04/10/2023

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You finally convinced the boss to redesign the company website.

And she wants to know what it entails.

By tomorrow.

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Virginia Bisek (c) 2013 - Not for Distribution Without Permission - 510.229.8508 2

You

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No problem.

Let’s get started.

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How do you begin to build a website?

This presentation covers 3 tasks that will start your project off on the right foot.

It will set your expectations about what is necessary to begin your website project.

When you are done, pat yourself on the back. You’re already saving money.

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Website development is not without its challenges. Expect them.

Keep your ducks in a row. Stay focused.

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Redesign is a misnomer.

You may think that a redesign is easier, and less expensive, than a new design. It’s not.

If you are redesigning your website, you are designing a new website.

You will be using best practices, usability studies and current trends in your industry to rethink your website.

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Task #1 – the Project Questionnaire.Get your team in a room (or if it’s just you, get yourself in a room) and answer the questions coming up next.

When you’re done, it becomes a Creative Brief.

This document keeps your team focused as to the who-what-where-why of your website design.

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Q: What’s in a Project Questionnaire?

A: 10 – 15 questions you must answer to start your project off on the right foot

What is your elevator pitch?

What are your business goals?

What are your user goals?

Is there a consistent message or theme that

represents your company?

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Project Questionnaire, continued.

Who is your audience? Is there more than one?

Who are the competitors that you admire?

How would you like your website to feel?

How would you like your website to look?

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A few more…Are there any 3rd party dependencies or applications?

What is your wish list of possible features and tools?

How will you manage the content after launch?

And there is one more…

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And it’s the biggest question of them all…

What top 10 questions do your clients ask you over and over and over again?

How you answer these top 10 frequently asked questions will help guide the value points that must be integrated across your website – in both design and copy.

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Congratulations.You have defined the who-what-where-why of your company’s website goals and objectives.

Your project questionnaire is now your Creative Brief.

You’ve already saved a bunch of money.

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Final words on the Project Questionnaire/Creative Brief.

This shouldn’t have taken more than one or two weeks to complete.

Now, get your team and the decision makers to sign off on it.

It’s arguably the most critical component of a successful website design.

Now, on to task #2.

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Task #2 – the Competitor Analysis.

Consider a Competitor Analysis.

What do your competitors have that you want?

What do your competitors have that you don’t want?

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A Competitor Analysis can list many features. Here’s what it could look like (enlarge your screen for a closer look):

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A Competitor Analysis is easy. Don’t skip this task.

It’s important to understand how your competitors are using best practices and current trends in your industry.

When you are done with the analysis, bring it to your final Creative Brief meeting. Incorporate any discoveries and get the team to sign off on it, again.

On to task #3.

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Task #3 – A Content Audit.

Content is everything that is encountered by visitors on your website.

It’s images

It’s text

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And content is…

Audio clips, videos, PDFs, links, applications, search boxes, error messages, etc.

It’s everything that your users see and interact with.

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Why a Content Audit?You must know what types of content you have in order to know what needs improving, deleting, updating, etc.

It serves as a valuable reference during production. Your team will know what the content is, and where it lives on each page.

An audit will help you define the scope and keep your budget in line.

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Content Audit = Content Inventory

An audit eventually morphs into a Content Inventory which keeps track of all content to be added to the website, who owns it, what the status is, etc.

A Content Inventory saves you money and time and minimizes chaos.

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Here’s what a Content Audit/Inventory could look like -(enlarge your screen for a closer look):

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Congratulations. You’ve completed your Content Inventory!

You can now assign pieces of content to individuals to start the copy development process. The beauty? Many people can be working in parallel to reach your goals.

This is an organic document and you will update it continually. It’s part of the process, so include this administrative task in time management.

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That’s it. You now know what it takes to start your project off with a bang.

Now go tell your boss.

How you complete these tasks depends upon your work load, who is on your team and how you manage your day to day processes off line, as well as on line.

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Some closing thoughts on design.

Once you complete these tasks, you are able to develop a detailed RFP (request for proposal).

The RFP then gets sent to selected web developers and designers.

More beauty… these organizations will know exactly what you want and can present you with a detailed and competitive bid.

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A shameless plug.All 3 tasks have overlapping dependencies which can be done in parallel.

An experienced Content Strategist and Copywriter can help move your project quickly and efficiently through the entire web development cycle.

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I am a Content Strategist & Copywriter.

510.229.8508

www.VirginiaBisek.Com

I’d be happy to discuss your project in detail.

Thank you!