Web Wide Information Architecture

Presentation by Melissa Cheater, University Western Ontario

2:03 – Information Architecture maps out your webpage effectively. Maintain a consistency while getting your message out!

2:06 – 85% of students rely on links/menus to find information on your site. Only 15% use search tool. 88% of students said they would drop a school if they couldn’t find what they were looking for on the website.

Information architecture is important for several reason: Cost of finding, cost of not finding, cost of construction, cost of maintenance, cost of training, value of education, value of brand.

2:08 – Use google analytics to find out where people are clicking. Use the “Site Overlay” in the web content area. It helps you see traffic trends. (I need to explore Google Analytics more!!!!)

2:12 – Think about what you want on your homepage? For Davenport we probably want to “advertise” Business, Health, and Technology. Push users where they need to go.

2:18 – Your school’s website NEEDS to incorporate all the pages that aren’t hosted at yourschool.edu . You must include your Twitter, Facebook, Flickr properties. You’re spending time on them, so include them!

2:21 – Link to your social media accounts off of your homepage. In addition, don’t have your social media accounts be islands. Make sure you’re always linking to your properties.

2:27 – Link to your social media accounts off of your homepage. > And vice versa—and AMONG the social-media pages. Then document!

2:37 – Feel like I’m ahead of the game with my fbml tabs! Josh and I worked hard to make an engaging tab for students to click on.