Drupal Camp Resources

Contact: [email protected]

Top 5 Tips: 

1. Get started in GA4: Google Analytics 4 (GA4) can be daunting, but there are many resources available to get you started using it on your site.
2. Use Google Tag Manager: Google Tag Manager (GTM) can be a great tool for both experienced users and beginners.
3. Use Looker Studio: Create dynamic dashboards that are easy to create and share with your stakeholders. There are some easy tips and tricks to get started, too.
4. Use data to make decisions: Data can help you determine what users are (and are not) interested in on your website, which can help you determine what kind of content to include or focus on in the future. Which metrics are important can vary depending on the type of content; for example, news pages might use one set while recruitment pages use another.
5. Review current analytics components: Review what you already have set up to see if there are areas you could streamline. It is easy to end up with duplicate (or triplicate!) tracking.

Contact: z.umn.edu/urbrand 

Top 5 Tips:

1. Show your colors: Prominently feature Maroon and Gold across all University websites. 
2. Stick to structure: Ensure your site includes all required web elements. 
3. Keep it clean: Use University logos sparingly to maintain a sleek look.
4. Go Folwell: Utilize the Folwell theme for ready-made, brand-friendly components.
5. Contact your marcom pro: Have questions about your website? Reach out to your Marketing and Communication Lead.

Contact: [email protected]

Top 5 Tips:

1. Understand your audience: Are you writing for current students or faculty? Know who your website is for and target everything toward that audience. Using plain language can help all audiences understand your content.
2. Define goals and objectives: What do you want to accomplish on your website? Identify one or two main goals and stick to them for each page. Too many action items on a page is overwhelming for users.
3. Assess current content: Does it achieve the goals you’ve set out for that page? If not, rewrite it, move it to a better place on the site, or delete it if it no longer aligns with the site’s goals. Dividing this task into manageable chunks can help.
4. Develop a review calendar: After the initial review of your site, establish a schedule to review every page on your site for currency and accuracy. Some pages might need a weekly or monthly assessment, some might be okay with a review just once or twice a year. 
5. Only include high-quality content: All content should be kept current and relevant. This is especially important for items that change frequently. When possible, use dynamic modules that route from a centrally maintained location, like the main events calendar. 

Contact: [email protected] or accessibility.umn.edu

Top 5 Tips:

1. Contrast & color: Ensure there's enough contrast between the background and foreground (4.5 to 1 for 12pt font and 3 to 1 for 16 pt or higher), especially for readers with vision impairments. Color: Avoid using color alone to convey information. Low color contrast can make it difficult for people with dyslexia or color blindness to distinguish words and letters. 
2. Image descriptions: Provide good descriptions for images. Any image that adds or contributes meaning or context to the site should have an equivalent alt description that gives users of assistive technology the meaning you intend to convey with that image.
3. Keyboard accessibility: Make sure you can tab through the content from start to finish, and that there are not any keyboard traps. A user should be able to access all content on the site without a mouse.
4. Navigation: Provide clear and consistent navigation options and include skip links so screen reader users can bypass long lists of links. You can also use descriptive and logical page titles for each page. Use a consistent and responsive navigation menu that works across different devices and screen sizes. Provide landmarks and breadcrumbs or other indicators of the current location within the site. Provide a search function that allows users to find content by keywords.
5. Form fields: Label form fields like checkboxes, data fields, and radio buttons explicitly. For example, you should use the <label> element to link each form control with its corresponding label; use the <fieldset> and <legend> elements to group related form controls and provide a descriptive title; use the <placeholder> attribute to provide hints or examples of expected input; use the <required> attribute to indicate mandatory fields; use the <aria-describedby> attribute to link form controls with additional instructions or error messages.

Contact: [email protected]

Top 5 Tips: 

1. Understand what matters to your readers: Google prioritizes and serves content that matches users’ search intent. Conduct keyword research to identify your audience's needs and the specific terms they use to describe their pain points.
2. Write content that resonates: Focus on aligning with users' search intent and demonstrating E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) in your content.
3. Create a positive search experience: Help users quickly understand your content on SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages) by providing clear title links, descriptive metadata, and ensuring the page is accessible. 
4. Optimize web pages
   • Title Link and H1: Summarize content, match search intent, and stay within 60 characters.
   • Meta Description Tag: Provide additional context, match search intent, and stay within 140-160 characters.
   • H2 - H6: Structure your webpage to help users and search engines easily understand your content.
   • Body: Write helpful, relevant, and authoritative content.
   • Images: Use the recommended image size; consult with your web team for details. Write descriptive file names, alt text, and captions.
   • Videos: Make videos public and use high-quality thumbnails.
   • Internal Links: Using internal links can help pages get indexed by search engines. It also allows you to prioritize important content and increase users' time on a page.
   • External Links: Link to relevant, authoritative sources.
   • URLs: Keep them short and easy to read.
5. Connect your website to Google Search Console: Gain valuable insights into your site's performance on Google and identify opportunities to improve your website’s  visibility in search results.