As a first step, you will need to identify the primary audience(s) and the key messages you want the site to convey. The University's Messaging Strategy provides a communications framework to advance the individual distinctiveness of departments, programs and offices within the context of a cohesive narrative of who we are, what we value and what sets Brown apart as a leading institution committed to academic excellence.

A content audit involves reviewing and evaluating each page of your existing website. Done in a spreadsheet, the content audit will be an inventory of your webpages and a big picture judgment of the quality of those pages. A completed audit will give you a list of pages that are acceptable as is, need to be revised, or should be deleted.

Information architecture describes the navigational structure of a website and outlines how webpages fit into that navigational structure. (View a sample information architecture in Google Docs.) Using your content audit as a starting point, OUC will provide guidance on how to effectively organize your webpages and site navigation.

OUC will setup the menus, pages and special components for each website. OUC can also assist in moving certain types of content into your new site. (Individual units will be responsible for placing new or revised content they produce into the site prior to launch.)

Before you begin placing content in your new website, you will need to complete a Drupal Cloud training course. To ensure your new online content complies with web accessibility standards, all content editors should watch Brown's digital accessibility training video.

Once trained, you can begin placing new content into your site and reviewing the content that was migrated on your behalf. Time spent writing or rewriting your content to make it accurate, up-to-date and free of typos is worth the investment. Tips for improving your content »

Once the site is complete, submit a website launch request to OUC. Prior to launching a new website, OUC will review the site. This pre-launch checklist can help ensure your site meets the University's standards and policies for website accessibility, identity, technology and overall quality. We encourage web content editors to refer to this checklist before submitting a launch request in order to expedite the website launch process.

Launch requests should be submitted at least ten days prior to your intended launch date.