Things to Consider

GOALS

The most important thing to consider is what you want your website to accomplish. Will it be informational? Will it drive business to your door? Will it be a forum to discuss a topic, like a blog? Will it function as an online store with customers buying online?

There are many reasons for having a web site. If you could name the most important thing you want to accomplish on your web site, what would that be? Your expectations are very important for us to know in order to plan your site.

PLANNING YOUR WEB SITE

1. Brainstorm and make notes.
2. Create an outline of your needs with the most essential elements at the highest level.
3. Organize this information in folders so that you can add things as needed to your overall plan.
• Make a folder with photos, brochures, company logo, written materials, etc.
• Keep a directory folder on your computer of text, digitized photos, images, logos and other electronic media.
4. Do some homework. Look for other web sites in your industry to see how they handled the information and graphics. This way you will be prepared with a better understanding of what your competition is doing as well as to help you brainstorm for your own site. Note the following:
• Be specific of the reasons you like the site.
• It's also important to realize what you don't like and why.
• Pay close attention to the colors used, graphics, photos, etc.
• Also note how the links are presented. How does their navigation carry you through the site?

FILLING OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Consider the purpose of the web site. What do you want to accomplish? See Goals above.
2. What is your target audience? Who will be using your site?
3. Think about your content:
• Text for each area of the site. And think about who will write or provide the text if it's not already available. Basic content includes:
• -Who you are,
• -What you do,
• -How to contact you,
• -And a list of your services or products.
• Photos of people, your offices or other images that might help to illustrate what you do.
• Logo. If you do not have a logo, ask SavaDesign to price an original company logo.
• Newsletters, news, time-dated materials and how you plan to update this content.
• Having the content up-front for the designer will drive the look and feel of the site.
4. Consider ways to bring in new visitors. And to recapture repeat visitors.
5. What kind of budget is available for this project?
6. Other costs:
• Domain name and registration.
• Internet Service Provider (Know the database information required to put the web site on your server).
• Selling products or services online:
• -Secure server for processing transactions.
• -Merchant account through your bank (or alternatives).
• -Online purchases by credit card, alternative purchases by fax, postal mail.
• -Shopping cart software, if needed (usually recommended for over 10 products or so).
• -Set up a system that integrates easily with new or existing accounting software.
• Search Engine Registration, Optimization. (Your web site design with Sava Design will include coding to make it searchable, but content optimization is critical. Also it is additionally helpful to register your site with specific search engines and directories.)
• Electronic Advertising (Pay-per-click on specific search keywords)