Tips & Recommendations

• Content should never be copied from another source without express written permission to do so.  This constitutes plagiarism.
• Content Providers should obtain written permission before posting any copyrighted information, including photos and graphics.  Documentation of such permissions must be retained on file while the information remains on the website.  This would include any graphics, photos, or information obtained from other websites (see Standards & Guidelines, Graphic Elements).
• Any non-official pages related to Olympic College (such as professor sites) shall be marked with an asterisk (*) and the page shall bear the following disclaimer:
  
  * This is not an "official" Olympic College website.  Posting by individuals or organizations reflect their own thoughts, interests, and activities.  They do not implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of Olympic College.  Authors of unofficial web pages assume responsibility and liability for the content of their documents.  Please address all comments and other feedback to the author of the non-official page or site in question.
• No advertising for entities outside the scope of Olympic College shall be presented on any page, excepting partnering situations.
• Content Providers should always consider whether their changes impact the website's Site Map.  Any added, moved, or removed pages should be reflected on the Site Map.  Changes should be requested in your approval request to the Web Content Manager, who will then make appropriate updates to the Site Map.
• The SubHome page for each area (ie, each program, service, etc) should display the following information at the top of the page:
  • Physical location
  • Phone number (designated by a bold P: before the number if fax number also present)
  • Fax number (if appropriate; designated by a bold F: before the number)
  • Contact Person(s) with title and contact information (phone, email), if appropriate (email should go below name, title, and phone number and be linked to the email account).
  • Hours, if appropriate
• An "expiration date" should be considered for each page (or content components of a page) when written and posted.  This will enable Content Providers to ensure content remains fresh and current.  Simply note the "expiration" date of various site elements in your area on a calendar or in a special folder for your weekly web work. Then as these dates arrive, you're ready to post updated content instead of allowing out-dated material to remain on your sites.
• When developing content, write in Word (or another easy-to-use word processing package), refine, approve, and then copy your content to the web page.  The more you edit on the web page, the more edits the file has to record.  This process will streamline your work and reduce file sizing.
• When writing content, try to present one idea per page rather than several on one page.  For example, one page might describe the Associate in Technical Arts (ATA) degree, but a separate page would describe the Associate in Arts & Sciences (AAS) degree.
• Web readers do not like to read long passages of text.  Try to break up the length using descriptive subheadings and bulleted lists where appropriate.
• Content Providers should remember that as a state agency, Olympic College must ensure all content posted on the website is appropriate.  Information posted on the OC website should be fact, not opinion, unless context makes this apparent (ie, book reviews).  Be mindful of the information you post on the website, and its reflection upon our institution.  (See required disclaimer for non-official website pages above.)
• The website has been designed so that when the reader clicks the print button, the main content of the page should not be cut off on the right side of the page, as the right-side navigation column serves as a "print buffer."  However, when testing changed pages, Content Providers should perform a print preview or to ensure readability in printed format.
• Do not duplicate information presented elsewhere on the website whenever possible.  Instead, you can include a link to the information already posted using the Related Links section.  This will reduce redundancy, as well as eliminating the risk of having content discrepancies on the website.
• Before submitting your changes for the weekly live server update, be sure to proofread your work.  One way to do this is to make a first pass looking for content, making sure it makes sense.  Ignore the grammar and spelling.  If possible, have someone else read it and make suggestions, as not everyone understands the same words the same way.  Make sure all phone numbers and email address, as well as other information, is accurate.    Once your content review is complete, go through a second time looking at spelling and grammar.  Make sure there are no typos or missing periods, etc.  A tip for this type of review: try going backwards through the text. It's easier to focus on the spelling of the typed word rather than just seeing what you think it ought to be.