Likewise during this time frame connection speeds for many users have increased dramatically. In 2000 it was estimated that approximately 5 million households had a broadband connection (either cable or DSL). In 2006 the number has climbed to almost 40 million and is estimated to top 50 million in 2007. In fact, Internet Retailer recently reported that 42% of American homes now have broadband access.
As more and more people turn to the Internet as their primary source of information business is finding that a web presence is not just beneficial it's essential.
Careful and critical planning is the single most important element of any web project. Although, many times ignored or rushed, the success of any web project is directly linked to the planning process. It is tempting to jump in and begin creating fancy navigation, graphics and animations but this strategy almost always creates missed deadlines, cost overages, confusion and a lack of focus for the finished project.
Think of the planning process as developing the blueprint of the site. Builders would never think of beginning a construction project without carefully planning and documenting each step of the process and material requirements. A web development project is no different.
Creating Goals For The Site - Define The Purpose And Audience
Initially, there are a series of fundamental questions that must be answered including:- What is the purpose of the web site?
- Who is the site audience?
- How will the audience find the site?
- What does the audience want from the site?
- What is the budget for the project?
Organizing The Site Structure
Even after you have a clear definition of the sites purpose and accurately defined its goals it is tempting to jump in and develop. The site structure is the site's foundation and should be well planned and thought out prior to development.- Where will the site be hosted?
- What directory structure will be needed to house the site?
- What types of software are required on the server side?
Creating The Look and Feel of the Site
In this step the visual properties of the site should be defined. The look and feel of the site is typically the first impression to visitors and must be appealing to hold their interest. The look and feel of the site will clearly be impacted by the definition of the audience. A web site designed for an audience that is primarily children will have a significantly different feel than a site designed as a reference for technical visitors.- What will be the sites color scheme and common colors?
- Define any common elements (text or graphic) to all pages in the site
- Examine the organizations current marketing to assure there is synergy in the overall marketing effort
Designing The Navigation Scheme And Layout
One of the most frustrating attributes of poorly designed web sites is a confusing or inconsistent navigational structure. Visitors simply won't stay on the site if they can't find their way around or become lost.Effective navigation should allow the user to move around the site efficiently and always maintain the visitors knowledge of where they are and where they have been.
Fancy roll-over buttons and images for use in navigation appear flashy, but most surveys indicate this type of navigational design is distracting to content.