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
