A SHORT GUIDE TO WEBSITE PLANNING AND INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING

By understanding the website’s objectives, you will create a better experience for users, i.e. new and existing customers.

Defining long and short-term goals keeps your website focused in the right areas.

Control website cost and build time – release over time to complete quickly and within budget.

1. KNOW THYSELF WHAT DOES YOUR BRAND STAND FOR?

WHAT IS YOUR KEY MESSAGE?

WHAT TYPE OF MARKET DO YOU OPERATE IN?

WHO IS YOUR COMPETITION?

WHAT IS YOUR USP?

Image credit: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40213759/

2. UNDERSTAND TARGET USERS WHAT IS THEIR GENDER, AGE, PROFESSION, INCOME BRACKET ETC?

WHAT IS THEIR LOCATION, NATIONALITY, CULTURE?

WHAT ARE THEIR INTERESTS AND WHAT DO THEY WANT TO KNOW?

HOW DO THEY WANT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION?

HOW WELL DO THEY INTERACT WITH AND RESPOND TO TECHNOLOGY?

3. THE PLANNING PROCESS GATHER CONTENT DURING PLANNING NOT AFTER – THIS HELPS CATEGORISE AND PLAN PAGE STRUCTURE.

• Write for the web and use words your audience will know and understand

• Choose colours carefully

• Optimise content, images and video

• Keep download sizes as small as possible

• File formats should be accessible to everyone

4. THE SITE MAP A SITE MAP IS A VISUAL OR TEXTUAL MODEL OF A WEBSITE’S CONTENT THAT HELPS USER NAVIGATE THROUGH THE SITE TO FIND WHAT THEY WANT.

It normally includes:

• User journey

• Types of page

• Navigational groupings

• Secure areas

5. WIREFRAMES A WIREFRAME SHOULD BE PRODUCED FOR EACH TYPE OF PAGE, E.G. HOME PAGE, PRODUCT PAGE, BLOG ARTICLE

• Simple line drawing that shows how the information planned for each page should be displayed and organised

• Keeps the site consistent by identifying common elements

• Foundation of user interface – the graphical design skins this layout

CASE STUDY: KABA GLOBAL PROVIDER OF INNOVATIVE SECURITY SOLUTIONS

EXTENSIVE PLANNING PERIOD TO REORGANISE AND REDESIGN GLOBAL AND COUNTRY WEBSITES

OBJECTIVE WAS TO CREATE A MORE INTERACTIVE WEBSITE FOR USERS AND A CLEARER PATH TO INFORMATION

DESIGN WITHIN THE EXISTING BRAND

CASE STUDY: KABA

CASE STUDY: KABA

WANT MORE? SO, YOU WANT A WEBSITE? A GUIDE TO PLANNING, BUILDING AND TESTING PART 1: HTTP://BIT.LY/PTIPXY PART 2: HTTP://BIT.LY/1E5A1BK PART 3: HTTP://BIT.LY/1E5A1BK

FRIGHTFUL CONTENT: HOW TO SCARE AWAY YOUR AUDIENCE HTTP://BIT.LY/1HXCRND

5 WEB DESIGN MISTAKES THAT COULD BE HARMING YOUR WEBSITE’S CONVERSION RATE HTTP://BIT.LY/1JO53NE

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