Planning Your Web Site
Page 5 of 7
- Introduction |
- Consider your needs |
- Consider your audience |
- Consider your audience's needs |
- Decide on the required features
- Consider the site's appearance |
- Work out your budget |
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Decide on the required features
Based on your main objectives and audience definition, you can begin listing the specific information, features, or activities your web site will provide.
For example, a site's objectives might be 'to provide information about our company's new line of widgets' and this site's audience definition might be 'prospective customers'. The main requirements for this site could be:
- Provide pictures, prices, and fact-sheets on all of our widgets;
- Provide ordering and service information;
- Provide an overview of widgets to interest prospective customers and encourage them to use the products.
Try to establish your priorities for the site; below is a list of some services commonly provided by web sites:
- provide details about your organisation or company;
- sell services or products;
- facilitate internal communication between staff or members;
- act as your key promotional tool;
- promote action towards a cause;
- function as a 'portal', offering visitors links to other sites;
- foster your organisation's culture;
- supply information on indirectly-related subjects (e.g., a hotel might have a web site with information on local sightseeing attractions);
- act as a contact point for clients or customers;
- expand existing marketing tactics;
- offer services that you currently provide in person (e.g., a fitness club might provide application forms online);
- supply up-to-date news regarding your organisation;
- offer interactive tools for your visitors, such as polls, interactive maps, a photo gallery, games discussion forums, and so on.
