Below you will find (5) aspects of Web development you should consider in advance.

1. Design Preferences

This primarily includes the overall look of the Web site, and generally refers to the framework of the Web site, or the part that does not change much from page to page. It is wise to create a Web site design that merges with any existing marketing strategies you have created. Potential forms of design input include a color scheme, a digital copy of your logo, preferred fonts, existing printed materials, and overall preferred layout.

Another very important thing you can provide is a list of other Web sites that really appeal to you, inside or outside of your industry. Any details you can provide about what you do and do not like about the sites would also be extremely helpful.

Finally, be sure to collect any imagery that you may wish to integrate in the Web site in advance. This imagery can be provided via CD, DVD, Email attachments, or as actual photos. Most computer file formats are acceptable.

2. Content Outline

This constitutes a list of the pages that are expected to be included in the initial Web site. The site design will be programmed to be flexible, so this does need not be set in stone. However, the actual number of pages does have a significant impact on the cost of the site as well as overall planning.

You may wish to start this process with a brainstormed list of all of the things you want to see on the site. Next, begin grouping and organizing the content so that it makes logical sense in terms of order and relevance. If you find that one section of information seems to be too large to fit on just one page of a web site (about 2 - 3 printed pages), then it may be wise to create a sub-menu for that section (see "services offered" section in outline below).

Eventually you should end up with something that roughly looks like this:

• Home
• About the Company
• Services Offered
       Service A Details
       Service B Details
• Contact Information
• Web Site links

Note how the structure above clearly defines how all of the pages are related to one another. This is helpful in developing overall marketing strategies as well as creating a design that emphasizes and links to all of the content successfully.

You can also simply gather everything you want to add to the site and let us take care of this work for you.

3. Interactive Features

This is a very important aspect to consider because interactive features can significantly affect development costs and planning. Such features include on-line forms, on-line ordering, shopping carts, data-bases, message boards, and site search features, etc.

So carefully consider any of these features and be prepared to discuss them to ensure that all options and factors are considered.

4. Search Engine Optimization

It is wise to start thinking about this very important aspect of Web developoment from the beginning. Most people want their site to be ranked at or near the top of results when performing searches on sites like Google or Yahoo.

A successful search engine campaign always begins with proper identification of the phrases for which you would like your site to appear. This list of phrases needs to be created with several factors in mind because search engines compare the text in the pages of your site to every other site on the Internet.

We will gladly review the list of phrases you have in mind and augment or edit it accordingly. It is then recommended that these phrases be integrated into the visible text on your Web site, which is the primary reason it is beneficial to plan for such things in advance.

Based on the phrases you have chosen, we will offer a specific set of recommendations to help obtain the results you are looking for. This is done using the latest research, tactics, and software to help receive maximum benefit.

5. Site Maintenance

If you have plans to maintain all or part of your Web site in the future, identify this fact in advance so that the Web site can be built with your expectations in mind. Be sure to note all of the pages or sections of the Web site that you need to maintain before the site is built.

Depending on the types of things you wish to be able to update, you may be required to purchase specific software to do so. Additionally, we may need to train you to perform these updates, depending on your level of experience.