Administration
Keep
users up-to-date on content changes
 When
appropriate and practical, tell users what content you changed, and when you
changed it. This information will help them find new material easily. You may
want to provide a "What's New" section that is easily accessible from the home
page, or link directly to the new material from your home page. You may also
want to indicate new content on a particular page with graphical cues.
Maintain links
Dead
links frustrate users. Check all of your links periodically and correct or
remove the ones that are no longer working. Note that you should check an
external link more than once before deleting it; it may be only temporarily
inaccessible if its server is down. The tracking report generated by your server
software can tell you the location of broken links.
Maintain version control
Keep
all versions of your site organized so you can update files or refer to previous
versions efficiently. Maintain the naming and file directory system you
established during the original development of the site. Continue to back up
your files and store them safely. Document your procedures for naming and
structuring files so others can learn your system easily.
Track
site activity
The more you know about user activity at your site, the better prepared you
will be to plan future updates. Tracking reports generated by server software
can provide you with the following information:
-
The number of visits your site receives, which indicates how well it is
advertised and how popular it is with users
-
The number of disconnects, which indicates technical problems that need
correcting
-
The pages users link from when they connect to your site, which can help
you refine your advertising strategy and even make you aware of categories of
users you had not previously considered
-
The order in which users view your pages, which can help you assess your
navigation and information design
Respond
to users who give you feedback
Responding
appreciatively to users when they give feedback will help you develop a positive
ongoing relationship with them. They will be more likely to offer feedback in
the future if they know you are interested in what they have to say. Let them
know that you take their suggestions seriously, and let them know when you make
a change based on their feedback.
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