Websites for new businesses and side projects
Diana Ecker 3.22.14
14 Questions for business owners and self-employed professionals to ask when planning a website
Originally delivered at the connect-work-thrive conference in santa clara, ca
4 Categories: • Strategy + research
• Personal inventory + site assets
• Choose tools + experts
• Make sure your investment pays off
category 1
strategy + research
Question 1: What is the purpose of my website?
To drive sales To attract leads To broadcast a message To educate the public To connect with an audience
To drive sales To attract leads To broadcast a message To educate the public To connect with an audience To have a website
To drive sales To attract leads To broadcast a message To educate the public To connect with an audience To have a website
To drive sales To attract leads To broadcast a message To educate the public To connect with an audience define your purpose
Question 2: Who is my target audience and what matters to them?
What you want to say
What they will respond to
Your mission: find the overlap
Question 3: What do I want to Emphasize?
Question 3: What do I want to
Emphasize?
I’m Well-rounded We’re Versatile I Just want to be out there They can figure it out
I’m Well-rounded We’re Versatile I Just want to be out there They can figure it out This is like taking your hands off the wheel while driving
Decide in advance Where you want to go and steer there confidently
Question 4: How can I demonstrate my value?
testimonials Examples Evidence Case studies Subtle signifiers
Purpose Audience Emphasis Value
Purpose Audience Emphasis Value
= prerequisites
category 2
Personal inventory + site assets
Question 5: How much bandwidth do I have available?
Learn new tools or software Manage a project Learn about html/css/php Study best practices in design
Learn new tools or software Manage a project Learn about html/css/php Study best practices in design What would you enjoy now?
Question 6: What are my blind spots?
Question 6: What are my blind spots?
Fonts Images Colors Layouts
Fonts Images Colors Layouts
All look the same?
Fonts Images Colors Layouts
All look the same? May be a Blind spot.
Question 7: What is my MASTER PLAN?
Timeline Business strategy Budget
Timeline Business strategy Budget
Today In 6 months In a year
Question 8: What site assets do I already have?
Everyone can have extraordinary site assets
Everyone can have extraordinary site assets
For 9 out of 10 projects, it’s worth making images a priority before proceeding
category 3
ChoosE tools + experts
Question 9: If I’m building it myself, what are some of my options?
WEEBLY
WIX
SQUARESPACE
Question 10: If i want a site built from scratch, what are some of my options?
HARDAGE & HARDAGE
PERSONIFY
Question 11: If i want a wordpress site on a budget, what are some of my options?
THEMEFOREST
THEMEFOREST
MICROLANCER
WERKPRESS
Category 4
Make sure your investment pays off
Question 12: What approach am I going to take to analytics?
Google analytics Clicky
and more
Google analytics Clicky
and more What matters is that it provides you with insights
Question 13: How do I want to appear in search?
Your site title
Your-url.com And a description that communicates everything it needs to in just 150 characters or so
Your site title
Your-url.com And a description that communicates everything it needs to in just 150 characters or so, which is actually A lot of room If you think about it.
Question 14: AM I COMMITTED TO ONGOING ITERATION?
Websites are dynamic
Websites are dynamic • They can grow as you learn
Websites are dynamic • They can grow as you learn • Evolve as you grow
Websites are dynamic • They can grow as you learn • Evolve as you grow • Shift to reflect your focus
DIANAECKER.COM
happy website building To everyone!
happy website building To everyone!
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