Web Site Redesign III - Technology, Updates and Marketing

Toni on Apr 24th 2006

Many times the re-design of a web site will be very simple and may only include, a new look, additional content or new sections of information. But for many web site owners new technology is key and since technologies are constantly changing there are many different choices. One example of technology may be adding Flash or animation. This is not recommended for search engine optimization, but small flash animations maybe added to enhance the content. Flash along with a framed web site are not search engine friendly. Another option may include accepting payments or adding a shopping cart, this may be accomplished simply with a PayPal button or a customized shopping cart to fit your product and inventory needs.

Thinking about technologies:

  1. Who in your organization will be responsible for the technical issues? Are you depending on the web site designer to help make these decisions?
  2. What platform (operating system) and browsers are you targeting? Are your users in a specialized field or are your end users the general public?
  3. How do you expect new technologies to enhance the user experience? What return are you hoping to achieve? Are there specific technologies you are considering? Describe these technologies in great detail even if you are not sure what they are called. List web sites where you have seen the technologies used and refer to your experiences.
  4. Will the web site re-design include a password protected area?
  5. Will there be a need for e-commerce or secured transactions? Do you already offer transactions online? If so how would this site be different?
  6. What other specific programming needs may your site require such as:
    1. Online training
    2. Personalized Search
    3. Audio or audio and video
    4. User Forum � networking, creating a community
    5. Blog

Marketing Your Web Site:

For some reason clients tend to think about marketing their web site after the web site has been designed and launched. Marketing should be woven through out the web site design process. Many of my clients have call me and proudly announce they just launched a new web site and want to do search engine optimization. Sometimes they are disappointed to realize that some of the work they have done should be altered or reorganized. This will be another area for examination; but for now these are a few points to consider:

  1. Do you have an existing or planned marketing strategy to promote the web site redesign? What are your short term marketing plans, 6-12 mos., (if any) for the newly designed web site?
  2. How do your current users find out about your website?
  3. What key words would prompt a listing on the search engines? Has anyone ever found your current site on the search engines? What pages on your site currently show up on the search engines and how will they redirected to the new site?
  4. Do you offer incentives to customers to visit your website? Do you have coupons or are you part of a referral network? Do you have a newsletter?
  5. How will your web site stay current? How often will it need to be updated and who will be responsible for these updates?

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply