Digital Engagement gets regular requests for standalone sites, including Wordpress. This page is for noting ways we can respond.
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📬 When Squiz seems like the better option
Kia ora [name],
I understand the importance of having a professional online presence that represents your [lab/project] and its activities.
The content you mentioned is standard within the University's web channel. Examples of [research labs] and projects on our site include:
Autobiographical Memory Lab
Supporting the Political Party Law Reform.
A dedicated section showcasing your work like this can be created for you by your Faculty's website editors - [names]. If you require a short URL pointing to your web content, my team can assist.
Keeping your web content within the University's web channel offers several important benefits, including:
your content will have a better chance of being found in search engines such as Google
findable via the University's website search tool
as a University activity, your [lab's] online content will match the University's other activities
ease of updating (my team provides full support to the Faculty's web editors)
secure and backed up
sometimes, the University's website might have tools or features that are useful for your lab's content. For example, we recently made scholarships embeddable on any web page. Soon, we plan to release a site-wide design refresh that includes te reo page names.
So, it's possible that keeping your [lab's] content on the University's website helps your [lab] and we'd be proud to feature you.
I'm looking forward to your thoughts.
Ngā mihi
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📬 When you don’t have enough information
Sometimes staff ask for Wordpress sites, but don’t say why. If you’re not sure of the requirements, you can send an email like the following:
Kia ora,
It’s great to hear about your exciting new project.
Marsden funding requirements
Can you advise if there are any specific guidelines or obligations from the Marsden Fund regarding the creation of a website, such as branding?
Knowing this will help me understand whether we facilitate a site within the University's web channel (fully supported) or a Wordpress site (not supported).
Benefits of using the University’s main web channel
Higher traffic and visibility: The University’s website has over 24 million visits per year, which can significantly increase the visibility of the project.
Established Google profile: A page within the University’s main website is more likely to rank higher in search results due to the site’s established authority.
Professional support: The University provides website advice, training, ongoing design, functionality enhancements, and helpdesk support. (You will be able to create and update your own online content.)
Website content strategy
Regardless of the website platform decision, you will need to create a website content strategy. This is a living document that fully details the purpose, audience needs, content ownership, scope, future plans, and regular review schedules. I'll send you a link to a website content strategy template under separate cover.
I'm looking forward to find out more about your website needs.
Ngā mihi