Planning my new Web Site

Deciding what my goals are with this website should be my first step in the Planning process of any new website.

Our thoughts do not always come when we want them, so I always find that it helps to carry a notepaper paper with me and jot any down ideas as they come to me.

Write down all your thoughts and ideas.

The goal of any website will play a huge part in the design . A business oriented site should have a completely different design and layout than a recipe site for instance.

The complexity of your goal for your site will be reflected in your navigation and media requirements.

Your website should be designed with your user in mind. It is very easy for a user who is frustrated with your navigation to just click away to another website to quickly find the information that they require.

Your website must provide immediate information to your visitors.

To help your visitors find this information  information easily create an information flow.

Identify who will be using your website and most importantly what this group of users will hope to achieve by using your website. 

Again I must stress the imprtance of writing notes.

• Make an outline of your needs, followed by writing all the details
• Organize folders in which you add and keep information and materials for your Web site:

• a physical folder with photos, brochures, company logo, written materials
• a directory folder on your computer with text for your Web site, digitized photos, images, logos, and other pertinent information

• Look at as many Web sites as you can that are related to yours in some way. This will not only help you see what your competition has going and an overall perspective of Web sites in general, it will also help you brainstorm for your own site. Make note of the following:

• Web sites that you like and why
• Web sites that you don't like and why not
• Any Web sites that have elements that you like, such as colors, navigation, overall layout, the type of content and how it's presented

 Whether you are hiring a professional to design your website or building the site yourself. Spending time in the planning stage of a website will save  time and money.