UF Health Web Services has created a new block that will allow you to insert accordions into your pages. New research has uncovered changes in user behavior that now suggest that this tool can be more beneficial (see some of the research here: Nielsen Norman Group, Accordions on Desktop)

The new Details block is now available in your block gallery/selection tool when editing pages, so give it a try!

• This block supports one accordion with a title and paragraph text.
• The text details allow for simple formatting options such as bold, italics, and hyperlinks.

Try this block for FAQs or pages with long sections of text where collapsing the content would help find the information they need .

The details block should not be used for relatively short pages or pages that are easily scanned. Adding accordions on pages like this can add extra cognitive load on your readers, and the action of opening and closing tabs can then become frustrating and lead a user to leave a page before finding what they were looking for.

Use your new powers for good and wisely! And, as always, if you’d like a second opinion or advice, contact us and we’d be glad to consult!

Alternative text (alt text) is a short description of an image or graphic. It helps make digital content accessible for everyone, especially people who use screen readers or other assistive technology. When you add images, icons, or graphics to digital content, include alt text to ensure that all users can understand the information (Web Accessibility Initiative, n.d.).

Alt text is read out loud by screen readers, so it should explain what the image shows and how it connects to the rest of the content. It should not only describe the image but also provide context. Leaving this information blank or adding a space does not help these visitors and presents an accessibility issue for them. 

In addition to improving accessibility, alt text can also support search engine optimization (SEO). Using clear, relevant keywords in your alt text can help people find your website through online searches.

Alt Text Best Practices

• Keep it short, usually 1-2 sentences. Don’t overthink it.
• Consider key elements of why you chose this image, instead of describing every little detail.
• No need to say “image of” or “picture of.”
• But, do say if it’s a logo, illustration, painting, or cartoon.
• Don’t duplicate text that’s adjacent in the document or website.
• End the alt text sentence with a period.

You can now record the correct pronunciation of your name through your UF Health Directory profile, and display it on your Apollo 2 and UFHealth.org profiles! This new feature was developed in-house by UF Health Web Services. You can record your name through your browser, by a phone call, or upload an audio file recorded on your phone. FYI: if you have teaching duties and recorded your name pronunciation in Canvas, we may already see it added to your UF Health Directory profile.

When was the last time you checked in with your site visitors? If your site hasn’t been reviewed since launch, now is the perfect time to take advantage of Web Services’ usability expertise.

With our free website usability service, we partner with you to ensure your site meets your audience needs—helping visitors find exactly what they’re looking for. Our usability services include:

• Surveys
• Analytics analysis
• First click testing
• Five second testing
• Preference testing
• Content re-optimization
• Focus group testing

As audience expectations evolve, your website should too. Whether you're looking for quick insights or an in-depth review, we’re here to help. Let’s make your site work even better!

WordPress’s Custom HTML block allows Apollo 2 admins to be able to create custom CSS styles. While this gives admins a toolset for being able to build unique new elements for their site, it can also cause significant issues:

• New code can violate state and federal regulations on accessibility, and create compliance and legal issues
• New styles can fail to meet UF and UF health branding and usability standards
• New styles might conflict with other site code

To address these issues, Web Services has created guidelines for the use of custom CSS. These guidelines cover standards and expectations of the department in maintaining and updating any custom code it creates for their site. Web Services is not responsible for this code and its upkeep, so departments need to plan for providing ongoing support for their code as we continue to make updates to WordPress and Apollo (...which can potentially break any custom CSS you’ve included). 

Transitioning from a large decentralized web presence for the College of Public Health and Health Professions to a smaller, more centralized site focused on its primary audience—prospective students, faculty, and staff—was a major undertaking throughout 2024 and into early 2025.

The planning, coordination, and implementation of this project was complex and represented a significant shift for the entire college. We reached out to the project lead to gain insight into the process, and provided a bit of a Q&A from their experience.

Click below to learn more about the project, its goals, and the improvements made to the college’s main website by changing their content strategy and maintenance approach.

When was the last time you really dug into Google Analytics?
Did you know we can help with that? The Web Services team offers customized GA4 support to help you make sense of the numbers. We’ll start with a baseline assessment—who’s visiting your site, where they’re coming from, and what they’re doing once they arrive. From there, we’ll work with you to create reports that highlight what’s working, what’s not, and where users may be getting lost.

Google Analytics doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
We can help you translate raw data into meaningful insight. Whether you want to improve site navigation, restructure content, or just better understand your visitors, we’re here to help. By tailoring GA4 reports to your specific goals, we can uncover patterns and problem spots—and help you build a site that meets both your users’ needs and your team’s objectives.

The UF Health Directory includes tools that help keep faculty and staff publication lists up to date.

Publications are automatically imported into profiles to save time and reduce manual entry.

While this process usually works well, it may occasionally miss a publication or pull in one from a different author.

If needed, individuals can easily add, edit, or hide publications using the tools built into the Directory. A bulk add option is also available To make adding multiple publications more convenient.

If you notice a large number of incorrect publications in your profile, please contact us so we can help resolve the issue.