Website Tips
Keep It Current!
The most important thing to remember about our websites, is that parents and our community can tell when the information is old and incomplete! Our district and school sites should be a tool to help people engage. If they're not up-to-date, people get frustrated.
Here are some common places families look:
- Website Calendars - Make sure to add the events that are taking place in your building as soon as you know! Don't just provide the date - provide the details too! Our school website calendars allow you to add times, locations and upload files. If you have a flyer, add it... The more information you can refer to online, the less time you will have to spend on the phone answering the same questions!
- Gallery Photos - I try to add photos when I'm in your buildings, but you're there all the time. Take quality photos and upload them regularly. People notice when they are changing and when they are stagnant!
- News & Alerts - Don't be scared...people don't like to read diatribes...keep it short and simple, but do post the wonderful things that are happening in your buildings. If I don't and you don't... people don't know that it's happened!
- Principal Spotlight Message - Consider changing your spotlight message. Think about including things that are seasonally specific or important announcements for the next couple of months. 1-2 paragraphs and no more! Remember to type the date above your announcement so that people know you've changed it recently.
Picture Quality Counts
Everyone has heard the old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." A picture should share something special and tell a story about what it looks like and feels like in your building for those who can't always be there to see it first hand. Make sure the pictures you're posting are:
- SPECIAL - a picture of a kid doing a handout doesn't quite send the same message as a student engaging in a hands-on lesson.
- HIGH RESOLUTION & QUALITY - Be selective! Pictures shouldn't be distorted or blurry. They should be sharp, clear and colorful!
- VARIED - Try to use your main homepage gallery to showcase your best and brightest moments throughout your ENTIRE building. Do update it regularly - Don't upload multiple pictures from the same event; pick your favorite 1-2 quality photos and only upload those!
- Just because you took a photo, doesn't mean you have to share it... There's no need to put pictures of every single event in your gallery; just make sure to add a few new ones to the beginning and delete a couple from the end every month.
Facial Expressions
You don't want pictures of kids or staff that look angry, unengaged or unimpressed floating around, so make sure to look at the facial expressions of your subjects before posting!
Add An Employee
Pictures of adorable kids are always crowd pleasers, but whenever you have the chance to add a staff member engaging with that student in an authentic situation, it doesn't just show a moment, it evokes emotion and shows that we care!
Just look at that smile!
I think we can agree that Dean looks absolutely adorable in both photos, so you really couldn't go wrong posting either, but if you have two equally cute pictures, pick the one that is more authentic.
Blurry is not Better!
If you have a newer smartphone that you're using to take pictures, when you get ready to snap the photo, hold down on the button. This will take a burst of images and allow you to go back and pick the best quality image. Blurry, pixilated pictures, are not appealing.
Different Angles
Don't be afraid to snap a few pictures from different angles. Having various pictures will give you more to choose from when you're adding pictures to your gallery and news & alerts sections. - Pictures of students engaged in learning are always better than those where you ask them to stop and say cheese!
Tell A Story
Just another reminder that a picture should share a story, without needing any explanation. Make sure to be selective and only pick your favorite images.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9kNXQT38pE
Unused Pages
First and foremost, I have to admit that I'm guilty of this one too! When we launched the websites, we had the best of intentions for every inch of space available. If there are pages on your sites that you just aren't using, we can easily and quickly delete or hide them until you're ready to use them. We don't want to direct people to pages that have no information.
If you have questions, ask!
I'm always here to help you make your websites the best they can be, with the least amount of time possible! If you have an idea of something that you'd like to add or information that you need help making accessible on our websites, please give me a call and I will help you or find help with an Edlio support specialist for you!
Email: kaple.brittany@evsd90.org
Phone: 509-573-7311