Web Design - Chapter 3: Planning a Successful Website: Part 1

return-on-investment (ROI)

A comparison of costs spent and income generated.

Website or Design Plan

A detailed plan that outlines a website's purpose, audience, content, structure, visual design, and navigation system.

purpose statement

A formal written summary of reasons for publishing a website. Summarizes your website's goals and objectives to ensure that they meet the audience's expectations and needs.

landing page

A page that appears when a visitor reaches a website by clicking a link, advertisement, or search result. Should include text that directly relates to the search query or ad that the website visitor uses to get there.

call-to-action (CTA)

A suggestion or offer that requires the website visitor to interact with the website by purchasing a product, following the company's social media account(s), making a donation, sharing or commenting on an article, requesting an appointment, signing up for an account, or registering for an event or program. Helps you to measure your website's success by providing methods for visitors to interact with the website.

search feature

A text box into which users enter a search term; the search tool then searches the website for that term.

Database-driven websites

A type of dynamically generated content that is Searchable Easily updated

downloadable media

A user must do this in its entirety to the user's computer or device before viewing or listening to it. Linking or embedding a youtube video from an outside source help keeps the download time down and ensures that the video does not start playing without the visitor's interaction.

webbed site structure

Also called random website structure Arranges information without a specific order Visitors can choose which pages to visit. Example: http://www.beargrylls.com

needs assessment

An evaluation of a website target audience's wants, needs, and expectations.

Yes, many websites have multiple target audiences.

Can a website have more than one target audience?

demographic characteristics

Characteristics such as gender, age group, and educational level that define site target audience members

psychographic characteristics

Characteristics that define why target audience members might choose to visit a site, such as social group affiliations, lifestyle choices, and purchasing preferences.

No.

Do all websites have multiple pages?

Step 1: Define the website's purpose and target audience Step 2: Determine the website's general content Step 3: Select the website's structure Step 4: Specify the Website's navigation system Step 5: Design the look of the website Step 6: Develop a plan to test, publish, and maintain the website.

List the six steps of developing a website plan.

Objectives

Methods used to accomplish website goals.

Linear/tutorial website structure

Organizes and presents webpages in a specific order

Hierarchical Site Structure

Organizes information into categories and subcategories Increasing level of detail Good for organizational or topical websites Some websites use a combination of structures Example: https://us.puma.com https://www.wvwc.edu

Hierarchical structure

Organizes webpages into categories and subcategories by an increasing level of detail. Best used in organizational/topical Web sites.

card layout

Presents each topic in a square or rectangular area.

Interactivity

Refers to elements that encourage website visitors to click, answer questions, make comments, search, or perform other actions.

target audience profile

Research-based overview that includes information about potential website visitors' demographic and psychographic characteristics.

Goals

Results a website should accomplish within a specific time frame.

target audience

The type of visitors to whom a website's content is directed.

Shapes represent pages Lines indicate links

To create a sitemap, why should you draw and arrange shapes and lines?

dynamically generated content

Web page content that automatically updates periodically or appears when triggered by a specific event.

linear/tutorial site structure

Web pages that presents information in a specific order. Example: http://www.narrowdesign.com/

Subsidiary Page

Webpages that provide detailed content and interest

scrolling site structure

Website that is viewed in a certain way from scrolling. Example of Paralex: http://makeyourmoneymatter.org/ http://greenlandin3minutes.com/

Use active voice, action verbs, and a friendly tone.

What should you do when it comes to making text?

Visualize the organization of pages and linking relationships. Organize pages by level of detail. Follow the links between pages to make certain visitors can quickly click through the site to find useful information. Detect dead-end pages. Rearrange pages and revise linking relationships

When you're selecting a website structure, what are the five things you should consider before doing so?

site map

a visual representation of a website's structure.

multimedia

can combine text, images, movement, audio, or video, and also frequently can involve interactivity.

stock images

clip art and photographs

infographic

data or information presented visually, such as in a chart or pyramid, to show a sequence of events.

webbed website structure or random website structure

does not arrange pages in a specific order.

animated elements

images that rotate, appear in 3D, or that pop up as you scroll in a webpage. - can add interest and appeal to your webpage. - use them sparingly and only in support of your website's purpose - and only when doing so meets your target audiences' expectations for content at your website.

Value-added content

information that is relative, informative, and timely; accurate and of high quality; and usable

database

is a file that stores data, such as a store's inventory or a library's card catalog. - can be used to provide dynamic content to e-commerce websites to keep track of items sold and update product availability and inventory.

Video

moving imagery that incorporates the powerful components of movement and sound to express and communicate ideas.

Audio

or sound that can enhance memory recall or invokes a reaction.

dead-end pages

pages that currently do not fit into the linking arrangement

database-driven websites

sites that use databases to generate dynamic content

repurpose

to modify an element to make it suitable for Web page content