Website
MarComm oversees content on the top-level pages of the MGA website, and works with the web content team in the Office of Technology Resources (OTR) to develop and implement strategies for design, navigation, and usability across the entire site.
All university website content is managed via Cascade CMS (Content Management System). Refer to the guides below for more information on how to access, create, edit, and delete web content.
Web Content Best Practices
1. Navigation
Navigation should have a clear structure that’s quick and easy to follow:
- Avoid adding pages without organizing the folder order by relevance in Cascade.
- Avoid going over 10 items in the right-side navigation menu. Group relevant pages in a folder to reduce menu decision overwhelm.
- Avoid using 2 different menu systems (ex: gray header menu and the right-side menu with different links on each of them) — this diverts attention away from the content and makes visitors figure out where to find which link first, causing frustration. Consolidate the menus as best as possible.
2. Responsiveness
52% of total mga.edu visitors use their mobile devices. The website should display and function well on different devices and screen sizes.
What seems like three sentences on a computer monitor (1920 x 1080px) can easily turn into a block of text often scrolled over on a mobile device.
Stick to 1 to 2 lines of text to emphasize key messages and maximize readability.
3. Images
- Use high-quality images within the image size guideline below. Static images should be below 500KB, videos and gifs below 20MB. Smaller the better, but never upload blurry or grainy images.
- You can use a Canva whiteboard as a free and quick way to adjust your image size. Click and drag to your desired size and right click to download the resized image.
- JPEG is the preferred format for website use (keeps file sizes small) except when the image needs to be bigger than 1200 x 700px or is intended to be zoomed in on, in which cases PNG is the correct format.
- For any other projects including print, license, or external use of the logo, please use the PNG files from the MGA Logo Downloads page.
- Image files and sizes that are too big will cause the page to load slowly or shift the content as it loads, prompting visitors to give up and leave the page quickly.
- Do not use slideshows on text-heavy pages — slideshows slow your page down and provide a poor experience for visitors, especially on mobile.
- Name your image files based on what the image is about — “professor_interview.jpeg” will be easier to find, review, delete, or edit than “file 1.jpeg.”
4. Content
All content should be easy to read and understand for a general audience.
- Avoid using MGA jargon (ex: Knight Life, Inside MGA, etc.) for new visitors.
- Spell out acronyms on their first appearance on a webpage.
- Review content annually. Check for any broken links and review (delete or update) content that is older than 3 years with little to no significance for your department/office/division, including images with outdated elements. Refer to the Content Owner Roles page for content maintenance deadlines.
5. Accessibility
The website should be accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. This means it should be compatible with assistive technologies and follow WCAG guidelines. To ensure your content is compliant:
- Write alt text for images, tables, and charts.
- Organize your content with proper headers in the order intended to be read.
Image Size Guide
Type |
Width (px) |
Height (px) |
Ratio |
Home page header image (hero image) |
1920 |
1080 |
16:9 |
Header image (big-image) |
1920 |
462 |
320:27 |
Horizontal |
800 |
600 |
4:3 |
Vertical |
600 |
800 |
3:4 |
Square |
800 |
800 |
1:1 |
We’re also happy to consult with units of the University in developing and implementing web content strategies on divisional, departmental, and office web pages. Send us an email at marketing@mga.edu for a consultation request.
If you need technical assistance or guidance using Cascade, refer to the Cascade User Resources.