A SITE FOR SORE EYES--CREATING YOUR OWN SCIENCE WEBSITE

Abstract:

You’re thinking about setting up an online presence to promote yourself or your lab and your science, but where do you even start? What makes a great science website? And SEO is what now?!

How do you give your site instant appeal, and how do you make it easy to navigate? What components should you include? How do you draw viewers—from colleagues, to the lay public, to educators, to kids—and keep them coming back? What should you avoid? What site builders should you consider and why? And how can you use your unique communication skill set to share your science, build your network, and enhance your career?

I answer these questions by looking at specific examples of successful scientist/lab/expedition websites and discuss what I have learned (both positive and negative) from years of building sites for clients, research expeditions, and my own business—and from years of seeking information from science websites.

A strong science website is a visually appealing, easy-to-navigate, clear and well-designed centralized information source. It is optimized to appear in relevant searches, and it is linked to your social media. It is accessible to both a specialized and a broad audience, and it will bring people back time and again. And you need one. Let’s get building!