Before You Start Building Your Website

photo credit: Brittany Linder

If you’re thinking of building a website, consider:

1. Are you sure you really want one?

A website is like a pet, you need to make sure you want one before you get one. A site needs to be taken care of, so if you don’t have time or aren’t really committed, don’t bother. You can’t build it and leave it.

2. What makes your business unique?

I know this is a tough question but it is important. Your website strategy should be focused around this.

3. How will you measure the site’s success?

What do you want out of the website? How will you determine that it was worth the cost and energy to create?

4. Does the site need to be completed by a certain date?

It is never a good idea to begin developing a website under tight timelines. It will take longer than you think. There is no reason to rush a project that is so important to the growth of your business.

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timbursch

Great questions that a lot of people don't consider. It's also not just a good design or framework. I think you need to have quality content ready too-- If it's the goal to start conversations.
However G has a good point on design. If the first impression people get is low quality and cluttered, probably not gonna work.
I think these questions could become part of an e-book. ; )

Tara Joyce

Tim, I'll let you in on a little secret. This article was a page from
my original website -- which is basically an ebook. I wrote over a
hundred pages of content on building a website. You have got me
thinking...thank you.

timbursch

Tara,
The thing is your style is simple and complete. AND I am hearing more small biz people wonder about their web presence. Just had someone ask me about starting a blog. So, there is value in what you're doing.

Tara Joyce

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Tim. And the kind words. You've got
me thinking.

g

>It is never a good idea to begin developing a website under tight timelines.

Agreed. So then, what place my 'keep-hitting-reload and watch me live-edit the pages on the server' sessions where people have 'tuned-in' to view my hackery as it happens?

Pure showbiz? Or gross ineptitude? (My money's on the latter.)

Tara Joyce

Pure showbiz. The key is being a hack while doing perfect 'jazz
hands'. If the hands are moving Fosse-style, everything you do is
electric.

HERO

P.S.
In order to distinguish marketing from other related professional services, this anecdote can be found as to relate quite closely to the quiz :

"If a young man tells his date she's intelligent, looks lovely, and is a great conversationalist, he's saying the right things to the right person and that's marketing. If the young man tells his date how handsome, smart and successful he is -- that's advertising. If someone else tells the young woman how handsome, smart and successful her date is -- that's public relations."
Cheers!

Tara Joyce

Fantastic, I love the analogy and I have just re-published it. Thanks,
Mike.

HERO

Tara,
I enjoyed your ideas and thoughts on what to consider when creating a website to suit your taste, moods and creative sparks. I decided to utilize some of the ideas myself, hoping to be successful and inventive as you, but who knows? A truly great post and a challenge. One of the most serious discoveries of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by changing his attitude. A fact that gives me strength to recharge my batteries and keep on moving .

Tara Joyce

"One of the most serious discoveries of my generation is that a human
being can alter his life by changing his attitude." And what an
amazingly powerful realization that was. "Whether you think you can or
can't, you're right"-- Henry Ford

g

>You can’t build it and leave it.

If all you're wanting is a 'business card in hyperspace', yes you can.
And, in appropriate circumstances, it's enough.
Some things don't need to be regularly updated, and once in place can carry on doing their job forever.
In addition to the 'business card' sites, consider the sales letter pitches - sites not designed for repeat views by the same audience, but for once-off views.

Tara Joyce

Excellent points. And very true. It does depend on the purpose of the
site.

But even a business card will need to be updated - if not for you
growing professionally but also to keep up with design and technology
changes. Sites from 1995 look exactly that - like they are from 1995 -
which compared to today's web standards, is just a poor reflection on
you and your business.

Things change, you can be certain of that, so your website should be
capable of changing with you.

g

405 Lexington, RayBan aviators, Levi's, white t-shirt, Doc Martins, Corbusier Chaise Longue... if you get it right at the outset, it don't need to be messed with.

:-)

Tara Joyce

But you need still to update. I'm standing firm on this one;)

g

Then go tell the Yanks their flag's out of date.

Oh yeah, and Ford's logo.

Tara Joyce

You're making no sense now. Arguing flags vs. websites. Quit giving me
a hard time;)

g

Au contraire, ma cherie.

Merely reiterating the point that good design transcends time and doesn't need updating.

Tara Joyce

Damn. You got me.

g

It's like pearls... classic, timeless.

Stephen

It sounds so simple and yet it is so important.

I've met so many people who think that getting a website will be their ticket to success, and it could be, yet somehow think that it's gonna be easy to get #1 rankings in Google and then start raking it in.

How much time, energy and money will you put into your website?

Tara Joyce

It's true. It does sound so simple to many people but the reality of
owning a website is not as simple. It takes work, time and thought.
It's not like 'Field of Dreams' where if you build it, they will come.
Take the time to really understand what you are doing and why. It's
invaluable.