Effectively Planning a New Website Project

Success in a website project hinges on meticulous planning, especially for those unfamiliar with web design and development. Navigating the technical and marketing aspects can be daunting, but with careful consideration and realistic expectations, you can pave the way for a successful outcome. The following points aim to provide informative insights and set clear expectations for your journey.

Initiate with a Thoughtful Idea and a Robust Plan:

To bring your website project to fruition:

  1. Invest time in planning.
  2. Allocate 30-40% of your project time to the planning phase.
  3. Develop a detailed roadmap, set clear goals and objectives, and conduct thorough research, including analysing competitors and understanding your target audience. If selling online, ensure your idea has a unique selling proposition.

Craft a Hierarchical Sitemap:

Create a comprehensive list of web pages or sections outlining the hierarchy of content and functionality. Consider your users’ journey and how they will navigate through the website, ensuring an engaging and user-friendly experience.

Content Considerations:

Use the sitemap to gauge the content required and whether a content strategy is needed. Identify gaps and potential content ideas. Decide who will create the content – text, photography, or video – and determine if external assistance is required.

Implement a Marketing Strategy:

The adage ‘If you build it, they will come’ doesn’t always hold. Develop a robust digital marketing strategy that includes social media, SEO, pay-per-click, online presence, email marketing, and press releases. With effective marketing, your website may attract the desired traffic.

Ongoing Website Management:

Post-launch, web development becomes an ongoing commitment. Regularly update software, perform backups, manage security scanning, and oversee hosting. Keep content fresh, update products, respond to inquiries promptly, and engage in regular activities to boost SEO.

Set a Realistic Timeline:

Establish a clear timeline for when your website needs to go live. Avoid rushing the project, allowing for careful consideration and execution.

Define Your Budget:

Both your brief and budget are crucial. Develop a brief to receive accurate quotes and be clear about your budget constraints. Communicate your budget expectations early on to align them with your project ambitions.

Create a Comprehensive Brief:

Following the preceding steps, you’re now ready to compose a brief that provides digital agencies with a clear understanding of your requirements. A well-structured brief fosters collaboration facilitates idea generation, and can potentially reduce costs.

Adhering to these steps demonstrates organisation and forethought, laying the foundation for a successful website project.