Step-By-Step Web Site Planner will help you determine just what your needs are, and what areas to consider, determining the structure and requirements of your web site prior to requesting a consultation and a price quote.

Experience shows that questions raised and answered in one section may engender ideas and issues in other sections. This is a good thing, and reinforces the fact that the Web Site Planner can (and probably should) be used iteratively. In fact, we've found it useful for periodic reviews of existing Websites. The more time and effort your organization devotes to this information gathering process, the more likely you are to build an effective, customer-driven and well-staffed Web presence.

   Step-By-Step Web Site Planner
 

   Background:

              1.Goals. What are your specific goals? Consider:

o        company/brand awareness,

o        product/services awareness,

o        product/services sales,

o        community building,

o        entertainment,

o        knowledge sharing, and

o        internal communications.

2. Promotional Fit. How should your Website fit with current promotional & marketing strategies & materials?

3. Deadlines. What are the schedule or deadline requirements?

4. Funding. What are the budgetary constraints?

5. Measurement. How will you measure the success of the site?

Next Steps:

1. Develop a ranked (from most- to least-important) Goals Master List.

2. Create a mission statement for the site.

3. Identify how the mission and goals of the site might change from short-term to long-term, given the direction of

    your organization and industry.

Audience:

1. External. Who is your EXTERNAL audience? Consider:

o        current customers,

o        potential customers,

o        suppliers,

o        professional/trade organizations,

o        investors,

o        competitors,

o        children,

o        schools/educators, and

o        the sight-impaired.

2. Internal. Who is your INTERNAL audience? Consider:

o        all employees,

o        management,

o        marketing/sales,

o        operations, and

o        IT.

3. Sub-groups. Determine all subgroups within the audiences identified above.

4. Define. Identify the interests, technical skills and special issues for each audience group and subgroup.

   Next Steps:
   1. Create a ranked Audience Master List.
   2. Develop an Aligned Master List by matching the Audience Master List to the Goals Master List.
   3. Create usage scenarios based on Aligned Master List.
    Resources:

1. Project Roles. Who are the resources that will be responsible for content management and technical 
                       support (include their names, titles, roles, and contact info)?

2. Team Skills. What are the technical and content management skills of each resource?

   Next Steps:
   For each resource, identify any training, software, hardware, scheduling and budgetary issues.
   Competition

1.Identify Competitors. Identify the sites of competitors and others that may provide direction for your site.

2.Important Elements. Identify the important elements of each competitor site:

o        functional features,

o        technologies used,

o        breadth of content and

o        look-and-feel.

   Next Steps:  
   1.  Develop a competitive analysis that includes the important elements of key competitor sites and which of these
        elements your site should match, exceed, or avoid.
   2.  On a regular basis, revisit key competitor sites and update your competitive analysis.

   Content:
            1.Functionality. Which functional features should your site offer? Consider:

o        ecommerce/shopping cart,

o        site search,

o        customer service/support,

o        tech support,

o        discussion forums,

o        newsletter,

o        catalog/information

o        order forms,

o        feedback form,

o        member logon,

o        password protected areas, and

o        SSL-encrypted areas.

2. Information. Which informational elements should your site contain? Consider:

o        About Us page,

o        Contact Us page,

o        copyright notice, and

o        privacy statement.

3. Structure. What is your site's hierarchy? For each of the 4-7(though you can have more or less) main areas
                 of the site, identify:

o        each main menu item,

o        all submenu items, and

o        additional content.

Think of a tree-style hierarchy with the home page at the top.

   Next Steps:
   1.  Describe in detail each functional feature. What exactly will it do?
   2.  Identify the resources required, and any technical and budgetary issues associated with each functional feature.
   3.  Provide detail for each informational element.
   4.  Assign content responsibilities to the resources identified above.
 

   SO HOW DO I START?
Starting a business can be an exciting venture offering many rewards. However, you must be prepared and you must understand the basics. Within this mission to assist you we have prepared this Information Page in order to help you from the beginning make right choices and step by step to build successful Internet Presence.
So how do I start my Internet business?
Start by simply contacting our office to find out more about the possibilities of the Internet and to arrange a meeting with our specialists, send questions. Get Free Price Quote for your online project!
Our initial consultations are free for all clients.