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As you complete the conceptualization and design phases, you begin to move from blueprint to reality. A well designed website integrates carefully considered elements that include content, visual design and graphics, and specialized technology. While these are the elements that a visitor sees when they visit your website, there are a number of other 'behind the scenes' factors to consider when building an educational website.
Best Practices to Develop your Website...Hosting Considerations
Just as you can't host an educational program without a venue, you can't host a website without a web server and hosting technology. The size and amount of interactive technology required to operate your website are key factors to consider as you decide how you are going to host your website.
Best Practices...Content Management
Website content can be updated and changed, added to and deleted from in a matter of moments simply by accessing electronic content files. Electronic content files require management systems and policies to allow for ease of access, integration, privacy, and copyright.
Best Practices...Promotions
There are literally millions of websites on the Internet and more are added each day. How then will your perspective audiences find your website? How are you going to promote your URL, and how are you going to keep your website near or at the top of a search engine list? Just as you promote an exhibit, special event, or educational program you will need to promote your website.
Best Practices...Maintenance
It may seem unusual to share information about maintaining a website before you have even began to conceptualize one. However, since regular maintenance is key for all successful websites, planning ahead to streamline this process is prudent. If a visitor cannot find your website, cannot download information, or cannot access images, activities, or data, it doesn't matter how good the content is, because the visitor will never see it. More importantly, if a visitor gets an error message from your website, they may decide to move on and possibly never return.
Educational websites are not created equal. Museum websites can hold a visitor's attention, inspire curiosity, enhance skills, encourage learning, and promote repeat visits. We hope this, the Best Practices in Museum Website Design website, has provided you with valuable tools and resources for your museum to consider when conceptualizing, planning, designing, and developing your own inspirational educational website. We invite you to contact us with comments, feedback, or examples of excellence in Canadian museum website design.
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