The goal of an effective website is to provide clear pathways for multiple audiences to engage with Clark University. Clark’s web content should support the goals and areas of focus set forward in Clark Inspired: A Strategic Framework for Our Future. What follows is a series of practical, evidence-based recommendations to support a positive experience for our web users.
Define your goals
Whether the goal of a page is to provide clear and comprehensive information about an academic program, describe a research initiative, or help alumni maintain a feeling of connection to Clark, articulating your goals at the outset will help you create concise, effective written content.
Know Your Audiences
The Clark University website serves diverse audiences that may include a 17-year-old prospective student, trying to find out if the degrees Clark offers interest them; a researcher from another country searching for a faculty member with expertise in their field; or a current student walking to class, who just needs a quick answer to a question.
- Write content that speaks to this person and answers their specific questions
- Use personas to assess what different users might expect to find on a page
- List the visitor’s needs, what they are looking for, and what motivates them