Planning a Web Site Planning a Web Site

The Home Page Think of this as your storefront. It is the first thing seen by your customer when they log on to your site. Think of this as your storefront. It is the first thing seen by your customer when they log on to your site. Make a good impression. Make a good impression. Attract attention, communicate what your site offers, and remember this page should reflect your site’s personality. Attract attention, communicate what your site offers, and remember this page should reflect your site’s personality.

Home Page Elements Name of your business. Name of your business. Your logo. Your logo. Basic information about the site. Basic information about the site. A simple and logical layout: A simple and logical layout: Arrangements of the elements on the page: Arrangements of the elements on the page: Text Text Graphics Graphics Headlines Headlines A cluttered, disorganized page may result in the loss of a customer who becomes impatient and leaves. A cluttered, disorganized page may result in the loss of a customer who becomes impatient and leaves.

Site Map Home Page Products/ServicesEmploymentContact UsInvestors Customer Feedback Browse Our Catalog How to Invest Financial information How to Order

Storyboards Pencil out what your Web site will look like Pencil out what your Web site will look likeor Generate a computer based document of what your Web site will look like. Generate a computer based document of what your Web site will look like. Illustrate everything that will appear on the Web site: Illustrate everything that will appear on the Web site: Text Text Graphics Graphics Color Schemes Color Schemes Links Links And menus And menus The storyboards will act as a blueprint for you to build your site.

Navigation Schemes Navigation Schemes How different Web pages relate to one another. How different Web pages relate to one another. Home page may link to pages for News, Products and Services, Mission Statement, Contact Information, and Ordering. Home page may link to pages for News, Products and Services, Mission Statement, Contact Information, and Ordering. Each web page may link to another page, or at least a link back to the home page. Each web page may link to another page, or at least a link back to the home page. Products and Services should link to the Ordering Page, but may not link to the other pages. Products and Services should link to the Ordering Page, but may not link to the other pages. Design your navigation so visitors can easily navigate and interact with your site. Design your navigation so visitors can easily navigate and interact with your site.

Navigation Schemes (cont.) Navigational Bar should be clear on the Home page. Navigational Bar should be clear on the Home page. Navigational Bar appears on every page. Navigational Bar appears on every page. Be Creative: Be Creative: Vertical Column Vertical Column Color-coded tabs Color-coded tabs Photos Photos Icons Icons Combination of elements. Combination of elements.

Communicating with Customers A means to contact you to establish good customer relations. A means to contact you to establish good customer relations. Include a contact us on your home page. Include a contact us on your home page. Provide a Guest List for customers to make comments and leave their own contact information. Provide a Guest List for customers to make comments and leave their own contact information. Other ways for customers to contact you, phone numbers and fax numbers, or Toll Free numbers. Other ways for customers to contact you, phone numbers and fax numbers, or Toll Free numbers.

Editing Your Site The design and functionality of major Web sites has not changed much of over the years. Google is still just a logo over a search window on a plain white screen. It offers more services now than it did when the company started, but the site doesn’t look much different. The design and functionality of major Web sites has not changed much of over the years. Google is still just a logo over a search window on a plain white screen. It offers more services now than it did when the company started, but the site doesn’t look much different. Improve your site but do not make radical changes that may surprise your customers. Improve your site but do not make radical changes that may surprise your customers.