Aftershock Web Designs, Inc.

Planning Your Web Site

Your web site will only be as good as your plan. By using this outline, you are 
charting your course to success!

First - Determine where you are today.
Second - Surf Other Sites (see what others are doing)
Third - Establish your web site goals.
Fourth - Create a plan to achieve those goals.

I. Background - 
   Tell us about your company or organization. 
	1. What are the service(s) and/or product(s), and information that
	   you currently offer? 
	2. Where do you currently promote your service(s) and/or product(s)? 
	3. Do you have a current brand name or theme that is consistent with
	   your service(s) and/or product(s) throughout your company or organization? 
	4. Describe your current customer or target audience. 
	5. Do you currently have a web site? If so, please describe the strengths
	   and weaknesses of the site. 
II. Surf Other Sites - 
	The purpose here is to learn from other sites what works and what does not. 
	There is no sense in reinventing the wheel or to make the same mistakes as
	others. This part of the planning process is very important. The more work 
	you put into it, the more your project will benefit. Find the three highest 
	quality sites (more is better) on the Internet that relate to your project 
	in the following categories (make sure you record the URL address): 
		A. Your competitors' sites 
		B. Appeal to same target group of customers
		C. Overall look and feel (colors, ease of use, graphics, etc...) 
		D. Size of site 
		E. Quality of content 
		F. Quality of graphics 
		G. Layout and navigation 
		H. Functionality (things sites do for people) 
		I. Overall favorite sites (for whatever reasons) 
		J. List sites that you do not like for the same reasons as stated above
		   and state those reasons. Save URL addresses so have examples.
III. Goal - 
	 Determine what it is that you are trying to accomplish. 
	1. What are you trying to accomplish with this web site? 
	2. Is there a certain audience you are going after? 
	3. What are your goals for your audience? 
	4. Are you trying to launch a new product or service, add to existing 
	   business, share information, or something else...? 
	5. Who are you trying to attract to your site? 
	6. How will you know if you reached your goal? 
	7. What is the time frame this goal must be reached? 
IV. Plan - 
	Develop a strategy so you achieve your goal. 
	1. Has there been or is there any other work done (either completed or in 
	   process) that can be incorporated into this plan? If so, please describe.
	2. Discuss any brand name or theme that is consistent with your service(s) 
	   and/or product(s) throughout your company or organization that will be a 
	   part of this site. 
	3. Where will the content for the site come from? Will the content be new, 
	   or from previously used materials? How often will the site need updating?
	4. Please rate from 1-10 the following, in order of importance:
	   (10 very important, 1 not important) 
		A. A strategy that fits with our company or organizational strategy 
		B. A strategy that fits with our marketing strategy 
		C. Use of existing materials (graphics, text copy, etc...) 
		D. Building a faithful following (repeat visitors) 
		E. Searching out new clientele 
		F. Fast loading pages 
		G. Simple navigation 
		H. Sophisticated navigation (Note: navigation within framed pages often
		   confuses and frustrates visitors. We highly recommend from experience
		   to stay away from framed pages.) 
		I. Elaborate graphics or special effects 
		J. Latest web technologies and effects 
		K. Maximum browser compatibility 
		L. Time to market 
		M. Ease of maintenance
		N. Professional presentation 
		O. Doing better than our competition on the Web 
		P. Staying within the budget 
	5. Site Functionality - Here are some ideas to consider during planning:
		A. Will you be conducting commerce? - Will require secure connections
		   for online transactions? 
			1) Simple order forms - Does not total amounts, but can be used
			   effectively.
			2) Shopping Cart Systems - Totals amount including sales tax,
			   shipping, special ordering, etc.
				a. Basic Shopping Cart - simple shipping options
				b. Deluxe Shopping Cart with UPS shipping calculators, and live
				   credit card transactions. 
		B. Feedback forms - Guest book, Information requests, etc... 
		C. Bulletin Boards - General information, Tech Support, etc... 
		D. Download area - Support files, Software, Data files, Catalogs, etc...
	6. Are there any security issues?
	7. Who will maintain the site?
	8. How will the site be served/hosted? Will you outsource the hosting,
	   or will you put the web site on your own server(s)?
	9. Have you obtained a domain name? [www.yourdomain.com] Think carefully
	   as you choose your domain name. It is always a good idea to put key words
	   in your domain name.
	10. Have you set a budget for design, hosting, maintenance, and updating? 
	11. What are your long-term plans for the site? 
	12. How will you be promoting the site?
	13. Online Advertising - Search engines on the Internet, Index listings, 
	    Banner ads, Reciprocal links, etc...
	14. Outside Advertising - Consumer and Trade Magazines, Newspaper, Radio,
	    Television.

By completing this advanced planning as outline, you are on your way to 
developing a successful web site.

We welcome any suggestions that might enhance the content and usability 
of this planning outline.


Thank you,
Aftershock Web Designs, Inc.
By: Stan Winchester
President

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Copyright 2000 Aftershock Web Designs, Inc.
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