- What is the goal of my website?
- Who is this website for?
- What sort of technology will I use?
- What is my budget to develop this project?
- What is my budget for ongoing maintenance on this project?
What is the goal of my website? You're website is authored in much the same way as you would a letter to a friend. For instance, "Dear Ben, I had a great time in Chicago. We went to Shed Aquarium to see the dolphin show. I also had the best meal of my life at Joe's Stone Crab. Check out the link to my pictures..." Here, we told Ben about our trip to Chicago. We didn't talk about our family, or the tooth ache we suffered from two months ago. Although Ben may love to know about these things they were beyond the scope of this letter. Define the scope or goals of your website. If you are trying to sell a product then make sure that each statement, category, and photo has something to do with meeting that goal. Yes, your viewers may want to know a company history or staff biography in order to feel comfortable enough to buy your product but they don't need to see photos of the company Christmas party. It's beyond the scope.
Who is this website for? Next to your goals, your target audience is the most important concept to pin down. Ask yourself "Who will be looking at my website?" Now ask: What questions will they want answered? Are they familiar with the terms that I use or do they need me to be general? Do they use the web all the time or are they new? Will they have the latest browser software or will it be older? Will they want to come back all the time or just now and then? Do they need to use my site in ways other than simply viewing information? Thinking of the type of people who will actually be using your site will be very helpful in determining the style and features you will have.
What sort of technology will I use? This question sounds worse than it is... just think of the way you do or want to do business and use your own words. Your developer will help with the rest. Do you want a shopping cart on your website? How do you want customers to pay? Check? Credit card? Do you want viewers to be able to post comments? How many staff email addresses will you need? Do you want to keep an email database for your clients? All of these take a little extra time to plan for your developer so you want to be upfront with your needs.
What is my budget for developing this project? There are different ways to come up with the number. I suggest to start by asking your colleagues how they handled their website and for ball parked number of what they spend annually for the upkeep. And also request an estimate from any possible developers you are investigating. Both should be happy to offer a "square one" quote for you. At the very least, as you think of the features you want/need for your website keep them in a prioritized list. That way, when you discuss them with your developer she can help you decide what is practical for your budget while leaving room for future growth.
What is my budget for ongoing maintenance on this project? Websites are living creatures. They grow as your needs grow and they grow as the technology grows around them. They are part of an electronic ecosystem that connects information and marketing to people with gadgets. Even if you don't plan on updating the information on your website with any regularity it's a good idea to maintain a relationship with your developer. It can be as simple as making sure your site is search engine friendly and being informed of any new options you may have for greater usability.
Websites are fun. Really fun. Once you start thinking of all the ways you can use them to communicate you'll never want to stop. However, when you get that next great idea stop and ask these questions. If your idea fits with your goals, audience, and budget then GO FOR IT!
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