| ssful web design centers around the principle of | | | | The short and long term purposes of the particular |
| always considering the experience of the audience | | | | webpage will determine the features and scope of |
| first and foremost. Thus, before creating a website | | | | the content that initially needs to be provided for the |
| or webpage and uploading it to the Internet, the | | | | targeted audience, as well as the links and functions |
| webpage designer must consider the website's | | | | that need to be built in to allow users to navigate |
| anticipated audience and/or targeted market. What | | | | around the web domain the page sits in. As the |
| will their experience be? Doing so aids the web | | | | "purpose statement" is developed, the content that |
| designer in defining the purpose of the website or | | | | needs to be provided for users will become more or |
| webpage under construction and helps determine | | | | less self-evident. As construction of the webpage |
| what content and features should be included in the | | | | nears completion, checking the content you have |
| design. | | | | included to the page's purpose statement will be an |
| Who Is Your Audience? | | | | important check to ensure the webpage functions as |
| Consider who the people are that are expected to | | | | it should, not only in the HTML behind the page but, |
| visit the website under construction? Consider the | | | | equally important, from the user's perspective. |
| purpose for which the audience will seek out this | | | | What Content Will Users Need or Expect? |
| specific website or webpage. What exactly will they | | | | Listing and organizing the content and features that |
| be looking for? Why? In doing so, the designer will be | | | | users will expect or require should be done with |
| well served to examine the key words that describe | | | | reference to the purpose statement for the |
| sister pages on the same web domain, as well as | | | | webpage or website. Organizing the features and |
| competitive sites that show up for these same key | | | | content of the page or site with an eye both to the |
| words in a general search query. | | | | audience and purpose statement will help focus the |
| Experienced web designers recommend drawing up a | | | | theme of the page or site. Content and features that |
| profile of who a website's visitors are likely to be, | | | | are superfluous to the main purpose of the site |
| taking into consideration the following variables: | | | | should be removed. Each page should have its own |
| * Audience Characteristics | | | | focus, segregating individual purposes to separate |
| * Information Preferences | | | | pages will help enhance the user's experience - |
| * Computer Specifications, and | | | | provided well-defined links and navigation tools are |
| * Web Experience | | | | included in the overall website design. |
| Designing the layout and content of a webpage with | | | | Now What? |
| these factors in mind, rather than tailoring its focus | | | | Once you have set up the webpage or website, it is |
| and function afterwards, is more likely to deliver the | | | | time to move to the beta phase. Test the site's |
| desired content to the targeted audience or market | | | | effectiveness and usability with a focus group that |
| demographic. | | | | has the same characteristics as your targeted |
| What Is the Purpose? | | | | audience. If this is not feasible, at a minimum invite |
| Writing out a "purpose statement" that sets out the | | | | one or more persons who have not been involved in |
| website's principle objectives will help keep the focus | | | | the planning and layout process to give it a test |
| on what the website will accomplish for its targeted | | | | drive, so to speak. Feedback regarding user |
| audience. Is the principle purpose of the site | | | | experience is the optimal way to tune up a page's or |
| informational, or is the website or webpage | | | | site's functionality before it is uploaded. Once your |
| marketing a product or service to its targeted | | | | focus group has given the site or page a thorough |
| audience? What are the short-term and long-term | | | | testing ask these individuals to compare their |
| goals for the webpage or website? Do .. . or will .. . | | | | experience to the goals and objectives that were |
| these goals change over time? How? | | | | listed in the purpose statement. |