Traditionally on Victoria.ac.nz, a 160-character introductory paragraph of text is pulled through on to the page from the metadata description field. The functionality to override this already exists, but it is not widely promoted. This means we can have both on-page descriptions and descriptions written for search. Where necessary, this is what we will do for topic pages.

...

use metadata, and "metadata" styling, in different ways. 

Strategy for topics

Intro text will appear at the top of the About, Subjects, Careers and People & Stories tabs on each topic page. 

We will also write a metadata description for search for the About page. 

• At topic level, we can have three types of "metadata": navigation, search and page intro.
• At mega area level, we can have two types: navigation and search. 

Strategy for degrees and programmes

To come.

Types of metadata

Because of the strategic importance of topic pages, we think it's appropriate to use what would normally be called 'metadata' at Victoria in a few different ways. Some of these ways aren't technically metadata, because they are visible to users. But for simplicity's sake...it's all 'metadata' here.

For navigation

These are the 160 character descriptions that is visible to users when they use the main Future Students navigation links to mega-areas and topic pages. Styling to be determined.

Most important: Marketing - engaging text that encourages people to read on. Clarification - where subjects might seem similar to 17-year-olds, and sit near each other, we should attempt to make the difference clear, without comparing directly (e.g. finance and economics).

Secondary importance: Tell users what they will find on the page. (This is more important when the page contains information about particular tasks or services that can be carried out on the page.)

Less important: Search keywords.

Page intro

...

This text will appear on the page be visible to users on topic pages in a different style to normal text. It will paragraph text. There will be a difference in the writing style between the About tab and the other tabs. 

About

This introduction will not be limited to 160 characters and be read by humans.

Priorities

, but should still be short and punchy.

Most important: Marketing - engaging text that encourages people to read on.

...

This should be a strong introductory statement that really grabs the reader. 

Secondary importance: Tell users what they will find on the page. (This is more important when the page contains information about particular tasks or services that can be carried out on the page.)

Less important: Search keywords.

Priorities - Subjects, Careers, People & Stories

Limited to 160 characters? 

Most important: Telling users what they will find on the page in an engaging way.

Secondary importance: Search keywords.

...

For search

This text will be read by search appliances. It will also appear in search results where it may be read by humans.

Priorities

Most important: Search keywords. These should still be in a sentence but it doesn't need to be beautifully written.

Secondary importance: Tell users what they will find on the page. 

Less important: Marketing. 

...

Search keywords for topics

• study
• TK
• TK
• TK