Introduction
This post will highlight some of the things that should be addressed in the run up to building your site. It’s written as though your site will be a business site, but the approach we’ll take and thinking we will need to do will translate readily to other types of sites. (In other words, if you are looking for something other than a business site just read between the lines.)
You may already have all the answers. If so, that’s great! You just need to be sure Websites by KTS has them too.
Be aware that some of the sections will have quite a bit of overlap. In some of the topics only short lists are presented, rather than full descriptions. They should be the basis for thinking about your site.
Your business identity
Let’s start easy: What’s the business’s name and how do you want to display it?
Do you have a unique value proposition? What distinguishes your business or your approach?
Do you have a motto or tag line? Can your unique value proposition be reduced to a motto or tag line that you want to use on the website?
Do you have a mission statement?
Existing resources
Do already have a website? Do you have a domain name? If not, any thoughts on what name you would like?
Do you have a developed corporate identity — colors, logos, etc. ?
Are there graphics available that should be incorporated in the website?
Do you already have accounts that will work with the website? Examples are email services like MailChimp or Constant Contact, payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe.
Limitations
Are there things that we have to watch out for?
Are you part of a larger organization? Should that be reflected on the website? Does the larger organization (and that can include franchise operations) restrict what you can do or say, how you can do it, and how you can discuss it? Are there restrictions due to regulations? Does your business involve certifications, registrations, or licenses?
Business goals
The business goals and the website goals will probably be closely related, but may not fully match. Things to think about as the business’s goals, especially for the website, include: Sales, Publicity, Marketing, and Visibility. See the Website Goals topic immediately below.
Website goals
Your website has the potential to fill many functions. Here’s a partial list:
- Advocacy,
- Discussion,
- Demonstrations,
- Pronouncements,
- Local Sales,
- Online Sales, and
- Contact List Development.
Who and where are your targets?
Are you B2B, B2C, or both? Wholesale, retail, or both? Are you targeting a neighborhood, a region, or something larger? Are you targeting a particular (population) segment? Are you looking for a physical response to a store, an internet response , or both?
Level of expertise
Can it be showcased with posts/pages? Should it be done with regular updates or issued all at once? What issues should be taught, showcased? Should it use graphics, video, or audio?
Important distinguishers
- An interesting business history
- An interesting owner biography
- People / staff
- Service
- Products
- Experience
- Size
- Pricing
Desirable type of visitor contact
- Ask questions
- Make appointments
- Subscribe to an email list
- Engage in conversations online – comment sections, chat capability
- Not at all
Is content to be changed regularly?
Changes in what is on offer
Seasonal impacts
(Note this is not the same as adding content such as new blog posts, videos, etc. It is more along the line of keeping information current.)
Are offers to be made?
Discounts
Specials
How to provide? Email, web announcement, printable coupons.
Will there be limited availability of the offers, for example by how they are announced (such as email subscribers only) or quantity or time available.
Will the offers be set up to be limited time or quantity?
(The selections here should vary with the type of business and the business targets.)
What should and should not be posted?
- Prices
- Specific services
- Current inventory
- Expected inventory
- Owner names
- Staff names
- Email addresses
- Physical addresses
- Phone numbers
- Clients, customers, subscribers, members
- Testimonials
Note that some of these items are probably mutually exclusive. It’s not likely that you don’t want to have any way for a visitor to reach you, for example.
What other web presence is there and is it owned?
Do you have an existing website? Is the new project a rebuild/replacement, or being put in along side the existing one? Do you own a domain name for the new website?
Here are some more to think about, both do you own any, and do you want to create any:
- Yelp
- Google or Bing pages
- Youtube / Vimeo / other video
Utility of graphics, images, photos, videos. Special content
Are photos appropriate? Are they available now? Will more be needed? Who will take them?
Will photos or other graphics be changing or expanding over time?
Will there be before and after images? (Or text, for that matter.)
Should video or audio be included in the website?
Does it seem like galleries will be a factor? One or many?
Is there other special content that is likely to be needed, such as recipes, maps, etc.?
E-commerce
Taking orders, but filled In Real Life? And if so, at a store, delivered, or both?
Taking reservations?
Do you have any of the necessary accounts for e-commerce, such as PayPal, etc.?
Site maintenance
How do you anticipate having the site maintained? This includes managing software updates (WordPress, themes, plugins, and backups), updating content, and generating new content.
By the site owner (you)
By Websites by KTS
- By another entity
This will affect the need for training before turning the site over to you, if that’s what will be done. It will also affect how it will be hosted on the internet.
Closing Thoughts
There are a lot of things on this post. Many will apply to your website, some may not. There may be things that are not here that we will need to consider. That is very much in line with the approach outlined here and on the About page. It is also what our tagline, “I’ll ask questions, then build you the right site!” is all about!
Reach out by phone or through the contact form on “Contact us to GET STARTED” and let’s build you the right site! You don’t need the answers before we talk, only after we’re done!