Web Design,3rd Edition

3Planning aSuccessful WebSite: Part 1

Chapter Objectives

Describe the Web site development planning process Complete Step 1: Define the site’s purpose Complete Step 2: Identify the site’s target audience Complete Step 3: Determine the site’s general

content Complete Step 4: Select the site’s structure

Chapter 3: Planning a Successful Web Site: Part 1 2

The Web Site Development Planning Process

Chapter 3: Planning a Successful Web Site: Part 1 3

Step 1: Define the Site’s Purpose

Web site goalsWeb site objectivesWeb site purpose

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Step 2: Identify the Site’s Target AudienceDefine the site’s target audience

– Develop a target audience profile

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentThe home page is often the first page a visitor

seesShould include:

– Who– What– Where

Search feature Provide keyword search capability for site’s

pages

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentWeb sites often include multiple subsidiary or

underlying pages—provide details to summaryShould include the same elements as its home

page:– Name– Logo– Typeface– Color scheme

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General Content

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentA splash page uses images, animation, and

sound to capture visitors’ attention and draw them into the site

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Many visitors seriously dislike dealing with splash pages! (Include link to skip)

Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentShould include value-added content:

– Relative– Informative– Timely– Accurate– High quality– Usable

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentText

– Primary component of a Web site– Guidelines to consider

• Chunk text for scannability– Place explanatory or detailed information on linked

underlying pages– Use active voice and a friendly tone– Remove transitional words and phrases like as

stated previously, similarly, and as a result, which might not be relevant for the chunked text

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentImages

– Most commonly included content element on Web sites

– Can personalize and familiarize the unknown

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentAudio

– Low-bandwidth alternative to video– Audio can persuade, inspire, personalize,

motivate, or sooth

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentVideo

– Video clips incorporate movement and sound– Extremely large sizes of video

• Downloadable vs. Streaming Video• Downloadable media must be downloaded in its entirety

to the user’s computer before it can be heard or seen.• Streaming video begins to play as soon as the data

begins to stream (transfer) to the browser.

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentAnimation

– Widely used to attract attention and liven Web pages

– Adds interest and appeal to Web pages– Overuse of animations can become distracting and

annoying– Animated GIF

• Gives the appearance of moving pictures– Flash animation—animated movie using Adobe

Flash CS3® software.

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentMultimedia

– Add action, excitement, and interactivity to your Web site

– Viewers are intrigued and entertained by multimedia presentations

– Multimedia presentations can be interactive• Users can participate• Helper Applications• Plug-ins

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General Content

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentDynamically Generated Content

– Served up to your Web site visitor triggered by a specific event• Frequently called up from a database• e.g. Course and schedule information for a college

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General Content

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Step 3: Determine the Site’s General ContentOrganizing Web Site Files

– Organize the resulting files in your Web site– Create folders on your computer’s local drive– Regularly create back ups

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Step 4: Select the Site’s StructureOutline your Web Site

– Choose the method that you find most flexible and comfortable (storyboard, flowchart)• Linear / tutorial structure• Random structure• Hierarchical structure

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Linear/Tutorial Structure

Presents information in a specific order– Training website

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Random Structure

Arranges information without a specific orderUse only for small Web sites

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Hierarchical Structure

Organizes information into categories and subcategories

Best used in organizational / topical Web sites

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Hierarchical Structure

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Chapter Summary

Describe the Web site development planning process Complete Step 1: Define the site’s purpose Complete Step 2: Identify the site’s target audience Complete Step 3: Determine the site’s general

content Complete Step 4: Select the site’s structure

Chapter 3: Planning a Successful Web Site: Part 1 26

Web Design,3rd Edition

3Planning aSuccessful WebSite: Part 1