agreements
- Finalizing the plan for updating & managing links
- (Considering subscription to link-checking service)
- Ongoing replacement of mont hly calendars
- Ongoing addition of future monthly newsletters
Evaluation
Several ideas have also been discussed for continuing evaluations prior to, during and following the launch of www.WIETS.org. Testing on browsers and with validation services will occur prior to turning over the site to WIETS and their website-maintenance provider. In addition, I will make myself available to answer questions before and after site launch.
Ongoing evaluation activities recommended include:
- Final testing & evaluation on Netscape & Internet Explorer for Mac & Windows
- Confirming final validation with W3C HTML and CSS, and WDG
- A review of the Bobby report of final website & adjust as able
- W3C logo, validation and link to WAI has been added to the site to show its’ accessibility for disabled clients and for other agencies whose clients may use these services.
- Obtaining current and ongoing opinions, enhancement ideas & evaluations from WIETS staff
- Ongoing review of website reports, & evaluate “linkages”, page visits, etc.
- Obtaining feedback from employers, youth clients, and adult-job seekers
Advanced Applications
Several technical and content enhancements have already been implemented, including:
- Addition of “Last Modified” automatic Java date information
- Addition of email link to every page
- Addition of Java script to main page buttons when mouse detected as hovering
- Addition of active links on Links and Partner pages for both source name and website address
- Page widths modified to eliminate horizontal scrolling and fit on most monitors
Clean up activities and enhancements by this designer prior to launch will include:
- Why lower bar and text/links skewed in some browsers? –redesign or delete and rewrite code
- Make all links Red when mouse hover detected – some not working
- Shrinking of homepage – requires vertical scroll on director's monitor
- Homepage/index – background not showing up on director’s monitor/browser –why?
- Shrink red bar height on each page, and possibly add to homepage
- Add link to WIA, Workforce Investment Act
- Changing list indents on Site Map page (not sure how as negative indents do not display well in Netscape)
- “WIETS@Work” graphics reduced and unified in sizes and colors
- Add Technical Support email links or statement at bottom of pages-esp. Partners & Links pages
- Possible redesign of header/logo to shrink space allocation and unify font styles used on rest of pages
- Changing section headers to non –small-caps variant
- Backlog of newsletters (ability to open or download from link-I will create and include links for Oct-Dec 2003 before turning over site)
- Shrinking of “bubble people” graphic on each page (phasing out of old logo graphic planned, but maintaining for continuity with existing print materials)
Future activities and enhancements:
- Downloadable forms, applications and resource materials for job seekers
- Downloadable brochure for employers
- Addition of News page: to include newsletters, calendars, press articles,
- Staff @WIETS.org email
- More resources links
- Possible drop-down menus as pages and more content areas are added
Additional future consideration should also be given to evaluations obtained and identification of the websites primary user groups. Will this site serve more as a portal of information for job-seeker and youth clients, or employers and other community-based service organizations? Depending on the findings, future enhancements should consider the content needs and technical abilities of the primary user groups of the site. Website use for social service organizations, through my research and WIETS input, has not been fully tested. Many of the existing agency sites do not have proven successes in reaching the client-services community, but serve very well as information repositories for other agencies. Moreover, these agency websites help fulfill regulatory compliance, and provide authority for grants.
Action Plan
Disclaimer: WIETS is responsible for content created exclusively for www.WIETS.org and cannot guarantee accuracy of links.