Things To Consider About Managing Your Website

Getting a website is one thing. Finding a developer, making content and design, and letting the world know your site is live are activities we usually associate with creating an online presence. But what happens next determines whether or not your site will be the success you envisioned.

Helping your organization make the adjustments that will make sure your website becomes an asset and a valuable resource to visitors is another thing. As you plan for a website that gets results, consider how your organization will address these important issues

Things to consider

Encouraging ownership (start early!)

  • How can staff contribute to the site development effort?
  • How will decisions about design and content be made? (See Steps and Deliverables handout)
  • Who will have responsibility for
    • Responding to inquiries from the site?
    • Ensuring content accuracy and consistency?
  • How will staff promote the site in their everyday communications?
  • What concerns do staff have about launching the site (if the answer is none, there has not been enough discussion about risks)

Generating Content

  • Where is information (i.e., stories, statistics, research and findings, lessons learned) “hiding” in your organization that could help you meet its online goals?
  • Are there functional areas that must generate updated content for your site to be successful? How will that process work?
  • Who will actually post content and what skills do they need in order to do so?
  • Would a “content management system” that allows you to easily update pages be a worthwhile investment?
  • Do you need a searchable online database where visitors can find and manipulate information?

Planning for technical difficulties

What if the application doesn’t work; links are broken; mysterious codes appear?

  • Can you troubleshoot your site?
  • Are your developers available for ongoing support?
  • Does your web host provide support?

Keeping the site fresh

  • When is it time to add pages, more interactivity or change the look?
  • How often will you evaluate the site’s effectiveness

Handling success

  • Will your site generate new processes within your organization?
  • Will it generate an increase in work?
  • Will you need to add additional positions as a result of the site?
  • Will it change the way the world sees you?

Get in touch

Do you have questions? Comments? We’d love to hear from you.
email: ccts@ubalt.edu
phone: (410) 837-6741