It Helps If You Have A Plan Now, its time to put it all together by creating a "Web Plan." Similar to a business plan, a web plan is a statement which articulates what your website is all about and it identifies your web site needs.

Determine Your Website Needs Develop A "Web Plan" Samples Of Developed Websites Web Development Costs Fix-A-Site Inquire About Building A Site

To help you to build a great, user friendly site I've assembled the following, ever growing list to help you develop a Web Plan:

1. Define your site's purpose.
2. Define your user or target audience
3. Visit other similar sites for useful ideas.
4. Do you need a domain name? Recommended for business.
5. Who will host your site? Your Internet Service Provider or ISP.
6. Does you ISP offer access to website statistics?
7. Do you have access to the web and can you review the site?
8. Do you need feedback, registration or ordering forms?
9. So you need secure online ordering?
10. Do you need downloadable files?
11. Do you need a database?
12. What is my content?
13. Is the site content available on diskette?
14. How often do you need to update the content?
15. Do I need or have artwork and logos?
16. How will you announce you site to the search engines?
17. Besides the web, where else will you market your site?
18. Will a web site map be helpful to a visitor?

Other Web Site Design Guidelines are:

1. Purpose is the number one guide for design.
2. Know the product.
3. Identify the user.
4. Site should contain useable links.
5. Avoid using too many graphic links.
6. Design a useable site and actually watch someone use it.
7. Optimize graphics for fast download.

Finally, one of the best ways to convey your web site ideas is to map them out. Grab a blank sheet of paper, draw a home page in the center and begin brainstorming your ideas by drawing connecting pages to it. This will begin to define your site's structure and help you organize your content. And it will help a web site developer to better understand your needs.

© 2003 Delbert Evans. All Rights Reserved. Other products and company names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.