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What Makes for Quality Content on the Website?

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As the content migration deadline approaches, the main activity happening now by content and program teams involves reviewing old content to see if it’s worth putting on the new Extension website. The way to assess it can be approached by asking:

  • Will our audience understand and be interested in it?
  • Is this accurate and up to date for Oregonians?

Updating the content may be needed before entering on the new website. Not all web content is peer-reviewed although this is an option for those who want this step. The web team is looking into ways for peer-reviewed web articles to be attributed on the website, and analytics about that content provided to authors if needed.

Best Practices for Formatting Content

The format that the content is presented in matters too. In looking at what people read the most over this past summer, one type of content stands above the rest: “articles”. People can more easily find, read, and share “articles” on the website.

Content in articles are text and images on a webpage rather than a downloadable file. Converting a PDF to an article should be considered in all cases if less than 15 pages of content and includes only basic tables, simple diagrams, and photos. Articles can be printed directly from the screen, or shared other ways, if a handout is still needed.

Like in newsletters, the web content is best when it:

  • Provides clear and compelling title and introductory text
  • Speaks to the audience and answers common questions
  • Includes relevant images and headings to skim down the page
  • Uses bulleted lists for brief points and short readable paragraphs
  • Offers research based and practical information with a specific focus

Here’s an example of a popular article in the past week that includes some of these elements:

What are those “worms” in my firewood? 

You may have encountered white, segmented “worms” or grubs when chopping firewood and wondered what they were. Common questions include, did they kill my tree? And are they a danger to other trees? The quick answers are no, and no.

As content and program teams think about the upcoming season, ask “What are people going to be reading?” Then consider how to apply these best practices to existing content on the website or when creating new content this fall.

Status and timeline updates

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Here’s a quick update on what’s happening in the next two weeks, plus a checklist for content teams.

Status and timeline update:

  • Launch: We are still aiming for initial launch in March. Working toward this goal involves all of us–especially the project team, content teams, content owners, and program leaders. The ultimate “go live” decision will be made by Extension leadership, with input from program leaders and the project team.
  • Content entry: Our goal was to open the site to content teams for initial content entry in late January or early February. We’re pushing that to late February to ensure the experience is as productive and hassle-free as possible for content teams. The basic framework and functions are developed. We are taking extra time to be sure the back-end forms and front-end displays are clean, simple, and user-friendly.
  • This week, the project team is working on:
    • Permission testing (making sure content teams will be able to do what they need to do, and not see extraneous information and settings)
    • User testing (Four meetings with alpha testers are scheduled. These individuals will test the content entry process. We will note what works well, or is challenging or confusing, and make adjustments.)
    • Continued programming and basic design
  • Next week, the focus will be:
    • Creating basic training guides and short videos for content teams
    • Continued programming and basic design
    • As-needed advice and Q&A with content teams

Are you ready for content entry?

Content teams

Content teams are continuing to work together with colleagues statewide to organize content in preparation for initial content entry. We know several teams are in a holding pattern, having done as much organization and planning as possible until being able to see actual content in context in the new website. Here is a quick checklist for content teams.

Signs your team is ready for initial content entry

You have:

  • Identified primary audiences and goals for your content
  • Inventoried your content (You know what you are creating and where it “lives” now.)
  • Started to evaluate content (e.g., current, accurate, user-focused, relates to program goals)
  • Started to categorize content (e.g., type of content, related topics and keywords)
  • Set priorities, and have a general sense of what content is most important to have in the new system at launch

Everyone

If you have a question about specific content that you own or manage and haven’t yet had a conversation with the relevant content team, now’s the time!