The danger is designing the site for ourselves and our coworkers, because we know best.

How do we present the information WE most want a visitor to see while simultaneously serving the visitor the content THEY came for? And which is primary?

The two may not be the same, so an awareness of who our audience is who our audience is as well as why our why our audience is there audience is there should be considered before a single design decision is made. Let’s focus on Who right now.

VisitorsVisitors include everyone who happens upon your site.

UsersUsers are intentional visitors who are looking for something special.

AudienceAudience refers to those you are intentionally targeting. You can’t target everyone!

As government, are our responsibilities any different?

Your site can't do everything for everybody.  You'll have to focus on the people who are most important. Everything about your site should be designed to bring those people to your site and to keep them coming back.

Do you have demographic information available?

Have you been “out front” to see who your in-house users are? Is your website audience likely to be the same or different?

Age: mature adults, young adults, kids, seniors? http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/story/147053.html

Sex Ethnicity/Language Religious implications Educational/Economic Level Computer and modem equipment they will likely have Computer experience/sophistication Preferences as to how they get information (Age-

related?) Applicable jargon or buzz words that your visitors will

likely (or won't) know Geographic locations? Interests and hobbies? Their needs and reasons for coming to your site. Other factors?

Are there any potential users that you might want to plan for, such as:

Other counties, NC and otherwiseProfessionals, paralegalsSchool children doing reportsIrate citizens

Some information is there just because it ought to be available.

http://www.digital-web.com/articles/design_decisions_vs_audience_considerations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_design

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/website-design-identify-your-target-audience.html

http://www.edezines.com/article11.shtml

http://www.shire.net/learnwebdesign/target.htm

Do you need to let them know it exists? How? Signs, business cards, brochures, related institutions

Does Catawba County Home page help them get there?

If someone uses a search engine (Google, Yahoo) are they likely to find your website? Try it out!

Are they likely to use the right words to find you?

There are ways we can help!

◦ Links

◦ Keywords

◦ Listed properly in the Catawba County Site Index?