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!