Custom sites
Custom site options
There may be times where you want to present information to an external (non-University) audience, or to the public at large. Depending on your needs, there are a number of possible ways to present this information. Each option has benefits and drawbacks, and some will require more complex setup and maintenance than others.
Redesign & Short URL
The quickest and easiest option to make your content stand apart is by refreshing the appearance of the page. This could be as simple as updating your site design, refreshing the layout or applying custom CSS in SiteBuilder.
Then, use a Go.Warwick redirect to create a short, memorable URL that automatically takes visitors directly to the page and content you want to share - for example, the short URL https://warwick.ac.uk/sitebuilder/ redirects to https://warwick.ac.uk/services/idg/services-support/web/sitebuilder2/.
Intended for:
- Directing users to your page via promotional materials.
- Departmental initiatives or research projects for which Warwick has sole or majority responsibility.
Things to be aware of:
- Once a user follows a short link, they'll be directed to the full URL.
- The page will retain University/Departmental branding.
We offer a range of ready-made page layouts and site designs, as well as bespoke web design services to help your content stand out.
Stand-alone subsite
Turning part of your site into a subsite keeps your content at its current location but separates it from the parent site, giving it its own local navigation menu. You can then use Go.Warwick to create a short, memorable URL that automatically takes visitors directly to the subsite.
You also have the option to inherit the main site's design, or give the site its own presence and personality - for example, to distinguish a large project from the main faculty or department site. Ask your department admin or site owner for guidance.
Intended for:
- Projects that are part of departmental work, but that should stand apart from the main site.
Things to be aware of:
- A subsite retains University branding, but can have its own colours and design.
Turning a page into a subsite is a service offered by the IDG Web Team, alongside our other web design services.
Unbranded site
In some cases, it may be useful to have a site that's edited in SiteBuilder and hosted as part of the University web estate, but without the standard Warwick branding. These sites will have their own navigation, and may also have their own logo or wordmark, unique graphic design or custom layout.
Intended for:
- Sites related to work led by Warwick, but that include collaboration with other institutions.
Things to be aware of:
- You must agree brand variations with the Marketing, Communications, Insight and Student Recruitment team before starting web design.
- Bespoke work is a chargeable service.
Warwick Forwarding Service
A web forward is a way of pointing a domain name other than warwick.ac.uk to a SiteBuilder page. For example, you might have a large research project with its own domain name at myresearchproject.com, but want to host your site on Warwick's servers and maintain your content using SiteBuilder.
Intended for:
- Sites that should not be exclusively or principally associated with Warwick, for example collaborations with other institutions.
Things to be aware of:
- If a domain is bought by a University department, that department will be responsible for any renewal process and associated charges.
- IDG can obtain a domain name on your behalf, and our Networks team will handle renewal. Ask about this as part of requesting a web forward.
- The domain does not persist after users arrive on the site - the URL for each page is displayed with
warwick.ac.ukin the address.
Custom domain site
If your site is a collaborative project with partner institutions where Warwick should not have a dominant presence, you may want to consider an external site domain.
A custom domain site is edited in SiteBuilder on the Warwick site, but appears to visitors to exist at its own URL, separate from the warwick.ac.uk web estate.
Intended for:
- Sites where Warwick must not be seen as the predominant partner - for example, cross-institutional partnerships.
Things to be aware of:
- Custom domain sites can't make use of Warwick Sign-on, so all pages in the navigation menu must be publicly viewable.
- The process involves multiple IDG teams and can take time to set up.
- The site must have its own Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, Accessibility Statement, and Terms of Use. We can provide templates for these for you to adapt.