[Norman Pratt]

It’s been a month, so I thought I ought to make clear I am not hibernating. I’m still awestruck at having a dedicated thread of my own on how to set up a website! Thanks. I have, for the last few weeks, been thinking how I can get through to the relatively small number of History Departments who might be interested in my materials. (I realised from the start that they would not be easy to give away!) One way might be to make the site more interesting, another to make the sort of links that might bring it to the attention of Departments that are not totally crushed by having their History hours drastically cut and also are interested in doing something different. So there is now a collection of cheerful cartoon-style clipart on the KS3 page – they’re actually the wrong image for KS3 but I thought teachers might appreciate them anyway! I’ve made links with and had correspondence with other sites which are in the same business, as it were, for example ‘Teaching ideas’ (a KS2 site) and ‘Mr Donn.org’ (an American World History site). But the real challenge is to link with sites that will in effect do the same job as sending out leaflets to however many Secondary Schools there are in the country. One of the things I’ve been doing for the last month is making a shortlist of possible websites with which to link. I’ve got about a hundred so far. Anyway, tonight I completed an update of my Inca website - and I’m afraid I still can’t get over how easy it is to do so. No doubt I will eventually. Meanwhile what I need to think about is more ideas on how to make the site more attractive, and how to get the attention of the few Department heads who occasionally come up for air and take the time to think about what they want to teach!

[Andrew Field]

Great stuff Norman - I think the most significant point here is how easily you are able to update your site now, whereas before you weren't sure at all. I'll certainly be linking to your site as soon as I have the chance the edit my pages. You're now in the same position as many others - you have the skills, but am looking for the time

The best thing to do with your site is to keep updating it, keep it ticking over and the links and searches will come. Far too many people spend too much time on the promotion of their sites rather than the most important thing - the content.