Websites: Where Do You Start? (Part 3)

I’ve updated the draft list below as part of the promised infographic (seriously, it took a great deal longer to create than it looks!).

The first step is always to ask:

  • Who needs to be part of this?
  • What are your goals? How do they align with your organization?

After that, step into the circle and start where it makes sense. You might already have certain pieces complete.

For instance, if you’ve already interviewed stakeholders, you can start your content audit, and research your competition. Or, if you’re not doing a complete redesign, you may be skipping this step for now also. Just skip to the step that makes the most sense.

The tasks that are part of each step can sometimes be done simultaneously, or one after the other.

The infographic is in a circle to show that websites are continuously updated. Just because you finish a redesign does not mean the work is complete!

I’d love to get some feedback on this as I move forward in the series, either below or via email.

websiteswheredoyoustart2

Websites: It’s All About Process and Planning (Part 2)

In the last post I talked about website first impressions. And then I talked about strategy and planning. As I’ve said before I’ve been through several redesigns.

So, here is my draft list of very basic steps to take when you want to start a redesign. Also, it’s circular, so you can start in the middle, or toward the end, and then move back to the beginning.

I’m trying to design a cool chart that shows this off, but for now, I’ve just got some text.

But now is the time to let me know what I’ve missed, or if you have any ideas for me when I develop this chart, or infographic. I would very much appreciate some feedback here.

I’m thinking of trying to segment different pieces of the process. So for example, a question that looks at a technical aspect would appear in a square, or a task that looks at a design piece would appear in a triangle.

I look forward to your thoughts below or via email.

  1. First, ask. Who needs to be part of this?
  2. What are your goals? How do they align with the organization? Secure internal buy-in. Also, start setting date deadlines.
  3. Do you need to hire outside specialists? Depending on who you are in the organization, interview web staff.
  4. Begin to rework content strategy if needed. Do you know your audience? Develop personas. Also, content strategy, at this stage, needs to look at a content overhaul  what pages need to be rewritten, deleted, etc.
  5. Interview stakeholders. Also, start content audit.
  6. Research your competition.
  7. Information architecture / user experience / site map / wire frames. Also, start design. Also, define content strategy or develop new one.
  8. Create mockups. Also, define content management system (CMS) requirements and decide on CMS. Also, set up dev platform. Also, start migration.
  9. Finish content overhaul and other parts of content strategy.
  10. Start building requirements into CMS. Also, finish any pieces of design left. Also, figure out who needs to be trained on new CMS and train them (if applicable).
  11. Finish migration.
  12. Test, retest CMS. Also, implement content strategy. Also, have all stakeholders review their web sections.
  13. Launch Alpha.
  14. Launch Beta. Also, continue to work on and implement bug fixes and content strategy.
  15. Promote.
  16. Evaluate process and website.

First Impressions Count; Yes, I’m Talking About Websites (Part 1)

When you look at a new website, it’s similar to meeting someone for the first time. First impressions count, right, even if you can overcome them with a lot of work later? But with so many websites competing for readers’ attention, it’s a lot harder to get that chance for a second impression.

What reaction do you want your readers to have: a smirk, eyes rolling, or yes, it could be eyes widening in delight? A website is the public face of your organization, and while you’ll never see visitors making those faces, you and your organization will feel the effects of them.

A website shows an organization’s brand, its personality, who it is to their customers or supporters. Some websites shout loudly but don’t have much to say, but I tend to think far too many websites whisper quietly, and get lost in the conversation online.

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