Genre Characteristics and Expectations of Personal Professional Web Presence Sites
Feb 2010A developing list of formal features defining the genre
In general, personal pro sites tend to borrow from and re-mediate (Bolter) rhetorical forms and tropes that identify the genre off-line. Expectations would point to a continuation from off-line to online.
- topic is the professional, public self, professional history, accomplishments, current interests and activities
- features statements, enactments, or both of philosophy
- missing private, personal information.
- resume- or cv-like in its content but not in its design.
- Prose: semi-formal? In keeping with general web style. Expect to see light punctuation, short paragraphs, verb-centered. But expect variants for construction of ethos.
- updated: expect frequent, but based on professional accomplishments and progress rather than formal schedule
- images: of self, self in work- or professional settings, images of productions
- links: internal nav: theses may signal the genre as professional and illustrate the organization of content for the faciltating of visitor: press, bookings, calendar. counterposed with About, Accomplishments, etc. counterposed with organization by professional duties or interests: research, classes taught ... Again, watch for heading a content overlaps with resumes and cv
- links internal to content; external to other, such as news, ...
- text: tone and level of formality in keeping with that of the profession or slightly less formal than the profession
- text: designed and written for web display, with heads, subheads, links to external material or sites
- text: legible: not grey on grey or white on black
- contact information: email address, link, or contact form; possibly physical address, phone.
- page or site appears designed
- other pics suggest the professional work and are appropriate to professional work and setting
- site might include more personal pics, but discretionary
- resume or resume-like material - or cv -like material if cv is appropriate in the profession
- may link to examples of professional work, or include images of examples of professional work
- does not need to have the technical polish of a print document, but remains in keeping with professional character
- presence of Google Ads and other advertising?
- I'm unsure about this. I haven't seen any that incorporate external ads, but there may be some. I would expect the ads to be aligned with the profession, and not overbearing.
- url includes the rhetor's online identity, which may be the same as off-line.
- .com, .net, .org are expected
- design and visual emphasis is on person and activities
- Design of site: expected to articulate the professional activities of the rhetor. Eg, a Media section if the rhetor is covered by media, a Publications section if the rhetor publishes regularly.
- multiple pages, with unambiguous labeling, unambiguous navigation elements. (This is in keeping with the ethos of "professional" being highly organized.)
- But look at some sites of design professionals and visual artists to see variations. I would expect web designers and visual artists to use web design elements in keeping with their professional activities, possibly making them less than visible.
In sum: the page will enact the features of the particular ethos of the professional: be designed, display, and act according to the profession and position of the rhetor.
That is, delivery is active in ethos in these web pages.
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