Web Guidelines

Overall principles

  • Make it easy for visitors to get to information.  This means users must be able to navigate to core areas in the site in less than three mouse clicks/menu item selections.
  • Do not frustrate visitors with dead-end links.  This means that only information that is available is published, and placeholders for forthcoming information are not published.
  • Information on main pages should be succinct and easily readable.  This means that detailed information is provided in attachments or 'click here' links for more information.
  • The site should be usable and relevant for busy people.  This means curating the most important/interesting content/photos and providing links for more detail.  Remember -- too much information can overwhelm and/or bore visitors.
  • The site should be kept up to date by linking to source content rather than duplicating content onsite.  For example, avoid copying numerous pictures already on Facebook.  Instead, link to the photos directly.
  • The site should be kept up to date by refreshing the content at least monthly.  This means committing to maintaining the information on the site so it is worth visitors to take the time to the visit the site.
  • The site should be kept up to date by archiving old content.  This means information more than a year old should be placed 'out of the way' on the site to simplify visitors' quest for up-to-date content.  Remember -- a web site is to serve visitors; it is not a repository of record for Chapter adminstrative documentation.

Font conventions

  • Page Title:  36pt Tahoma Bold "Shore Area Now" Green font, centered
  • Section Header:  24pt Tahoma Bold Underlined Black
  • Text:  14pt Tahoma Black font

Pages

  • Home Page:  update monthly to keep content current
  • Photos Page:  update monthly with 2 or 3 interesting pictures and add links to other photos.
  • Links Page:  limit to no more than 20 links because any more become confusing to sort through for the visitor.  A link to a document with other links can be provided.

Overall editing practices

  • Understand the difference between a page, event, and post.
  • Titles for pages are not displayed.
  • Titles for events and posts are displayed.
  • Any photo used on a page,event or post must be first uploaded to the site and then added to the content of the page, post or event.  Keep in mind that because photos can be large files, they can slow down a visitor's browser because the time they take to download.  Use them with care.