Standards and Style Guides for UUA Websites

An Official Publication Requires Standards

UUA.org is an official publication of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA). We use a consistent look and adhere to high-quality content, style and usability standards.

The website is the primary means by which seekers learn about Unitarian Universalism. It is an important means by which congregation members, religious professionals, and leaders can educate themselves and each other.

If you maintain a congregational website, consider following these standards and styles to make your site as clear and usable as possible.

  • Our editorial guide lists house styles, abbreviations, and usage rules.
  • Email addresses appear in a consistent format.
  • Choose images carefully and don't use them as links.
  • Consider copyright when choosing content.
  • The UUA follows an editorial process before pages are published.

Usability and Accessibility

An accessible website doesn't exclude visitors due to their abilities, or the method they choose to access the web. On UUA websites, we strive to comply with Section 508 and Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines.

A usable site allows visitors to retrieve information easily and efficiently. It inspires confidence in the site and ultimately inspires visitors to return again and again. In short, usability is absolutely critical to a website's success, and we therefore promote these usability guidelines on all UUA sites.

Good usability can be defined as a product that is:

  • Intuitive to use
  • Efficient to use
  • Easy to remember
  • Enjoyable to use
  • Consistent in its behavior

On a website this means using well-thought-out content and design, and creating content that is easy to find and simple to navigate. UUA.org standards and guidelines have been created to support and promote these ideals. Writing for the Web can help tailor your content especially for this medium

One Chance to Make a First Impression

A great faith-based website leaves a positive first impression with seekers, congregation members, religious professionals, and the general public. It introduces people to Unitarian Universalism and connects them to helpful programs and resources. It communicates in a clear and consistent manner the organization's guiding principles and beliefs.

Web Standards Emphasize Quality

We know that every content author wants their online material to reflect UUA.org standards for content, style, and usability standards. The standards governing website strategy and content for UUA.org are reviewed and approved by the UUA ITS Web Team.