WHAT IS THE PROCESS
TO CREATING A SUCCESSFUL WEBSITE?
Analyze the site,
design the concept, organize the content,
create a flow chart, optimize graphics,
do production, test and debug, upload final
product, test AGAIN and market.
There are many steps
involved in any kind of project. Good management
and organization is key to making all projects
successful. These are the main processes which
we consider the most important in creating
a successful website. They are only overviews
and each step requires many more considerations
and procedures.
1. Determine the
Objectives of the Website
Determine what your website needs to accomplish.
What is the objective of the site? What
are you communicating? Promoting? Selling?
Informing? Your website will not single
handedly solve all your business problems.
Remember that the internet is a tool that
should be used in conjunction with solid
marketing whether it be online or traditional.
2. (A) Choose your
Domain Name
Choosing your domain name is vital to the
image you give to your audience same as
your business name. Some considerations:
relevance to your business, play on words,
recognition, competitor's names. Make sure
you verify the name you decide is not already
copyrighted or trademarked.
2. (B) Secure your
Domain Name
The domain name must be wholly integrated
into your website. It may determine your
logo, your text and your images. Imagine
that you have completed your website and
go to purchase your domain and it's been
bought. To avoid these kinds of situations,
secure your domain name as soon as possible.
3. Choose a Web
Hosting Company.
You just bought a car but where are you going
to park it? You need to find a place to put
your project. If you already know the size
of the project, choose a service plan appropriately.
If you do not, do this step at a later stage
of the project when you are more aware.
4. Identify your
Target Audience
Before you write the content of your website,
you must know who you're writing to. This
will define style and tone of the text.
If you know the identity of your target
audience, learn their personalities, their
likes and their wants.
5. Determine your
Text Content - Create Flow Chart
Combine all your decisions and prepare your
content. Define your main pages, your sub
pages, third level pages, fourth level pages
etc. Make a site map or storyboard. Topics
that should be answered by your website
are "What do you do?", "How
will they benefit?", "What is
your history?" and "What is your
contact info?" Remember that if you
are going to do online marketing, to incorporate
the key words into you text.
Learn more about Search Engine Optimization.
6. Define your Visual
Content
If you have an existing business which you
want to expand to the web, determine whether
you want to continue the look of existing
marketing. Whether it is a new business
or an existing business, choose the kind
of imagery you would like to use, the colours,
style and other details.
7. Create the Main
Design & Navigation Menu
Using the text content and the visual content,
create the look and feel of the website
by designing the main page or the splash
page and a sample page with navigation.
8. Collect Pictures
and Make Imagery
Collect photographs, pictures and art. Optimize
and modify imagery to be used.
9. Develop Web Pages
Program and assemble each page of the site.
10. Test and Proof
your Website
Once all the pages have been programmed,
proof the text, test all your links, verify
all the graphics and imagery. Do this on
many platforms to assure that you reach
the maximum audience.
11. Upload the Finished
Product
Place the completed website onto the server.
12. Test the Website
AGAIN !
This is a precaution that is often overlooked.
You should always test your site when it
is live and active. You may have overlooked
something when testing the first time or
perhaps you forgot a few files.
13. Market your
Website
If a tree falls in the forest, do you see
it? Just because you created a website doesn't
mean that people know it exists. As with
any business, it is essential that you create
an awareness of your product. Whether it
be traditional marketing or online marketing,
JUST DO IT.
This is not the end.
A website should be a living, evolving and
growing entity. Would you want to see the
same episode of a tv program every day,
every hour, every minute? People's tastes
change so your website should change. It
does not mean you should always follow your
audience but updating is necessary.
>>> Remember
to follow the guidelines to what makes a
website good
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