Summer 2023 Content Manager Update

August 29, 2023

Hello IT Connect Content Managers,

Welcome to the Spring 2023 edition of the quarterly IT Connect Content Manager Update.

WHAT’S NEW?

New style and formatting guide for IT Connect

A new style and formatting guide for IT Connect content is published on IT Connect. The new style guide provides updated guidance for writing IT Connect content. The guide is more robust and more prescriptive, providing advice on writing style and formatting guidelines for IT Connect content.
The new  style guide goes into depth on how to:

  • Write for the web using plain language that avoids jargon and acronyms
  • Choose the best words for both user comprehension and search engine optimization
  • Ensure users know if the page has the information they need using audience tagging and describing a pages purpose at the top
  • What formatting options to use to enhance your page’s scannability and ensure consistency across the site.

The new guide is supplemented by a template that allows you to copy and paste some formatting options directly into your content.

Please reference and follow this guide when writing IT Connect content. If you have any questions about the guide, please fill out this form.

Read the style guide

Google Analytics 4 Update

Google Analytics 4 (GA4), the major update to web-based analytics from Google, launched last year, and Google has been busy enhancing the platform and getting analytics users ready to switch over to GA4 for their web properties. IT Connect switched to using Google Analytics this Spring, while concurrently collecting data from the legacy Universal Analytics system as well.

Last month a major milestone was reached in the worldwide switchover to GA4, when Google started turning off data collection for the legacy Universal Analytics platform. This means that the legacy system that IT Connect used to collect analytics information for nearly two decades is no longer gathering analytics data.

The next milestone is slated for the end of this year: access to all analytics data on the legacy Universal Analytics platform will be turned off for users of the service. When that happens, you will no longer be able to access any legacy analytics data through the Universal Analytics platform.

The IT Connect team has been working to save high-level platform usage data from the system before it goes away, but there are actions you must take if you want to save metrics specific to your content on IT Connect. Read more about what actions you can take from a message sent to all content editors in June:

Learn more about these changes and actions you must take to save data.

Web content best practices: Use links effectively

Linking is a powerful tool in the web content toolkit. Linking lets you easily and effectively share information with readers and can help reduce both reader frustration at finding information, and keep pages concise while still providing helpful information.

For example, if you mention a UW policy or a technology tool is documented elsewhere on IT Connect, link to it. Don’t make readers have to go searching for something you mention if it already has content somewhere and you can provide a link.

For example, if a public transportation website said to check the bus timetable for arrival times, it would create a positive user experience if the words “bus timetable” linked directly to that information, rather than the reader having to find that information on their own.

Links should be descriptive to the information they take users to. Using words like “click here” or “read more” don’t make contextual information for that link apparent with minimal thought. This is especially important for screen readers users, who often need to navigate the links on a page without the context of the surrounding text.

DOCUMENTATION, TRAINING & CONSULTATIONS

Do you need some help creating IT Connect content, another head to brainstorm content organization and layout, or want to learn how to use the features available in IT Connect? There are several ways to get help:

    • Content Manager Documentation: Extensive documentation, ranging from the basics of WordPress to advanced features for pages, is available on the IT Connect Content Manager Documentation.
    • Guide to writing documentation: Use the Getting started with documentation guide to help you start writing documentation. The guide breaks down the documentation process that will benefit your end users.
    • Training: One-on-one training for managing content on IT Connect is available from the IT Connect service manager, Nick Rohde, over Zoom or in person. Get tips on correctly formatting content using the tools in IT Connect or learn how to organize your content. To arrange training, fill out this intake form.
  • Consultation: Consultation sessions for individuals or teams are available from the IT Connect product manager, Nick Rohde. To schedule a consultation, fill out this intake form.