Tips

How to create user-friendly web content (that's AI-friendly, too!)

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:53:52 +0000

Summary: Read this article to learn to optimize content for human visitors while improving performance in AI-search.

Several strategies for optimizing websites for human visitors also make them more AI-friendly. Follow these best practices to help our audience members find the information they need whether they're navigating our sites or looking for answers using AI.

Use headings that provide clear, concise context

Headings should point people (and AI-search) to where answers can be found.

Making the move to MS Forms

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Tue, 27 May 2025 19:41:33 +0000

Summary: As we migrate to the new WMS platform, webforms on all WMS sites need to be moved to MS forms. This article details the steps for moving WMS webforms to MS forms with links to helpful resources.

For some of us, making the move from WMS webforms to MS forms will be an easy one. For others - folks with many or very complex webforms - checking this item off the WMS migration checklist might be a challenging undertaking.

Best practices for AI-generated images on ɬ�﷬ websites

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:51:05 +0000

Summary: When using generative AI (GenAI) to create images for your website, adhere to ɬ�﷬'s general guidelines for using AI-generated images.

Clearing the way forward: Archiving and deleting sites in the WMS

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 20:39:52 +0000

Summary: We want to work with you to archive and remove outdated, unmaintained websites as part of the new WMS migration.

What to expect How we will work with you to archive and delete websites

ɬ�﷬'s Digital Communications team has compiled a list of WMS sites that seem inactive or unmaintained. Units connected to these sites will be contacted to confirm whether the site should be archived before removal.

Protect your site: A guide to reviewing and updating user permissions

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:07:32 +0000

As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a secure and optimized web environment, we are asking all site managers and editors to review and update user permissions for their WMS websites. This task is a key item on our WMS update pre-migration checklist.

Head to the bottom of this article to see a video explanation on how to use the page.

Our guide to image gallery excellence

Heidi Strohl — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:15:21 +0000

We're thrilled to share these new image formatting options with you!

Note that these options are only available in the new WMS. If you haven't migrated yet, don't worry - you'll have access soon!

Before we begin, make sure you know how (and how not) to use images on your site. Images are just one ingredient in your design and content strategy! Bear in mind that the best sites:

Readers choice! Our most popular stories of 2024

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:46:26 +0000

Find out which Web Services stories caught our readers' eyes in 2024.

Digital Standards updates for use of generative AI

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:46:46 +0000

A recent informal survey of site managers and editors suggests that only a few of us (less than 20%) have begun using generative when working on our sites. If you're an early adopter, here are some best practices to keep in mind.

What is generative AI (GenAI)?

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that uses machine learning to create new types of media, including text, images, sound, and video. Users write short “prompts” to guide the AI in creating this content.

A Conversation on Queerness and AI: Related resources

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:12:21 +0000

A big thank you to everyone who came out to our event, A Conversation on Queerness and AI! We were pleased to co-produce the event with the Equity team in the OPVPA as part of Queer History Month at ɬ�﷬. We really appreciated your contributions to the lively discussion. The hour flew by!

Web Services Digest, Halloween edition

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:36:28 +0000

Read the Halloween edition of the Web Services Digest, featuring our latest news and updates.

Registration open! Web Services' 2024 year-end presentation

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:48:13 +0000

Register to attend our annual year-end Web Services presentation, a co-production of Digital Communications and the Web Service Group.

Web Services Digest, Back-to-school edition

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:53:57 +0000

Read the September edition of the Web Services Digest featuring our latest news and updates.

Digital standards and governance for generative AI

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:00:56 +0000

Generative AI (GenAI) is a hot topic these days. We've been enjoying lots of discussions about GenAI best practices. We've also heard concerns about the need for related policies and guidelines. A big thank you to folks who have shared their thoughts and insights with us, including members of our site manager and editor community, our web governance stakeholders, and industry leaders. Many of these conversations are still evolving.

Follow that map...to a better way of working

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:36:21 +0000

Journey maps illustrate people's thoughts, feelings and actions as they progress toward a goal.

Our journey maps

Journeys we have documented so far include:

Web Services Digest, July edition

joyce.peralta2@mcgill.ca — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 22:47:31 +0000

Read the July edition of the Web Services Digest, featuring: