Designing a Website: What to do Beforehand
For those who have never worked with a web designer, knowing the proper steps to take before meeting with one can be difficult to decipher.
When starting any project, you must first define the scope. Knowing how and what to plan will ensure a good working relationship with your future designer and help produce a high-quality product. It all starts with defining your preferences. By doing so, you will better understand your needs and assist your future designer in better serving you. In short, you need a business plan that addresses what you’d like your site to be. Here are several suggestions to aid you in developing and defining the scope of your website.
What is my business all about? Use descriptive words to capture your business’s personality and objective. Reflect on your mission statement (if applicable) and how you would like to portray your business.
What will be the purpose of my website? Creating an informational site versus creating a social networking site are two very different things. Your website’s purpose is one of your first decisions.
Who am I trying to reach? Outline your target audience. Are they professionals? What is their age range, demographics, interests, technical ability, etc?
What specific features do I want? This question goes hand in hand with the last two. For more informational sites, a blog could be a very useful tool. But if you sell items online, you will need to direct people to a “buy” button, not a blog.
Will the information on my website need to be frequently updated after it is built? Think about the information you are giving to your users. For example, if you have a product whose specifications change weekly, consider whether you want to edit the website yourself (i.e. online or utilizing web editing software) or if you would rather pay someone else to manage it (contract with a maintenance service).
What is my budget? Be reasonable. Remember that a website is a passive marketing tool, working for you when you are not working. Think of it as an expansion of your company’s services and hours. Many people misperceive the cost of a website. It is important to keep this in mind: the price can vary anywhere from $1,000 to more than $50,000. Features such as blogs, databases, Flash elements and photo galleries, as well as labor time and creativity, determine the price you will eventually pay.
What other sites do I like? List five sites that you have seen, either in your industry or in general, which you believe are well-designed. Examples are always very helpful for designers to get a better idea of what you are looking for.
How do I want to organize what I want to say? Create a site map by outlining every major section and subsection with the items you would like to include on those pages.
A simple example would be:
- Home (+ Flash intro)
- About Us
- History
- Mission Statement
- Staff
- Services
- Products (Photo Gallery)
- Pricing
- News
- Contact (with online form)
When referring back to these questions, take notes. In the end, your goal is to minimize the chance of miscommunication and optimize the quality of the end product. Put together a Word document that clearly answers each item. From this you will have a strong starting point for meeting with a web designer.
