We're here to help you build the best possible site. Our team offers training to content editors and site owners looking to build more effective websites. Currently, we offer training on web content strategy, Layout Builder, Siteimprove and content hub.

Layout Builder

This training is an introductory session to Layout Builder. Layout Builder is SiteNow's full suite of content editing functions that allow you to build page layouts in a drag-and-drop interface.

Skills you'll gain:
web design page layout content editing

Layout Builder questions

Layout Builder is a feature that comes with your SiteNow v3 site. 

Yes! Layout Builder is meant to be used by technical and non-technical users alike. The drag-and-drop interface allows individuals of all levels of expertise to be able to build a professional website for your department or unit. 

You can contact the OSC web team at its-web@uiowa.edu. 

There is not currently an upcoming live training session at this time. You can watch a previously recorded training session via our library below.

Web content strategy

This training covers the basics of creating effective content for new and existing websites, including: intuitive navigation menus, content modeling and leading a strategic web project. 

Skills you'll gain:
content strategy for web laying out intuitive menus writing for web

Web content strategy

Web content strategy is not something you can click or see. It's an experience on a site that has an intentional, strategic and data-driven approach.

Having a content strategy for your website is crucial to understanding what your users are looking for on your site and how you can develop your site content to meet their needs. Research from Hanover states that "roughly 80% of students rate a college's website as the most influential resource and one that is used consistently through the college research and admissions process."

You can contact the OSC web team at its-web@uiowa.edu.

There is not currently an upcoming live training session at this time. You can watch a previously recorded training session via our library below.

Calendar Invite

If you prefer having a calendar invite for an upcoming training, we'd be glad to send you one. Fill out the form and we'll get right on it.

Get Invite

Siteimprove

This training covers the basics of Siteimprove. This is a tool that helps improve the quality, performance, and accessibility of your website(s). Hosted by a Siteimprove vendor partner.

Skills you'll gain:
web accessibility web quality web performance

Siteimprove

Because you've made an investment in establishing a presence on the web. Without Siteimprove, you are creating experiences that are likely populated with broken links, accessibility issues, typos, and other problems that reflect poorly on your work, your unit, and the brand. 

You wouldn't launch a press release or write an article without using spell check, would you? Siteimprove is your quality tool for all your content on the web (and yes, it includes spell check for your web pages).

You can sign in to Siteimprove using your HawkID and Password here: 

https://my2.siteimprove.com/Auth/Saml2/66356803?v=2

Be aware that any campus user can sign in and our licensing provides for unlimited users. However, new users will need to reach out and ask to be added to the websites they are responsible for.

All new sites need to be added by the vendor. To get your website added, contact service owners TM Weissenberger (todd-weissenberger@uiowa.edu) or Michael O'Neill (michael-oneill@uiowa.edu).

Once added, the initial scan will take a few days to complete.

New users can be added by many collegiate and unit web leads or by contacting any of the following: 

You can contact Todd Weissenberger or Michael O'Neill.

There is not currently an upcoming live training session at this time. You can watch a previously recorded training session via our library below. 

 

Content hub

This training covers the basics of content hub. Content hub is the site that feeds the Iowa events calendar at events.uiowa.edu. Content hub lets you input your departmental event to let others in the UI community know about it. This session will walk through the information options, the data entry process, and the approval process for event entries.

Skills you'll gain:
information management data entry approving events

Content Hub

Content hub allows you to put information on the university-wide events calendar. This allows your event to easily be seen by others across campus. Whether your event is an internal meeting or a public performance, a one-off or a recurring series, content hub can help. 

You can contact Chris Clair at christopher-clair@uiowa.edu.

There is not currently an upcoming live training session at this time. You can watch a previously recorded training session via our library below. 

Training library

We offer a wide range of recorded training sessions that are tailored to help you master the art of utilizing Layout Builder, web content strategy, Siteimprove and Content hub. Most of our trainings are equipped with closed captions and timestamps, allowing you to navigate directly to specific points in the recording.

To explore our collection of past trainings, please choose a recording from the options provided below. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us.

Our Introduction to Layout Builder training covers the basics of using layout builder, creating a page, adding content, adding sections and components and using administrative functions. 

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Our Introduction to Web Content Strategy training covers the importance of web content strategy and how to create an effective strategy for your website.

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Our Layout Builder: Tips and Tricks (Part 1) training covers how to add PDF files to your site, using the person content type, adding pages to your main navigation menu, adding a horizontal menu, using tagging with the person content type, adding people to a page in a particular order and best practices for page design.

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Our Layout Builder: Tips and Tricks (Part 2) training covers best practices for using page blocks and adding a news archive using the article content type, best practices for inserting images and replacing files on your SiteNow site.

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Our Writing Effective Web Content training covers how to create impactful web pages. We teach you how to start from scratch using Layout Builder, offering a detailed, step-by-step guide. Additionally, we'll show you how to seamlessly incorporate web strategy into your page design, making it more user-friendly by effectively organizing text-heavy content.

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Our Building Effective Student-Focused Web Pages training covers how to build out an effective web page targeted towards students from scratch using Layout Builder (with a step-by-step guide) and how to integrate web strategy into your page design. 

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Our Building Effective Alumni-Focused Web Pages training covers how to build out an effective web page targeted towards alumni from scratch using Layout Builder (with a step-by-step guide) and how to integrate web strategy into your page design. 

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Our Introduction to Content Hub training participants will learn the step-by-step process of adding an event to the Iowa events calendar and ensuring its visibility to other members on campus.

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Our Siteimprove training provides users with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of Siteimprove as well as introduce them to the latest features and functionalities.

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Our Website Launch Steps training covers the essential steps you need to take before you launch your website. These steps include utilizing the 'find text' feature, configuring Google Analytics, implementing meta descriptions, archiving outdated content, conducting Siteimprove checks and more.

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Our Introduction to Webforms training covers the basics of how to create a webform, add an element, place it on a page on your site and conditional formatting.

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Our Adding Dynamic Web Images training covers the basics of how to search and select dynamic imagery for your website using Photoshelter and placing it on a given page. This training covers adding departmental-specific images and general campus images.

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Our Card Sorting and User Testing training covers the basics of how to conduct a card sort and do user testing. This training covers testing methods, questions to ask users, and the benefits of user testing and card sorting.

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Our Creating and Using Articles training covers the basics of how to create and use articles, pulling articles onto a given page, tips and tricks, and best practices.

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Our Options for Using the Card Component training covers the basics of how to create and use cards and the variety of layout options you have available to you.

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Our Using Patterns Effectively training covers the basics of how to add patterns to a page, how to use them effectively, and practices to avoid in terms of patterns and colors on a given page. 

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Our Using Buttons and Calls-to-Action (CTA) training covers the basics of how to add buttons and CTAs, how to use them effectively, and practices to avoid in terms of buttons and CTAs on a given page. 

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Our Utilizing Taxonomy and Tagging training covers the basics of how to use taxonomy and tagging, why you should consider using it, and how to pull specific people onto a page using tagging.

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Our Introduction to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) training covers the basics of how to use SEO to make data-driven decision for your SiteNow website and building a foundation for SEO success. It also covers using Google Search Console, writing effective meta descriptions, and submitting a sitemap. 

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Our Organizing Content Heavy Pages training covers how to build out an effective web page that contains a lot of text-heavy content using Layout Builder (with a step-by-step guide) and how to integrate web strategy into your page design.  

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Our Optimizing Pages for Better Spacing and Patterns training covers how to improve pages with poor spacing and excessive background pattern use using Layout Builder (with a step-by-step guide) and how to integrate web strategy into your page design.  

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Our Optimizing Article Organization on Pages training covers how to improve pages with poor article usage and effectively manage article content using Layout Builder (with a step-by-step guide) and how to integrate web strategy into your page design.  

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Our Fundamentals of Writing for the Web training features Tracy Playle of Pickle Jar Communications and discusses how to craft compelling website copy and the fundamentals of writing for the web as it relates to University of Iowa websites. 

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Our Person Content Type training covers how to add a person to your website, how to pull them into a specific page on your website, using the local people directory and people list block, and various best practices when using this content type.

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Our Main Navigation Menus and Advanced Webforms training covers how to add a page to your main navigation menu, how to set up a horizontal menu, how to create an advanced webform with conditional logic, and how to add a webform to a specific page on your website.

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Our Implementing GA4 with Google Tag Manager training covers how to set up your Google Analytics 4 (GA4) with Google Tag Manager for your University of Iowa website. This training is presented by Ben Jones of Unlock Health.

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Our Implementing GA4 without Google Tag Manager training covers how to set up your Google Analytics 4 (GA4) if you do not have Google Tag Manager enabled for your University of Iowa website. This training is presented by Ben Jones of Unlock Health.

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Our Setting Up an Events Feed and Using the Events Component training covers how to add an events feed to your website, how to add an event that only displays on your website, and the advantages and disadvantages to using each component. 

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Our Managing Featured Content and Creating Region Settings training covers how to add content to be featured on a given page on your website and how to add a region setting including: after content and pre footer content to your website. 

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Our User Roles and Permissions training covers how to add a user to your website and various user roles and permissions. 

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Our Getting Started with the Statistic Component training covers how to add a statistic to your website and various options for displaying them on a given page.

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Our Quick Guide to the Find Text Feature training covers how to use the Find Text tool on your SiteNow website.

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