Month: May 2006

Site difficult to update

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

Implementing a web-based content management system helps keep your site fresh. Since we are not all born technical geniuses, we often rely on other to update our sites… a recipe for stagnation and delay. Problem It’s so difficult to update web content that the site becomes stale and visitors don’t return. Solution A web interface

User needs are unmet

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

Personalizing web content helps ensure that users’ needs are met. Not everyone wants the same cabbage. Not every user needs the same content. Problem A website can’t effectively meet the needs of users because it isn’t adaptable to their individual needs. Solution Develop multiple versions of web pages in a variety of formats and allow

Difficulty of navigation

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

Organizing content into a logical system makes your site easier to navigate. Pointing users in the right direction is critical to delivering relevant information to users. This signpost from the M*A*S*H television series let the 4077th know which way was home. Problem Your website is difficult for users to navigate, making it next to impossible

Expense of web design

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

Separating a site’s design from its content makes a re-design less costly. Problem It’s expensive to pay for the services of a web designer, and doubly expensive if you decide to change the site’s design at some point during the site’s life cycle. Solution Separate a website’s content, design, and structure, so the design can

Accumulating outdated content

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

Technological tools can routinely prune obsolete web site content. Problem As a website grows, it tends to accumulate outdated content that detracts from the site’s effectiveness. Like wilted sunflowers, outdated content can detract from the attractiveness and usefulness of your web site. Solution Content management software allows a project to set content expiration dates and

Data loss

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

Protecting your organization from data loss requires forethought. Catastrophic data loss is rare, but it’s best to be prepared by keeping a back-up of your encrypted data in a second location. Problem You want to minimize the risk of losing data due to crashes or natural disasters. Solution Keep a back-up of your data in

Expense of maintaining a website

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

Utilizing common tools and hosting solutions can minimize web site expenses. The technical complexities of running web servers can be costly – but you do not need to do it yourself. Problem Hosting and maintaining a website is expensive and can be cost-prohibitive for many projects. Solution Utilize remote hosting and a content management software

Authors lack technical expertise

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

WYSIWYG user interfaces enable non-technical personnel to publish site content. With a simple, web-based interface, project directors need not deal with complex, impenetrable code. Problem The design of the website may look wonderful, but the project director can’t effectively place or update online content. Solution A simple, web-based interface allows project directors and authors to

Coordinating multiple authors

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

A web-based CMS can overcome obstacles caused by geography and technology. Just as too many cooks can spoil the broth, without the proper tools, the collaboration process can break down among web content developers. Problem It’s difficult for multiple authors in different locations to effectively develop and post content to a website. Solution Using a

Relying on Webmasters

May 2nd, 2006 by IDEA

Enabling project staff to update and post new site content prevents bottlenecks. Just as this June 24, 1959 evening rush hour traffic jam on Chicago’s Congress Expressway caused bottlenecks, so can webmasters who are responsible for posting web content. Allowing authors and project staff to post directly to a web site can bypass the bottleneck.