Planning a Website

Strategy

Below is a checklist of questions you need to consider before planning a new website or cleaning up an existing one.

Successful websites start with accurate planning and focused goals. The most important question you can ask yourself is "What do I want this website to do for me?" What needs must this website meet to justify the cost of creating and maintaing it.

Creating an effective web presence that works for you is not easy. It requires hours of planning, review and tweaking. An effective website is fluid, constantly changing with your company.

Before going on, decide what type of site you need. Are you a small business that just wants to be included in the internet age? Do you want to have a site to present when asked, or do you want your site to activly work for you, generate sales, and releive your staff from basic support questions and concerns. Do you have a sales force that could benefit from a website, do you have news to share? Though broad, again you must decide. Changing your mind later on down the development line can be costly.

You can read this form online and use the check boxes to mark areas of concern, or print this form for review at a later time. Use the space provided for notes.

Individual goals: Specific areas of concern	What will be your measure of success in this area?
Direct Web Based Sales - virtual sales	Increased monetary income Increase traffic, inquirys awareness other:_____________________
Solve a current problem	Eliminate inadequate communication Reduction in operating costs            ie: phone calls, tech support other:_____________________
Increase customer base,  exposure, brand awareness	New inquiries Setting up agencies / resellers Present new services Generate loyalty with current content other:_____________________
Improved communication and relations with existing customers	Online 24/7 support Allow client to gain a better understanding of your products, services and company in general. Provide immediate access to data, inventory and information. other:_____________________
Marketing exposure, Enhancing brand awareness	Access national and interntional arenas Negate time zone barriers Present corporate image to the public Present awards, facilitate media exposure other:_____________________
Learning, testing, developing	Test arena for new product releases Poll customer base for new services, opinions on services, etc other:_____________________

Reality Check - Do you have what it takes?

Management approval and assistance
Staff approval and assistance
Budget outline
Internal Resources [design, content management, maintenance]
External Resources [design, content management, maintenance]
other: ______________________________________________

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Development & Production

Design Brief

1. What is the primary goal of this website?
   __________________________________________
   
   
2. Who is the target audience?
   __________________________________________
   
   
3. What content do you have, what else is needed?
   __________________________________________
   
   
4. What design specifications do you require?
   __________________________________________
   
   
5. What is the timeline for each phase of development?
   __________________________________________
   
   
6. What is the budget?
   __________________________________________
   
   
7. Where will the website live? (Be hosted)
   __________________________________________
   
   
8. How will it be maintained? [internally, externally]
   __________________________________________
   
   
9. Marketing plan: search engine optimization, link exchange, banner programs, affiliate and/or reseller plans?
   __________________________________________
   
   
10. Other:
    __________________________________________
    

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Content Development

Site architecture / flow, how will it work together
Content
Graphics
Diagrams
Databases
Applications

Internal Resources

Management resource
Staff resources [programmers, content managers]
Project manager to facilitate in the web development process
Existing publications / content resources
Budget
Maintenance
other: ________________________

External Resources

Project Management
Writers [content]
Graphic Designer
HTML designer
SEO [search engine optimization expert]
Technical Management
Site Hosting
Maintenance [can be internal]
other: ________________________

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Marketing & Launch

Time to advertise

Submitting to search engines: Your design company may do this for you. Your site should have been optimized for search engines during design phase. You should also determine if it is beneficial to pay for inclusion in directories such as Looksmart and Yahoo, and pay for placement with sevices such as GoTo and FindWhat.

Launch announcement: Even if it is just telling your friends and current customers, post a sign if you have a physical store front, send out postcard notices, place advertising in phonebooks and newspapers and anywhere else.

Include your web address on all printed material and anywhere else you can - business cards, letterhead, invoices, print advertising, vehicles, etc.


Banner exchange programs with web based clients and associates (to improve link populartity), paid banner exchange programs, Comprehensive marketing strategy, sponsored listings.

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Maintenance & Ongoing Development

Appoint a web site manager on staff, whose job it is to ensure that all content on the site is current, operating properly and who facilitates required updates in a timely manner. This person should also be responsible for keeping tabs on hosting fees and domain renewal due dates.

Phase two plan and budget for the future. For most organizations it's unrealistic to expect you will have achieved all your goals in the first "cut" and not to allow for growth of your website along with your company. Planning for future development now means that you'll get years of use from the site cost effectivly rather than recreating the whole thing for every change in your business.


Whew, that is a lot to consider. If you are ready to proceed here is a checklist of what you need to get your site online. [checklist]