4 Essential Steps in Creating Your Web Site

[Ah-ha... I knew it! There's gonna be WORK involved.] Well, yes, it takes some work, but nothing that needs to be overwhelming. Let me break the whole process down into these 4 Essential Steps:

1. Define the Project
2. Find a Designer Who Fits
3. Build with the User In Mind
4. Keep Things Fresh

1. Define the Project

How you start your web project will have a tremendous effect on how it ends. The right preparation will save you time and money in the long run and will give you the best chance of ending up with a web site that does what you wanted it to do... and maybe more! Many potential web owners don't have more than just a general idea of what they want for their site. You can be a step ahead by knowing the answers to these questions...

• What is the primary purpose of my site? What's next important?
• What kind of audience am I trying to reach? (Hint: "Everyone" is not a good answer.)
• What are the things that I must have included in my site? What things would I like, but could do without? What do I definitely not want for my site?
• What content will I need on my site? How many web pages will it require? What goes on each page?
• What kind of image or mood do I want my site to express?
• What will this site offer that makes it unique from other sites?
• A year from now, what will make me feel like my site is successful? Unsuccessful?
  What about 5 years from now?
• How much am I willing to spend to get this built? How much am I willing to spend in ongoing investments into the site?

Spend time wrestling with the questions, even if you can't come to a definite conclusion to all of them. Once you've spent time considering the important issues, you'll be better prepared for know what to tell and what to ask the designers you talk to.

2. Find a Designer Who Fits

Every designer is not right for every client. Once you've defined your project as best you can, look for...

A designer who fits your tastes.

Consider hiring a designer only if you are able to review his/her work. Reputable web designers will have an online portfolio filled with samples and links to web sites they've created. Don't hire a designer who says they can create the kind of site you want; look for a designer who has already created the kinds of sites you like. If you don't like their work, keep searching.

A designer who fits your budget.

You're going to need some money to build a web site. Even a simple site will likely cost you at least a few hundred dollars. In fact, you may find that you need to adjust your budget in order to get what you need. (And please be cautious of the local computer geek who swears he can build a great site for you in his spare time. If he doesn't do it professionally -- or, at least, as a serious hobby -- you'll likely end up being quite frustrated.)

Shop around. You'll often find a difference of hundreds or thousands of dollars when comparing designers of equal talent. That doesn't mean that you need to shop for the cheapest contract; many expensive designers are worth what they're paid... if only you could afford to pay them! Determine your budget and then shop around to find the best deal for your money. If you come across someone you really like but with services that cost a little more than you have, save up until you can afford them.

Question: What makes a web site more or less expensive?

Answer: Many factors contribute to the cost of a web project. Among those that affect it most are... [1] The price scale of the designer. [2] The size (number of web pages) of the site. [3] The amount of coding required to perform specialized tasks (like shopping cart functions and other forms of information storage/retrieval). [4] The number of custom created Flash animations or graphics. [5] The amount of work required for others to write or edit the text content for your site.

You can help keep your cost down by choosing a designer within your budget, eliminating unnecessary content and functions from your site (more is not always better), editing your web's text to it's final form before submitting it to the designer, and resisting the urge to keep changing your mind once the work has started.

A designer who fits your personality.

I don't mean that the designer has to be someone who is like you, but he/she should certainly be someone you like! If you don't feel comfortable with a designer for any reason, move on to someone else. If your personalities clash, your project may turn into a miserable experience.

Question: Can't I build my own web site?

Answer: Maybe. If you are the kind of person that likes learning how to use new programs, doesn't mind learning some coding basics, and has a good eye for layout/design (in the opinion of other people, not just your own!), then you may be able to create your own simple site by either purchasing a basic software package or using an online "build your own web site" service. Many of my clients, however, invested time and money into such an effort only to end up unsatisfied and frustrated. If you're not sure, you're better off letting a qualified designer do it for you.

3. Build with the User in Mind

It seems like this step should be easily accomplished. After all, doesn't every web owner want a site that users find attractive and functional?

Sure. But I find that web owners often assume that what they expect to see in their site is the same as what users expect to see in the site -- an assumption that is usually wrong, especially for well-established companies or organizations. The problem is that business owners tend to look at their business from the inside-out. They assume that everything that is familiar to them -- the company name, methodologies of services, cataloging of products, use of industry terms, etc. -- will be familiar to site visitors as well (the ones that matter, at least). Most of the time, that's simply not true.

Think about all the kinds of people you would like to attract to your site. How will they find you? Will they be looking for your business name (probably not) or for the unique service or product you offer? How should this affect the way you name your site pages? The way you place titles and content on your pages? The way you promote your site in general?

What will be the first questions on a user's mind? Will they be able to find answers easily? Is the navigational structure of your site ordered in a way that reflects their need, or in a way the reflects your typical internal hierarchy?

Are you more concerned about meeting the users' needs? Or do you want to force them to the pages that are most important to you?

I try to challenge my clients to think from the clients' point of view. Frankly, it's too hard for some; they've already figured out how their site should be built and nothing will convince them otherwise. But I've seen the results. Sites that tend to prosper are those that put the interests and needs of the user first.

4. Keep Things Fresh

Your site should have no completion date. A good site will continue to change and grow by updating and adding content.

There are two reasons that you should adopt this long-term view for your web site project:

1. People return to sites that continue to offer something new. You should always ask: What additional product, service, or information can I add to my site?
    
2. Search engines give preference to active sites that are growing with relevant content. Look for ways to add new information on a regular basis. (Note: It doesn't help to add irrelevant or "filler" content. Users find it boring and it damages your search engine rankings in the long run.)

Here are some of the ways people add new site content:

• A growing Frequently Asked Questions page
• Online newsletter
• Articles on topics relevant to your site
• Descriptions of new products or services
• Blogs
• Descriptions and links to helpful resources
• Help pages
• Focus on a person, idea, place, product, etc.

Question: Doesn't a growing web site cost more money?
 
Answer: It's an investment that results in greater returns! You don't have to make daily additions to your site and it doesn't have to cost a lot. The point is... continue to think of your site as a growing, developing service.