Planning a website that will achieve the goals you have set for your business is probably the most difficult part of the entire Internet marketing process. Yet, most people completely bypass this important step or, worse, just turn the whole project over to a website designer to handle.
The process of carefully planning the outline of a new website or upgrade to an existing website will secure for you not only a vehicle to show off your business in the best light, but also one that you are able to control the process of updating content, and, most importantly, achieve your business goals. Here are a few steps to use in the planning process:
1. Create a list of anything your website visitors will want to know about the product or service you are offering. For example, visitors to a school’s website would probably want to know the attendance levels, size of the classrooms, information on staff members and what sports they can participate in. Try to list every possible topic about your industry, service or product that a visitor to your new website might be interested in knowing.
2. Imagine for a short time that you are a potential website customer. Visit and review some websites similar to the one you will offer as if you were a potential customer. As a potential customer, what are the things you like and dislike about each website you visit? Are you inspired to take action from the website? How easily can you find what you are looking for? How many different pages do you have to click through to find what you want? Take notes on all this information with the purpose of making your own website as visitor friendly as possible.
3. Investigate to find out the keywords your visitors will most likely search for to find your website. There are free keyword search tools through Google that are completely adequate for this type of research. Type in a general phrase such as “high school” and see what other keywords come up. These are the topics that people are searching for already. With this information in hand, you can plan your website to feature content that answers people’s questions.
4. Make sure to plan your website to grow. Don’t be lured into a website format that won’t let you expand easily to add new content pages or products. A good website is a constant work in process.
5. Finally, make sure your website is easy to control, so you don’t have to rely on your website designer to make even the smallest changes. Old fashioned websites that only a web developer can change do not work in today’s dynamic Internet marketing environment that demands new content added regularly. It is to your advantage to plan a website platform that will allow you to add content quickly and simply.
Usually, a new website is one of your business’ largest expenses. Don’t waste it with an inferior website that doesn’t support your business objectives.
Marty Dickinson is the founder of HereNextYear, Inc., a full service Internet marketing company in business for over 10 years. His specialty is Internet marketing solutions for the small business owner, speakers and authors. Visit to see what HereNextYear has to offer and to learn more about their innovative new website packages fully integrated for ease with social networking and other Internet marketing strategies.
