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. But this critical step is usually the one business people skip, or just leave it to their web designer to consider, which can be even more damaging to their overall goals.
When you take the time to strategically plan the outline of your new website or an upgrade of your current one, not only will you achieve a website that will show off your business in the best way, but one you will be able to add and edit content easily, and probably most important will help to achieve your overall business goals. Here are a number of important steps to take in the website planning process:
1. Write down on a piece of paper everything you think the visitors to your web site might want to know about your product or service. 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. Brainstorm every possible topic someone might want to know related to the industry, product or service your website will be offering.
2. Put yourself into the visitor’s shoes. Visit and review some websites similar to the one you will offer as if you were a potential customer. As a visitor who is genuinely interested in your product or service, what are the good things and bad things about each site you visit? Does the website inspire you to take further action? 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? Note all this data down with the intent of making your new website as easy for your visitors to use as possible.
3. Research to find out what keywords your visitors might search for. There are free keyword search tools through Google that are completely adequate for this type of research. By typing in a general phrase such as “exercise video”, other keywords will come up that are related. Your visitors already have questions about these things. Knowing this, you can plan your website content to answer their questions up front.
4. Plan your new website so that it can expand. Don’t be lured into a website format that won’t let you expand easily to add new content pages or products. You will find that building a great website is a constant work in progress.
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. Successful Internet marketing today relies on a dynamic website with fresh content added often, and having an antiquated website that only your designer can change will just not work anymore. 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. It is critical to take the time to plan a new website that is compatible with your business goals.
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.
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