https://devsummit.aspirationtech.org/index.php?title=Lessons_from_MapLight%27s_Web_Site_Redesign&feed=atom&action=historyLessons from MapLight's Web Site Redesign - Revision history2024-03-29T07:31:43ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.35.1https://devsummit.aspirationtech.org/index.php?title=Lessons_from_MapLight%27s_Web_Site_Redesign&diff=451&oldid=prevVivian: 1 revision imported2015-05-05T18:13:25Z<p>1 revision imported</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>SESSION #1:<br />
Lessons from MapLight's Web Site Redesign (focus is on homepage)<br />
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Facilitated by Jay Costa, MapLight (Revealing Money’s Influence on Politics)<br />
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I. Redesigning the Home Page<br />
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· Your redesign strategy must take into account your organization’s strategy; you are not smarter than your users! They know what they want and need!<br />
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· Embedding dynamic content on the sidebar (i.e. the FORM for a take action, versus making people click through)<br />
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· Determine where the “prime real estate” space is on the home page.<br />
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· Involve your users and incorporate theirfeedback; they tell how things should be positioned on the site; try and orientate your users as much as possible. Use your users!!!<br />
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· Do interviews with a dozen or so users you have a relationship with. Bring them into the process early; it will make thingsclear.<br />
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· Ask general questions to get a sense of what needs are:<br />
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o What would you click on first? Then next? Then next?<br />
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o What’s most interesting to you on this page?<br />
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o Can you find what you need?<br />
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o How would you go about looking for what you need?<br />
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o What do you see in the first glance?<br />
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o More than just getting an impression<br />
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o Try to understand who your users ARE; develop from there.<br />
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o When you get up, what is your process for work?<br />
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o What would you ideally like the website to be?<br />
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o How can it be the most valuable to you?<br />
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II. Considerations<br />
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· Real World vs. Online: a NYTimes mention will generate more views than just a web-based approach.<br />
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· Should showcase the things that would interest your target audience/primary user type.<br />
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· Get feedback and incorporate prior to re-design via forms, informal conversations with primary users etc. “Does this serve their needs?”<br />
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· Need to involve the users: they will tell you what they want and don’t want. (Map Light’s user type = journalists (wonks and beats)<br />
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· Make data relevant and accessible to primary user type.<br />
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· User types include “citizens” and “issue advocates” – need to take into consideration how the NOT primary user could use it.<br />
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· What is the most effective use of space on the home page? Don’t distract of confuse users with things you don’t need.<br />
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· Maybe present a couple prelim designs to users and have them vote on what they like. But don’t spend all your $ on mock-ups!!<br />
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· Talk to the funders: we have a plan, it will cost this much, we will put in X, can you put in Y amount?<br />
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· In-house versus outhouse<br />
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· Attach price tags to ideas! (Cost not hours!)<br />
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III. Lessons <br />
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· Involve users<br />
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· Figure out who you are trying to reach (primary user)<br />
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· Cater website to primary user<br />
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· Maybe want to do quick iterations<br />
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· PRESENT STEPS AND REALITY to match Top-End “ideals” and “fantasies” of the non-tech staff (mitigate “founder’s syndrome”)<br />
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· Consider using a beta page, more cost efficient than several mock-ups sometimes.<br />
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IV. Resources<br />
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· Nielson blog<br />
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· Make sure to look at websites that you consider “good”<br />
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· Look at Sierra Club website (beyond coalcampaign)<br />
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· Drupal versus Wordpress<br />
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· Look at Exhale.org website</div>Vivian