subject: Essential Factors To Consider When Planning A Website [print this page] As the modern world becomes increasingly centered on the internet, establishing an online presence by putting up a website is very important for any business, individual or organization that wants to reach out to a broader market or audience. However, there's a lot that goes on in developing a website to make it not only visually appealing but also effective.
First of all, it must be clear what the website would be for. A website can be used for different purposes not just for selling products and services. It can also be used to provide customer service, build brand awareness or educate the public. The website's design and functionality depends largely on the reasons for creating the site.
Another consideration, which is closely linked to the above, is the site's features. When you know what you want to get out of the site, you can easily tell what features would be relevant. Will it handle online credit card transactions? Other common website features include registration forms, discussion forums, online surveys and database search.
Next, think about the website's target audience. Will it target existing or potential customers or both? Consider factors like demographics and geographical location. For instance, an architect website has would naturally target property owners looking to build a new construction or add to their existing properties but will it target customers coming from anywhere in the country or just those within a specific region?
Also, one of the most important things to consider when planning a website is content, particularly, its source. Is there a need to hire a content writer? Will the information on the site need regular updating? This may be the case for sections like FAQs, announcements and product pages. If regular updates are needed, who will perform the job?
In addition, when planning a website, be aware of budgetary requirements which would include not only designing and developing costs but also additional fees for site hosting, domain name registration and site maintenance. Lastly, as with any project, it is essential to establish ahead a realistic timeline as to when the site should go live on the Internet. It is a good idea to start small and slowly add features to the site.
