Website Style Guide:
Chapter 1: Required Elements and Review

Branding | Date Stamp | Format | Page Titles | Search Engine | Disclaimer | Forbidden Elements
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1.1 Branding

At minimum, all websites in the department must have proper branding for the department on the home page. That includes use of the official DHHS logo and the name of the department. The name can be part of the logo, or in words placed near the logo. The logo needs to be a link to the DHHS home page. (Go to the logo gallery.)

A website is considered a “separate” website when any of the following apply: (1) the format changes considerably, (2) the top level navigation scheme changes, and/or (3) the URL changes.

Placement of the logo is flexible, but upper left is preferable. In any case, the logo should appear “above the fold.” That is, visible on the screen when viewed at a typical browser setting.

At a minimum, all websites in the department must clearly depict which division they are part of and link to that division from the home page.

1.2 Date Stamp

A date stamp should appear on the bottom of every web page.

If this date stamp is created with JavaScript, it should degrade gracefully for site visitors with JavaScript turned off.

1.3 Format

Font sizes and styles must remain consistent across the site.

Navigation should appear on every page, and high level navigation should be consistent across the site. A “home” link is essential.

1.4 Page Titles

The title tag is very important. Title tags specify the title of your Web page and are required on all pages. They are used when a page is bookmarked and in search results. Descriptive page titles are essential! Here are some guidelines:

Titles should be up to 64 characters in length, but shorter is often better.

All upper level DHHS pages begin with “NC DHHS: Short Title”. All division/office pages should follow the same convention: NC Division Acronym: Short Title. The section may or may not be employed:

Examples:

• NC DSS: Adoption
• NC DPH Epi: Rabies

Each page on the website should have a unique title.

Examples:

• NC OES: Governor Morehead School Home Page
• NC OES: Governor Morehead School Outreach
• NC OES: Governor Morehead School Outreach Core Curriculum

Use plain language that is descriptive, wherever possible, to enhance the ability of the page to be found by commercial search engines.

Example:

NC DCD: Find child care

NOT

NC DCD: Search for a Facility

1.5 Search

The DHHS search tool will be placed on every website in the department, with the words “Search DHHS.” If it is impractical to place the search on every web page of any given website, it should be placed on the home page and top navigation pages.

1.6 Disclaimer

All home pages in the department shall have a link to the DHHS disclaimer at www.ncdhhs.gov/disclaimer.htm. This link can be at the bottom of the home page and in a small font.

1.7 Forbidden Elements

At no time should a counter be placed on any page. Page statistics are available from the website host.

At no time should a “coming soon” or “under construction” page be placed on a website. Create a web page only when the material is written and ready for the web.

1.8 Governance and Review

1.8.1 Governance Structure

Content Managers are assigned by Division Directors to keep an eye on their website(s). They are the division director's "eyes and ears" for their web presence. Whether a division or office has one or many websites, a content manager keeps tabs on it to make sure it meets departmental standards. All division websites have a single Content Manager. The Content Manager may or may not be the person who initiates changes.

Public Information Officers (PIOs) in the DHHS Office of Public Affairs are the last review before new or substantially revised material is placed on any of our departmental websites. PIOs are communication professionals who also are aware of departmental issues and concerns that may not be apparent to division staff. They understand matters of style and can edit text for clarity. The website is our most public publication, and thus PIOs should be in the loop for most website changes.

A complete registry of all Content Managers and PIOs for every departmental website is available at www.ncdhhs.gov/redesignproject.

1.8.2 Review Procedure

In general, the Content Managers and the PIOs should be aware of most changes to websites, except for extremely minor ones (such as correcting a misspelling).

For routine edits, such as uploading a monthly newsletter or posting a document that has already been reviewed, PIOs and Content Managers may elect to get out of the loop. This should be a clear understanding among all.

This review standard does not apply to the following kinds of documents placed on the website:

• Departmental policies
• Rules and regulations
• Memos/letters to providers, DSS directors, local health directors and other memos/letters that are not designed for consumption by the general public.

However, web pages that link to those documents should be reviewed for logic, organization and compliance with the style guide.

Suggested review procedure for brand new web pages is as follows:

1. Before contacting the Webmaster, get signoff from the Content Manager and the Public Information Officer on the content. (If you are the Content Manager or the PIO, just get signoff from the other one.) This can usually be done through email. For whole new sections to a website, the PIO may ask for a PA-2 form.

2. When contacting the Webmaster to add the page, copy the Content Manager and the PIO.

3. Ask the Webmaster to copy all when changes are uploaded to the test site.

4. All should respond before the webmaster uploads the changes to the production server.

For significant changes, but not new web pages:

1. When contacting the Webmaster to make the change, copy the Content Manager and the PIO.

2. Ask the Webmaster to copy all when changes are uploaded to the test site.

3. All should respond before the Webmaster uploads the changes to the production server.

In emergency situations:

• If the page has to go up right away for some reason, give the Webmaster the go-ahead but copy the content manager and the PIO so they can review after the fact.

The Webmaster should not have to play the role of the web police. Be respectful of your Webmaster and take care of the approvals yourself.

1.8.2 Checklist for Website Reviewers

The Website Style Guide and Web Standards are the resource for webmasters, content managers, and public information officers as they create, edit and review web pages. This checklist is distilled from them, but does not replace them.

• DHHS logo on the home page, with link to the department home page at www.ncdhhs.gov. Many sites inappropriately link to the old URL at www.dhhs.state.nc.us (Chapter 1, Website Style Guide).
• The logo is in good condition ... not jagged or fuzzy (Chapter 1, Website Style Guide).
• The home page links to the DHHS disclaimer at www.ncdhhs.gov/disclaimer.htm (Chapter 1, Website Style Guide).
• The website looks fine on an 800 by 600 pixel screen, no scrolling from side to side (Web Standards).
• The DHHS search tool is on the home page and second tier pages (that is, pages linked from the home page). (Here is the search code for the webmaster to use.) As deeper pages are maintained, the search engine should be added. It's important to have a DHHS-wide search, not search just for a single site. This is easy to check ... just search for something and see if results come from just one site, or from other sites within DHHS too (Web Standards).
• Title tags are done appropriately (see guidance in section 1.4 above). If title tags are a problem, they should be fixed on the home page and all second tier pages. Then as deeper pages are maintained, their title tags can be fixed. (Chapter 1, Website Style Guide)
• Every website in the department shall include clear contact information for website visitors that is easily accessed on the home page (DHHS Policy on Public Websites).
• Division identification is provided throughout the entire site (usually in a header) (Web Standards).
• A date modified is on the bottom of all pages (Chapter 1, Website Style Guide).
• No pages have counters (Chapter 1, Website Style Guide).
• No pages say "coming soon" (Chapter 1, Website Style Guide).
• Link text is appropriately worded (Chapter 4, Website Style Guide).
• Content is relevant to a specific audience. Content helps the site visitor accomplish a specific task. Content is placed appropriately in context with the rest of the website (Chapter 2, Website Style Guide).
• Information written for those we serve is written to a 7th grade reading level (Chapter 2, Website Style Guide).
• Information is in HTML, not PDF, unless PDF is absolutely necessary (Chapter 3, DHHS Website Style Guide).
• PDF files are coded to be accessible to the disabled, or an accessible alternate format is provided (Web Standards).
• Forms comply with departmental standards (Chapter 2, Website Style Guide).
• Smaller stylistic matters are consistent with the style guide ( A-Z Style Topics, Website Style Guide).