How to Manage a Website

Introduction

Define Roles

Start with the P's

Be an Advocate

Communicate

Create ONE Site

Focus on Content

Keep It Simple

Don't Reinvent
  the Wheel

Teach Everyone

Start Small
  and Build

Maintain

I know - you haven't even created your website, and we're already talking to you about maintaining it…but maintaining your website is as important as creating it - you need a plan, and you need to be prepared

• Review your content routinely
  • At HUD, we do a quarterly review using a checklist.
  • Make sure your content is current and appropriate
  
  
• Check your links!
  • Not only can links get broken, they can change…check your links routinely to make sure they still go where you think they go
  
  
• Make those who create the content own it - they'll be more invested in the website if they know that they are responsible for keeping the content current
  
  
• Use your stats to help you improve your content
  • If a page isn't used - and you think it should be - maybe people don't know how to find it
  • If a page is used more often than you expected, maybe you want to give it even more prominence
  
  
• Use your email and focus groups to improve your content
  • Listen to your audience…and believe them when they tell you that something isn't working
  
  
• When you add content, see if you also can prune
  • Keep the amount of content on your website manageable
  
  
• Freshen up your website about every 12-18 months
  • Change your look - not necessarily the organization of your information
  • Don't do it too often because your audience will get confused/frustrated
  
  
• Back-up your content…just in case
  • And have a backup for you…just in case
  
  
• Bigger isn't better - remember that. The most effective website is one that is always current and that always communicates information so that the readers understand it. Less is more!