by Joyce van den Berg
Think that building a website is easy? Well you are right about the building part. These days you can have a website up in minutes. But making your website appeal to your customers and to meet your business goals is not easy.
Most successful websites spend the majority of their time in the analysis phase.
Here is a look at the typical lifecycle of a website,
which actually never ends -business needs change on a regular basis.
My experience is that you are always shooting toward a moving target - change is the only constant when it comes to website or application development. So you better do all of your analysis first before moving to the design.
Website & Application Lifecycle:
1) Analysis of needs (see 8 questions to ask)
2) Identify Stakeholders
3) Conceptual Design - front-end
4) Development of functionality-back-end
5) Actual Design
6) Testing
7) Launch to a small user group
8) Modifications based on feedback
9) Approval from stakeholders
10) Production Launch
Don't even think about starting a website until you have answered the following questions.
8 QUESTIONS TO ASK
• Should this site be exclusive to the primary audience, or do you want to aim for the widest possible range of people?
• What type of style would most appeal to your audience?
• Will this site provide free information or products to your audience?
#2- WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR WEBSITE
What is the purpose of this site?
#3 - Who will supply the CONTENT, GRAPHICS
What content do you want on this site?
#4 - WHO ARE YOUR COMPETITORS
Who are your competitors?
#5 - WHAT ARE YOUR DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
• What style web site do you want? Clean – functional …..
• List other web sites that you like – give web address’s
• Are there special colors you would like?
#6 - WHAT ARE YOUR FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
What functionality do you need on this web site?
- Shopping cart
- Feedback forms?
- Chat / user groups?
- Search?
#7 - WHAT ARE YOUR TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
ISP that provides:
• 24 hour support / local presence
• Security / Shopping cart
• Form submission
• Email response
#8 -WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET
• How much will be budgeted to build your website?
Min Max
• How much will be budgeted to market your website?
Min Max
i.e. Search engines – advertising – business cards
How much will be budgeted to maintain your website?
