Web Site Planning Worksheet

Your Domain Name – your web address, how people find you on the web. What would you like your domain name to be? Choosing a Host The web pages that make up your site need to be on a computer that is connected to the Internet all the time and has web server software. This usually means obtaining a hosting account which may start at as little as $5-10 per month. Do you already have web hosting or do you have a web host in mind? Planning the Site Who is your target audience? What kind of people are your current customers? Why do they buy from you? Do they have special needs or interests? Where are they located? What kind of Internet access are they likely to have? What is the purpose of your site? Increase awareness of your business? Sell products and/or services? Allow customers to contact you? Provide information to save printing and increase customer service? What online features/services do you want to offer? Information about you and your business, portfolio of products (thumbnails with larger pictures), online ordering, printable order form, calendar of events, directions/locations What resources do you have to dedicate to this site? Do you have a budget in mind? Are there people in your company or subcontractors you already work with who might contribute content to the site? Do you want to maintain the site content in-house? Will you/your staff need training? What information do you already have that should be included in the site? Do you have a brochure? A logo? Whitepapers and newsletters? Press releases? An order form? Promotional audio or video? Are there other pieces your distribute to customers and leads that might form the basis of your Web site? What image do you want to project? Do you have a corporate identity? Is there a particular style of communication you want to achieve with your Web site? What is your competition doing? Do your competitors have Web sites? What do those sites look like? What do they offer visitors? What expectations have they set for Web sites in your industry? Design Your ideas about the look, feel, and features your site should have site layout, main categories or sections corporate identity - logos, trademarks, taglines, etc. color and font preferences style preferences favorite sites: sites you've seen on the Web that have a look and feel you think would suit your site, sites you really like or dislike, what you like or dislike about them