Any webmasters out there?! - Page 2

archangel689 · #16 11-22-2002, 12:54 PM

They just don't know the usefulness of it yet. Our chapter needs a private message board becasue it's more secure then email. Our University snoops (reads) all the email we recieve at our .edu addresses.

Quote:

I'm really kinda down and out though, because my officers like the site, but have told me they don't plan on using the message board or anything like that...it just hurts because they have no idea how much work it took to get everything up and running...and then they don't know how helpful it could be for the chapter...<sigh> guess I'm just in a bummed out mood...

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cuaphi · #17 11-22-2002, 01:05 PM

Don't let them get you down WhiteDaisy. That's one of the best amateur efforts I've ever seen. In fact, all of you are blowing my mind. I was the original webmaster for my chapter way back in '97 and it didn't look anything like what you guys have got going on. The site is still up but the only part that's mine is the header .gif's without the animation.

www.colorado.edu/Greeks/APhi

texas*princess · #18 11-22-2002, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by axotiger
Hey fellow GC-ers... are any of y'all the webmaster for your particular GLO?! I was figuring that we could give some constructive criticism and give each others ideas. Lemme know if anyone's interested!

My page is: here

Well, have a great day everyone!

Awesome website! There's a great amount of content and it is well-presented.

texas*princess · #19 11-22-2002, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WhiteDaisy128
Well since we are an official chapter now here is our web page:

http://www.ncsudeltagamma.org

I'm really kinda down and out though, because my officers like the site, but have told me they don't plan on using the message board or anything like that...it just hurts because they have no idea how much work it took to get everything up and running...and then they don't know how helpful it could be for the chapter...<sigh> guess I'm just in a bummed out mood...

Whitedaisy, your website is soooo AWESOME! Very functional and nice layout

WhiteDaisy128 · #20 11-26-2002, 12:00 AM

Well here is the update. I am going to resign as webmaster for my chapter. They brought me into the chapter management team meeting and basically told me that I had to redo the entire page. I have worked so hard on it and I'm not quitting because I didn't get my way, but instead because they are making it too hard really for anyone to be webmaster by requiring approval for everything on the site, meaning announcements and everything. I am going to have 19 hours of classes next semester and I can't handle both of them at once. The current content management system that I am using is easy and functional, but not what they want. It's so simple to keep up with on my behalf. I do not have time to fully develope a regular HTML site and then constantly be waiting on premission to put things on it. I'm very frustrated at this point. Needless to say.

I have been doing web developement for North Carolina State University since my sophomore year in high school on their distance education pages. I know what a good page is and what one is not. I do not want to put a page on the net that I am not proud of. With what they want, I would not be proud of.

I'm not sure what else to do.

chideltjen · #21 11-26-2002, 12:39 AM

Whitedaisy hun... your site had more information and options available than necessary (good thing). What more do your officers want? It looked like it had all the basics... history, photo gallery, calendar of events that can turn into a recruitment calendar, msg board,... the works. But don't give up. I mean if you have to resign due to classes, understandable... i have to give up mine cuz i am graduating in the spring. But I would talk to them about it again. Maybe come up with a flowchart of some sort labeling all the basics necessary and then throw in a couple extra things. Go over it with them.

It's gonna be like the designer/client discussion. I can PM you more details about it if you want.

Trust me... they are going to need a website. And if you are the only one with HTML skills in the house, they will listen to your ideas. Trust me...

axotiger · #22 11-26-2002, 09:44 AM

yeah, i kinda know where you're coming from. I took over webmaster last year cause, quite frankly, it hadn't been worked on in 4 years and it sucked. So I was desperately TRYING to figure out what to put on, how to lay it out, and i was trying to get the president to give me the information. Did she no. So I was in charge of finding the information, figureing out a color scheme, layout and all the crap. Then I was finished and it was fine. Then we got a new president and at the end of year (right before finals) she was like.. well you need to re-do it. since all the potential rushees got a card with all the sororities webpage links.. and nothing more. So that was their first impression. So i was like.. cool, i have half the summer to do it.. NOT during finals. But then she was like, can u have it done before you leave? I was like.. uh hell no. Also the program i used to make graphics was being weird on my computer. Anyway, i had the final product out a week or 2 after finals.... and she wanted to change the color scheme. (its hard to make red and green work well w/o being too busy... so i used neutral yellow, with red and green around and stuff) So i sat with her on instant messenger for 2 hours while i tried different colors and we figured out what to do... at the end she was like.... oh i guess u were right, it is hard to do the color scheme.. what u had was fine. AHHHHHHHHHHh

People who don't know annoy me. THEN she tried to screw with the pictures i had, only wanting like 2 from each event. Personally i think people like to look at pictures to get a feel for the girls ya know. but whatever.
Now that rush is over, i'm doing what i want. and since im the only one who knows how to write this crap, she can only make 'suggestsions' now.

ok enough venting. quick question, anyone know code to have a good calendar (or a free service)... where i can edit it maybe online or somthing... not through HTML code?
THANX

WhiteDaisy128 · #23 11-26-2002, 03:31 PM

The problems on the web page that they see is that there is TOO much information on there. The way I see it, the audiance for the web page will be PNM's, other DG's, other Greeks, and parents. They WANT to see everything we are doing. They want to know that we do social events but ALSO community events. The chapter management team ONLY wants pictures and history on the page. No sister list, no calendar, no announcements, no message board (whether it is private or public), nothing like that. I just don't want to put my name on a page that I do not feel represents us well. I am so proud of DG and I want everyone to see how many awesome things we do. I want to have the written announcements about going to the Gov. Morehead School for the Blind, I want people to know about the family we adoped for Christmas (what we have done for them, not like their names and stuff...). Isn't that supposed to be what a web page is for? In this day and age it is the window to what's going on in a chapter. A place the whole world can see what you are all about?

I have presented my case to my VP, the Pres, and the whole chapter management team three times. They still want it redone. I just don't think I'm willing to work on something that I would not want my name on.

axotiger · #24 11-26-2002, 04:21 PM

I agree wholeheartedily (sp?) with you on that... people DO want to see what you've got goin' on... and see how awesome you are. Especially other chapters. I know when I was redoing my page, I went to nearly every AX page on the web that I could find... to see what we were doing, how involved we were, did we look like we had fun..etc. Hopefully your exec will come around one of these days... good luck

chideltjen · #25 11-26-2002, 04:45 PM

Here is my design tip for you all...

Less is definitely more. (God I can here my professors now...)

The one thing I did notice during my second look at the DG page was that there are about 3 consecutive links to get to one page... more specifically... I clicked on the "Sisters" link. Then I had to chose an option between alumn and actives or something (fine). THen I had to go thru another link which basically said the same thing... and so on so forth.

Point being... websites need to be straightforward. You can have all the crazy gimmicks, flash animations, frames, advanced message systems, etc... but if a viewer gets lost in a series of links, they are going to skip over the page. I don't know if that is just the program you are using or what.

IMHO... (take it with a grain of salt if you want) a greek webpage should consist of the following:
- A homepage with maybe a picture or two, maybe throw in an announcement or two (XWS sorority wins Greek Week...etc) You don't need a whole paragraph explaining it because people on the web may just skip over it cuz it's too long. I know i don't like reading essays on websites. If you MUST explain your latest victory, do so on another page/java window/etc.
- A history page that has national history (if you are national) and your local history. Here you can include a brief description of your symbols, colors, etc, but you don't HAVE to include detailed pics of them. (More pics equal longer downloading time... not all PNMs are going to have cable modems.) And if you have room, include your awards or something... again... optional.
- A photo album of some sort: keep this simple!!!! It will take too much time to DL each photo if you have scanned every single picture from every event and smacked it on your site. Rule of thumb: try to get the basics for the semester and make sure each sister is in at least ONE picture. If you must, break it down into social events (incl formals), philanthropy events, sisterhood events, maybe some rush pics.
- Recruitment info... this is pretty self explanatory. Again, keep is simple. PNMs are probably going to be looking for dates and times.
- Philanthropy info: this can probably be included on the history page. But explain what you do, who the organization you are supporting is, etc.
- Contact page: This is IMPORTANT! You need to have a page where you have the webmaster's email, the presidents, recruitment chair's, alumna advisor (or whomever is in charge of alum stuff) and maybe your social chair's email. This is how people will contact you.

Optional pages:
Calendar page... the only reason I have a calendar page is because there are alumnae in the area still that might wanna show up to events. But in all honesty... it's one of the least looked at parts of my site. If you absolutely have to have one... an elaborate one is not necessary. I would just type out the events and date in tables.
Sisters page... I would add this page if you had the space. It isn't that necessary either but it's kinda neat to see who is in the sorority or if you recognize names. Profiling each sister is a big hassle so don't do it. Maybe include the emails of the sisters if you don't have a contact page. But again... do it if you have the time.
MSG board: guestbooks are fun and all but you gotta keep an eye on them. I have had plenty of drunken madness and crazy fraternity guys sign stuff on our guestbook... and then just turned around and deleted it. A large scale MSG board (phbbh or whatever comes to mind) isn't all that necessary either. A simple guestbook is fine (as I am finding out with my sorority this semester.) Just as long as people can give shout outs or for PNMs to request info (of course they can always email you too.)

On a side note: what program is everyone using to come up with their sites? I am using Dreamweaver 4. I LOVE it! Did the Frontpage thing.... yeah... not too many options.

axotiger... red and green are compliments and look fabulous together in print and on the web. I am surprised you had some trouble coming up with a scheme. hmmm... i know they are your colors... but maybe try different tints and shades?

Ok I wrote a novel... blah... now no one is gonna wanna read this cuz it's too long

adduncan · #26 11-26-2002, 04:48 PM

ChideltJen--

If you like DreamWeaver 4, consider upgrading to the new DWMX that was released this summer. It's even more powerful when it comes to automation and customizing!

Adrienne

chideltjen · #27 11-26-2002, 04:54 PM

i have mx studio but haven't really tried out dreamweaver yet... i figure i know 4 pretty well so i will stick with that for a lil while.

texas*princess · #28 11-26-2002, 04:57 PM

I will be redoing our chapter website but am making every effort to include as much people as possible in the process. With some of the larger chapters it may be nearly impossible, but I think if you get opinions of what everyone wants in it, you can come up with something great that the entire chapter (not just the webmaster) will like. The website should represent everyone, not just the tastes and likes of one person.

But it's just a suggestion

I personally think your site [white daisy] is really cute but like chideltjen mentioned, getting lost in links can be frustrating. Instead of just appeasing the exec, try getting lots of people involved to see what the entire sorority wants

axotiger · #29 11-26-2002, 05:26 PM

chideltjen-
VERY good suggestions, thanx! The red green thing... i dunno, the thing that took the time was the shades and whatnot. Cause the first verison, i had red and green..a nd my pres was like.. can u change the color (which was annoying since all the graphics i made i made with the background color)...she said that people have been coming up to her saying they dont like the red and green, i was like.. uh... u mean u dont want me to use our colors?! riiiiiiiiight. (it was annoying) so i chose a neutral yellow.

program - uhh, I'm hard coding my webpage with HTML and javascript stuff. Where do you get dreamweaver from and what way does it help?!

thanx everyone
ps- even though i started this post... i like it.. it's helpful

nauadpi · #30 11-26-2002, 05:33 PM

Dreamweaver is by Macromedia also Adobe makes their own program too. I find both of the programs helpful, because you can just place items with them then go back and look at the code and adjust things more specifically. The only factor is that both these pieces of software are comercial software, so in turn are not cheep. But one thing to keep in mind is to check for student discounts...In reality there are lots of programs to help design webpages, the only program I would say to stay away from is Microsofts Frontpage. This is because the server hosting the site has to have frontpage extensions loaded, and still there can be conflicts with some systems, even windows machines. Just something to keep in mind.