Site strategy
5 Mistakes in Web Site Planning
1. The site is not user friendly
Your Web site is intended for your visitors, not for you, not for the webmaster or any other person involved. The visitors usage of your site is what brings it to life.
The first step when planning a Web site is to examine closely who in particular are the people that actually visit your site. Are they clients of your business? If so, what is their industry background?
The more time you spend analysing the needs and demands of your specific target group, the more likely you will find beneficial, timely information you can custom tailor for your visitors and ensure they find a visit to your Web site valuable.
Solution:
Custom-tailor your information to your users, think "one-to-one" Web sites.
2. The site has no subject
What is the overall purpose of the Web site? Do you want to sell products? Or do you offer specific services? Whatever messages you like to convey with your site, always try to add credible and original content, try to share your knowledge and start dominating a subject.
For example you are selling toys online, add information on how to maintain them, what is the best fix for broken toys, how to avoid children being harmed by certain toys, etc…
Solution:
You have valuable experience in your industry area, once you share what you know, you`ll get more than you give.
3. The site is not accessible
What benefit has a Website for you or your visitors, if the content is not accessible? The major players in the Internet development industry are defining the standards on how a Web browser (Explorer or Netscape) interprets the files on your Web site. If your markup or sourcecode is outdated or poorly implemented your Web site can be inaccessible for your users.
Accessibility means greater flexibility to accommodate user`s needs and preferences and requires to have a current and valid markup.
Solution:
Validate your Website regularly and abide by the standards the World Wide Web Consortium have implemented in the Web Content Accessibility Initiative (WCAG):
- provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content
- don't rely on colour alone
- use mark-up and style sheets properly
- clarify natural language use
- create tables that transform gracefully
- ensure that pages featuring new technologies transform gracefully
- ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes
- ensure direct accessibility of embedded user interfaces
- design for device independence
- use interim solutions
- use W3C technologies and guidelines
- provide context and orientation information
- provide clear navigation mechanisms
- ensure that documents are clear and simple