Web Content Standards & Best Practices
Guidelines for creating accessible, consistent, and effective web content

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To ensure consistency, accessibility, and quality across all web content, please follow these guidelines:

Follow Branding & Content Standards

Adhere to LBCC web content management and branding guidelines.  Make sure all content is accurate, up-to-date, and relevant.

Use Proper Heading Structure

Organize content using headings in the correct hierarchical order to ensure clarity and accessibility.

Heading Order:H1 → H2 → H3 → H4 → H5 → H6 → normal (body)

CMS Note:

  • The Title field is automatically formatted as H1
  • The Subtitle field is automatically formatted as H2
  • Body content should begin with H3 main sections and use H4–H6 as needed
  • Use standard paragraph text (<p>) for regular content

Important:

Do not skip heading levels (e.g., jumping from H3 to H6), as this can impact readability and accessibility for screen readers. This structure improves readability and supports accessibility tools like screen readers.

Write for Clarity and Readability

  • Use clear, concise language appropriate for your audience.
  • Break content into sections and use bullet points when helpful.

Use Descriptive Links

  • Avoid vague phrases like “click here.”
  • Use meaningful link text that explains the destination.
  • Example: “Apply for Financial Aid”

Avoid Using Emojis

Do not use emojis in web content. The CMS does not support them and may truncate content after an emoji, resulting in loss of information.

Apply Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Best Practices

Use keywords strategically to improve search visibility. 

Include keywords in:

  • Page titles
  • Subheadings
  • The “Additional Search Terms” module in the CMS editor

Format Content Correctly

  • Do not upload PDFs as web content.
  • Create content directly in HTML using the CMS editor.

Follow Your Department’s Workflow Process

Obtain approval from the content owner before creating content. Once approved, build the content in the CMS and follow your department’s process before submitting it for publication.

Final Review Before Submission

Ensure all content is:

  • Proofread
  • Tested (links, formatting, functionality)
  • Submit content only after final review is complete.