Website Tools & Metrics Flashcards

Website Tools & Plugins Overview

• Individual Plugins:
  • Spam Protection:
  • Prevents spam comments and submissions.
  • SEO Plugin:
  • Helps optimize content for search engines by analyzing keywords and page structure.
  • Podcasting Plugin:
  • Manages and displays podcast episodes on the website.
  • Event Planning Plugin:
  • Organizes and promotes events, with features for ticket sales and schedules.

Website Accessibility

• Plugin Used: Recite:
  • Audio Narration:
  • Provides audio versions of text content for visually impaired users.
  • Colour Translation:
  • Offers color adjustments to assist users with color blindness.
  • Multiple Language Support:
  • Ensures content is accessible in various languages.

Content Management System (CMS)

• CMS Used: WordPress:
  • Free to use with a wide array of plugins and themes available to enhance functionality.

Themes

• Purpose: Control the visual appearance and functionality of the site.
• Current Theme Used: Divi:
  • Features:
  • Visual builder that provides a user-friendly interface for site design.
  • Ability to clone entire sites for maintaining consistency across multiple pages or websites.
  • Structure: Organized into Sections → Rows → Modules for intuitive layout.

Child Themes

• Dedicated Plugin Usage:
  • Helps prevent loss of changes during theme switches.
  • Allows for safe minor customizations while maintaining original theme integrity.

Hosting & Platform Information

• Hosting Provider: Kinsta:
  • High-performance WordPress hosting with several features:
  • SSL certificates for HTTPS.
  • User-friendly URL slug editing.
  • Built-in security tools to protect against threats.
• Other Platform Mentioned:
  • Sitecore (not currently in use).

Issues & Limitations

• Managed by only two individuals, with ongoing improvements in progress.
• Inactive plugins may clutter and negatively impact site performance.
• Excessive autoloading elements can slow down site speed:
  • Example: Loading all images at once vs. loading them on scroll.

Sustainability & Green Hosting

• Hosting solutions should aim for digital sustainability:
  • Website Carbon Rating: F (rated by websitecarbon.com).
  • Sustainability Practices:
  • Compressing images to reduce file sizes.
  • Limiting the overall number of megabytes used for imagery.

Website Metrics

• Total Page Views: 13,332.
• Average Daily Views: Over 400.
• Bounce Rate:
  • Percentage of users who visit and leave without further interaction.

Best Practices

1. Consistently update the website and its components.
2. Keep necessary plugins active while removing inactive ones.
3. Ensure legal compliance and accessibility standards are met.
4. Maintain up-to-date HTTPS/SSL certificates to enhance security.
5. Utilize a child theme plugin for safe and reversible theme modifications.
6. Choose green hosting providers to reduce the carbon footprint associated with hosting.
7. Compress images and limit the use of large files to improve site efficiency.
8. Avoid excessive autoloaded elements to maintain fast site speed.

Budget & Pricing

• Annual Digital Budget: £20,000.
• Hosting (Kinsta): £100/month.
• WordPress: Free to use.

Recent Website Updates

Key Changes

• New content created for the Class of 2024, including 15 individuals awarded the Membership Award.

Page Updates

• Individual modules for each recipient added, containing:
  • Name and Position.
  • Social Media Links.
  • Short Biography.
• Images formatted in rectangular shapes to efficiently use space.
• Base content derived from a provided Word document.
• Standardization of character length across all bios ensuring consistency in the presentation.

MonsterInsights Overview Report (Last 30 Days)

• Sessions: 13,322 (↑ 14% vs. previous 30 days).
• Average Session Duration: 48 seconds (↑ 20% vs. previous 30 days).
• Bounce Rate: 50.3% (↑ 10% vs. previous 30 days).
• Pageviews: 18,122 (↑ 4% vs. previous 30 days).
• Total Users: 9,276 (↑ 20% vs. previous 30 days).
• New Users: 8,610 (↑ 24% vs. previous 30 days).
• Bounce Rate Definition:
  • Represents visitors who leave without engaging further with the website.