Comments on: Happy SEO Christmas: Vatican.VA Site Review

By: Church blogs: SEO and copywriting tips for the Pope » malcolm coles

Church blogs: SEO and copywriting tips for the Pope » malcolm coles — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:47:42 +0000

[...] Update: Some more SEO tips for the Vatican. [...]

By: Nichola Stott

Nichola Stott — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:15:11 +0000

@ Luci – I saw an email come in that said “comment from Luci on SEO-Chicks” and I panicked and thought “I bet Luci is Italian and short for Lucia or Luciano, and they’re going to berate me for blasphemy”.

So, sorry my response is late; but now you know why

Yep, even putting the more technical SEO aspects aside the site has the worst usability that I’ve seen in years.

By: Luci

Luci — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:15:36 +0000

Lol, funny post but I think your point stands – that site is… awful. As Kurt says, it’s especially the lack of rollover states that gets me. I knew I was over what was supposed to be a link (just on the first ‘switchboard’ for language) and yet I wasn’t quite sure!
Ok, the site has been around since 1997, but it has been updated since then – there’s a Christmas 2009 banner so it’s not like it’s forgotten about or is no longer accessed by anybody. Maybe you could sort work for them to help sort it out?

By: Nichola Stott

Nichola Stott — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:03:42 +0000

@Hobo Glad you enjoyed it.

Yep 97 in the meta, my remark about “around since the 80s” was just a flippant gag. But trust me – I stopped waaayyyyy short of picking the site apart.

I’m glad you picked up on the creator meta, or rather lack thereof. I’d thought about it; but decided that I have the ability to cause great offence at the best of times and should stay away from any discussion of the content theme (physical or meta-physical.)

But go on… you can have fun in the comments if you wanna???

By: Hobo

Hobo — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:28:58 +0000

Real enjoyable post

It’s an old site indeed (1997-03-25 according to meta) so it might be a bit unfair on picking it apart.

I thought the lack of creator meta was interesting though:

Id have had fun with that….

By: Julie Joyce

Julie Joyce — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:22:49 +0000

Nice Rambo mention! You know I did love Colonel Trautman…

By: Nichola Stott

Nichola Stott — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:11:46 +0000

@Judith @Kurt – thanks. You’ve reinforced my main point. No matter who or what you are, people are looking for you online. (In fact 1 million global searches a month for the term “vatican” alone, according to Google external Keyword tool). I can’t imagine all of those people are clergy, or liturgical scholars. I’m sure many are like @Kurt’s Grandmother; looking to find information about the current Pope, or perhaps plan a pilgrimage tour of the city.

@Jean – I’m pleased you found my post entertaining. Really nice to hear! Not sure, I’d have the required patience (or staff numbers) to take this one on though

@Julie – no problem. I’ve seriously Tronned myself into the tertiary level navigation. Not even John Rambo could find me…

By: Jean Wolfe

Jean Wolfe — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:29:55 +0000

Maybe they just decided they were an authority site like no other with a direct hotline and didn’t worry about the detail! Perhaps you could offer to help?
Nichola what a great post to liven up my computer on a rainy day between Christmas and New Year..
Many thanks and a bonus newus annus to all (?)

By: Kurt

Kurt — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:58:11 +0000

Let me say that up front, that I am not a great designer. However, the main navigation is hideous. I can just see my devout, 84 year old grandmother twisting her neck to make out “Saints Blessed”.

They should have at least made the “sitemap” button horizontal text.

The lack of a rollover state on the main navigation is shameful, and the left-side navigation is a mortal sin. (Check out the Roman Curia page if you want an idea of how messed up this really is.

Thanks for taking the time to break this down.

By: Julie Joyce

Julie Joyce — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:55:24 +0000

Hi Nichola. I hope you have a nice place to hide for the next decade since I bet the Pope’s gonna send a scary monk assassin after you. I mean, that’s what I would do if I were the Pope. Good luck!