Planning A Web Site in Five Phases

Tip: Be mindful of the project “Driver” (Time, Cost, Resources, Quality).
Remember to have only ONE project driver.

Phase 1: Site Definition (The pre-planning stage)
Step 1: Client Survey – Define the following:
client goals, overall concept, purpose of site, message to convey to audience, type of media content, organizational structure, visual styles, technical specifications, budget, timeline, deliverables, resources (people and equipment), quality level.
Step 2: Creative (Look & Feel) Brief
Step 3: Concept (Metaphor & Story) Defined
Step 4: Project Team (Skills/Resources) Created
Step 5: Budget (Time) & Schedule (Tasks) Created

Phase 2: Site Structure
Step 1: Site Map
Step 2: Content Overview – Includes gathering content, writing new content, and editing.
Step 3: Technical Specifications: Media (A/V) types, R/W files, Forms, HTML, DHTML.
Step 4: Navigation

Phase 3: Interface Design
Step 1: Visual Design
Step 2: Prototype (“Alpha” – a click-through presentation with rough visuals)
Step 3: Client Approval
Step 4: Production – Artwork, optimization of graphics, HTML/Scripting, CSS

Phase 4: Technical Engineering
Step 1: Front & Back-end programming – HTML, CSS, DHTML, PHP, Actionscripting.
Step 2: Browser Testing
Step 3: Type Proofing
Step 4: Link Testing

Phase 5: Publishing
Step 1: ISP Selection – Domain Name & Hosting
Step 2: FTP Files
Step 3: Test Site
Step 4: Registering with Search Engines, and Submitting to Directories

Some Other Considerations
1. Include Dynamic Page Content
2. Include a “What’s New” Section
3. Set a Maintenance/Update Schedule
4. Trade Links with other related sites
5. Promote the Site – Using “traditional” media forms (newspapers, magazines, postcards, bookmark, related industry associations, CD/DVD web hyperlink, radio, TV, email, blogging (blogspot, wordpress,...), myspace, facebook, Youtube video)