Web Project Planning
Primary goal
Define your websites purpose.
Decide what you want to accomplish with your website. Is it to build upon your promotional reach or perhaps to improve upon existing marketing/advertising efforts? Perhaps you simply want to be able to better educate new as well as current clients/customers as to the services you offer. No matter the goal, it is essential to have a clear definition of it.
Design aesthetic
The look and feel you want.
Make some decisions regarding what the overall look and feel of your website will be. Do you want a modern clean look or perhaps an illustrative one? Do you prefer gradients or textures? Do some research regarding color palettes and how they can be expressive of your goals for the website. Take some time to look at other websites for inspiration and see what features catch your eye as well as which ones do not.
Features
Items you want your website to have.
Do you want special functionality incorporated into your websites design, e.g. a blog, a portfolio, a form for clients to submit feedback, or incorporation of your twitter feed? Take some time to make a list of all of the features that you would like to see integrated into your website.
Site layout
Divide up the information.
Have a listing of key pages in mind for your website and try to envision a basic structure for it. Some standard pages are the home, about, services, and contact pages. However, depending on the purpose of your website, the quantity and types of pages can vary significantly. Perhaps even a single page micro site will work for promoting that product or service you have in mind. Furthermore, establishing an idea as to the number of pages you’ll require for your website is relevant to several factors considered during the design process, including content organization, prioritization, and accessibility.
Site content
Know what you want to say and share.
You can never start early enough with the process of writing copy for your website. Not only will you be a step ahead, but it is also a great way to brainstorm ideas of what you actually want convey to those who visit your website. Try to focus on being brief and think in terms of small organized bits of information. Be cognizant of the idea that informational, brochure type websites are not like books, they are not typically read, but skimmed for highlights and for quick access to relevant pieces of information. Aim for highlighting the benefits of your products and/or services using effective as well as descriptive keywords.
Timeline
Establish a suitable timeframe.
Have an idea as to when you would like to get started and more importantly what, if any, deadlines you need to meet. Have a go-live date in mind for the website and share it with us. However, remember to be realistic when coming up with the date. Keep in mind the time it will take to come up with the content and copy for your site. You will also want to allot time for project collaboration and revisions, as these are a large part of the overall design process.
Budget
Know what you’re able to spend.
Working out your budget upfront is exceedingly important and is relevant to every aspect of your design project. Your websites cost is directly related to its timeline for completion, level of design and the implementation of its features. More complicated, means more time, and additional cost. Know that we will work with you to help establish a balance between what you want and what you can do without, but you’ll need to decide on the budget for your website first.
