Síganos
Essential guide
I need a website, where do I start?
First step: Defining the type of website I need
After determining that our project or organization needs a website, the next step is to establish the type of website we need. This is whether we expect to do it with our own resources, or if we want to hire a supplier company to carry out the project.
Although the web site could evolve over time, it is important and recommended to answer some questions that will help us both to delimit the type of site, as well as to make a more precise definition of requirements.
1. What is the objective of the site in our communication strategy?
Creating reputation and positioning, marketing or selling products, presenting new services, providing information of interest, raising awareness and calling for action on a topic, are just some of the many purposes that a Web site can have.
Whether it is a site for an organization or company, or one created for a campaign or strategy, we must define the primary objective we want it to fulfill.
2. What is the user profile we want to attract?
There is no such thing as a product of interest to everyone. Therefore, it is essential to define the target audience or audiences we want to attract to the site. What value will they find in their visit?
Knowing the characteristics, expectations, interests and browsing habits of our target populations is essential to structure the content appropriately. This information allows us to design a clear information architecture and a visual approach that is attractive, accessible and useful for those who visit the site.
For example, if someone wants to create a platform to raise awareness about the effects of climate change, the resulting website will be very different if it is aimed at children, high school teachers, or climate specialists. The substantive content and format will need to be tailored to the characteristics, interests and consumption conditions of these populations.
In addition, it is important to remember that although the organization may plan to reach different groups, the website does not necessarily have to prioritize all of them.
3. What type of content and tools will the site have?
Although it is true that websites and portals allow us to present diverse content and incorporate a variety of tools and services, it is important to visualize the scope of our project.
Regarding the content, knowing the type of information and its volume will help to establish the scope. For example, a resource section that must include 20 documents will not be the same as one with 2000. In the first case, a simple list may suffice, while if the number of items is considerable, it is likely that a cataloging and filtering system will be required to help the person locate the content.
If we talk about functionalities, depending on the needs and expectations, there will be cases in which standardized alternatives can be incorporated into the sites very easily, while in other cases, they may not be enough for our website and it is necessary to develop customized tools.
Success on the web is not about technology, it’s about understanding people and their needs.
— Steve Krug
What type of site do I need?
We could enter an exhaustive cataloguing or divide the sites according to their contents, functionalities, or technical properties. However, according to our experience, we propose a basic but functional division:
Launch sites, landing pages or microsites:
These are generally sites of one or a few pages and for established periods of time. They present very punctual information focused on making the product, service or initiative known. They are usually used for gathering information from interested users.
Informative websites:
Ideal for presenting corporate or informative contents of a company, institution or project. They can include resources, news, strategic information, and promote interaction with audiences.
Web portals:
Correspond to sites that will have a dense information load and regular updating. These include websites of institutions, large companies and the media, which need to include information constantly and communicate with a variety of customers or populations.
Specialized platforms:
These are those that are created with the priority of offering a specific service, which requires highly specialized tools and user experience. For example, online shopping sites, information systems, information repositories, search centers, financial-transactional portals, training and education platforms, and specialized news portals.
Today more than ever, the Internet and current technologies open up the possibilities to create platforms that promote the dissemination of knowledge, interaction and socialization.
What else should I know before starting?
In addition to defining the type of website you need, we also share some recommendations that will facilitate the design and development process:
- Define if your site will require regular updating and if so, who will be in charge of that updating. For example, if I have a news or articles section, who will write the news, how often?
- Define if you require a self-managed platform: If the site requires constant content updates, it is important to decide if you want to have access to make changes yourself, or if you prefer to have an external person or company take care of maintenance and updates.
- Set key dates and a budget. The price of the website can vary significantly according to the development time, but also according to the process and type of technologies used for its implementation.
- Perform an analysis of competition and significant references, both to know what the competition is doing, and to identify experiences that can inspire and help you land your expectations regarding the site. Even if we have the idea of differentiating or innovating, references are a great starting point.
- Identify where you are going to host the site and what is the minimum time for it to be online. This, to consider the acquisition of hosting services in the cloud, which will allow you to plan the investment and technical sustainability of the project.
- Make a preliminary description of the contents and tools you wish to incorporate. This will serve as a guide to size the complexity and establish the site that is required.
In summary, a website is not only a digital tool: it is a strategic piece within the organizational communication ecosystem or the promotion strategy of a project. Therefore, once the channel has been defined, the priority should be to address the key objective, the base content and the target audience.
Following these recommendations will help you make better technical decisions and take advantage of the myriad of tools available for web development.
Referencias:
If your organization, project or company wants to build a web site, platform or application, and would like assistance in defining and specifying the ideal solution, please contact us. We will be happy to support you on your way to a new website.
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