From UKIPBWC

Contents 1 Current State of Affairs 2 Need for Coordinated Approach from Top 3 Intended Audience 4 Areas Covered 5 Importance of Keeping Up-to-date

Current State of Affairs

UKIP currently has around 110 websites, covering a wide variety of areas:

National, for example: http://www.ukip.org

Some regional, for example: UKIP (South West) Region

Some county, for example: UKIP (Hampshire)

Some branch/constituency, for example: UKIP (Bournemouth West)

Candidate, for example: Vote Steve Allison for the UKIP NEC!

Chat, for example: UKIP (members only) discussion area

Miscellaneous, for example: http://ukip.tv (video clips)

Need for Coordinated Approach from Top

With the increasing importance of the web in politics and campaigning, for exampleConservativeHome, it is now recognised at national party level that we need to present a coherent image – smart, technically correct and with non conflicting content that sings off the same hymn sheet, whichever site you visit.

A number of webmasters have raised queries along the lines of "how can you tell me my site is bad when you haven't defined good?"

A fair point, one I've raised myself in the past. This document is the answer.

It is being kept up to date on an ongoing, but volunteer basis; if you spot out of date links, or something else wrong, please let us know!

Intended Audience

The intended audience is as follows:

Webmasters: those who design, maintain and update UKIP Websites.

Web-coordinators: those who specify the content to be uploaded and removed.

NB: This may be the same person.
NB: Whilst webmasters are not required to be UKIP members, they must obviously not be members of another party.

If you have, or plan to start a website, please contact us so we can offer advice and help as necessary. You will also find Rob McWhirter posting as Sponplague on the members only forum...

Areas Covered

This document is designed to address and offer basic guidance on all aspects of UKIP online, concentrating on 3 main areas:

Internet standards

Party logo, colour schemes etc.

Keeping content fresh

All examples on subsequent pages are taken from either existing UKIP sites, or sites that, while now mercifully updated, or repointed by agreement to ukip.org, were embarrassing for various reasons historically.

The guidelines below are designed to be minimal. Relevant standards are available by hyperlink, and examples of logos etc. are shown. The current logo is displayed in the top corner of every page here.

If you comply with all the guidelines set out in the following pages it does not necessarily mean your website is good or great, but it is acceptable: You will not be much troubled.

Do, please, try and comply with the guidelines. Members and branches are required under the Party constitution and rules to uphold the Party’s reputation, so obviously a website that carries the Party’s name must be in tune both in terms of its messages and its presentation.

Keeping-up-with-the-Jones' is definitely encouraged – if you find a site that is better, or has a good feature, ask the webmaster how they did it.

Importance of Keeping Up-to-date

Please remember that websites are available 24/7 and that one bad site can undo years of hard work by the press office/leafleting/campaigns. As such, keeping your site up to date should be your most important priority and this is, as we have said, now recognised and accepted at national level.

Do not assume you will find out if people dislike your site - more likely they will hit the back button, and find someone else.