word up simon everest - defra final - no animation
DESCRIPTION
Presentation at 'Word Up Whitehall' on 13 October 2010.TRANSCRIPT
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Word Up – it’s the code word…
Defra and WordPressSimon Everest
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Defra online: A brief history…
• Inherited websites from MAFF and DETR
• Mix of static content and bespoke apps
• Mixed ownership, shared between comms/marketing, library, policy and IT
• No clear content strategy; organisation-driven, limited customer focus
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Introduction to WordPress
• First steps into Ministerial blogs, inherited from DCLG… soon transferred to FCO
• New Minister, new blog, but no platform…
WordPress
• Cheap 3rd party host, some DNS changes and a rudimentary hacked theme – online within a week
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Brave new world by 2009…
• Recognised that…
– other Departments were doing good things with WordPress, beyond blogging (particularly DIUS/BERR, now BIS)
– we could do the same, with proven host and existing WordPress platform
• First steps into digital engagement with WordPress – Food 2030 – with a copycat Commentariat theme
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Consolidation
• Successfully used WordPress for increasingly high profile activities
• Integrated Commentariat into new Defra templates for consistent user-experience
• Refined ‘behind the scenes’ approach, focus on moderation skills with policy colleagues
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Expansion
• Tentative steps into WordPress as a CMS
• Worked with Puffbox to develop microsites for the UK Location Programme and Science Advisory Council
• Press Office keen to develop their role online – 1st attempt at a media centre
• BIS ‘interim’ WordPress site planted seed of an idea…
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All change… May 2010
• Agreement from Management Board to launch of interim site, ‘freeze’ of old site
• Interim site in preparation for ‘machinery of government’ changes - WordPress
• Shared infrastructure, hosted by Cabinet Office/Steria/TheClub
• Contained news, speeches, statements, and new policy only
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From a small seed…
• Decision taken to move corporate website to WordPress agreed with Management Board
• Our vision…
– Small core site, centrally managed, high-quality content matching customer and business priorities
– Modular construction, with dedicated themes for defined content types, and ability to devolve low value or narrow audience content publishing
– Flexible and rapid development to match Departmental requirements
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Making it happen
• Commissioned Puffbox to develop theme
• Commissioned new content, edited by in-house DirectGov and Biz Link editors
• Began search for hosting solution
• Began planning for major DNS changes
• Began communicating change to Department
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Hosting
• Hosting options from IBM (our IT supplier), Steria/TheClub and FCOS considered
• Tight timeline to move from ‘temporary’ host required expedited decision-making…
• FCOS chosen on combination of cost and ‘fit’ with requirements: closest match with 3rd party ISP equiv, but consistent with ‘shared services’ in government approach
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Content development
• Very limited migration… new content structured around customers, and where possible, business priorities embedded
• Top line information – to be kept brief, in a common structure – 130 pages (so far)
• Top down, not bottom up
• ‘Old’ static site locked prior to archival
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Go live
• Moved from Steria to FCOS on 4 October
• Currently at ww2.defra.gov.uk
• ‘Core’ site and media centre themes fully functional
• Site responsive, easy to manage
• Very different to working in Dreamweaver – BETTER!
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Future plans
• Move static site to archive.defra.gov.uk and reclaim www.defra.gov.uk
• New theme for ‘publications’
• Integration of ‘commentariat’-style sites
• Comment-based feedback
• Devolved publishing
• Leverage WordPress core functionality, not just replicate what we had before…
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The end
• Any questions?