The Web Planning Template

Faced with a regular need to plan new websites or review web marketing strategies, I began to realise that I was going round and round a mental circuit and failing to improve my own methods.

So I have tried to systematise an approach that would save time through use of a ready-made list of factors to evaluate but, chiefly, force me to concentrate on the areas of most importance.

The result to date is the web planning template now on the website.  Please have a look and suggest improvements.  I hope that it includes the major questions that need as complete an answer as possible and keeps the focus on the overall objectives.

Of course, no general list is completely satisfactory for the individual case.  The needs and priorities for improving an existing site tend to be much more detailed than the overall objectives of planning a new site.  However, if you don't keep those overall objectives in mind, there is a danger of excessive concentration on areas that may lead to diminishing marginal returns. For example, optimising pages is normally highly desirable, but aiming to be No 1 in Google on a specific phrase could lead to considerable cost that might be better spent elsewhere.  Similarly in deciding on designs, the pursuit of search engine friendliness is sometimes inconsistent with the demands of the human visitor.

I hope you find that completing the form is not just a matter of ticking boxes; but forces you to think and refine the strategy.   No pain, no gain!!

Talk to you next month,

Regards

Stephen Orr