Turning an Idea into a Website
You have a unique idea that you want to turn into a website and promote to your audience. That’s wonderful! But before you dive right in with all of your ideas of greatness, it’s important to take some time and plan out what your business model is going to look like and how your website is going to function. Through responsible planning you will save time and resources when you’re creating something. Asking yourself the right questions will provide the greatest return on your investment of time, energy, and money.
What will your website do for you? What is its job description?
The goals and objectives of your idea should be clearly visualized in advance before you even begin your website. Start thinking and planning on what is the point of your website - what are you creating and why? How is your website supposed to function? What does it do?
Who is your audience?
It’s time to start thinking about who is your targeted audience. Who is going to be seeking out your services or who would you like to? Try to clearly visualize the individuals you are trying to reach. Think about these types of questions: what is the targeted age of your audience, gender, what social groups do they fit into, what do they believe in. The better you can see your audience, the more likely that you’ll be able to have a website that meets the needs of your audience and establish long-term relationships with them.
Why will people take the time to find your website?
It’s no secret that people are busy these days and chances are, they won’t find you accidentally. They will find you when they turn to the Web with a specific question or need. There are thousands upon thousands of pages of information out there and your site will directly compete with everyone else for people’s attention. Find out what your audience’s need is, understand it and you will be on your way to connecting with your audience.
What are the specific results you want to see?
Once you have the goals and objectives of your website firmly planted in your mind and written down on paper, it’s a good idea to think about goals for the future. Where is your website going to be in say, one year? Consider what you want to have gained between now and then. Is it important for you to have a solid contact list, or perhaps a subscriber list to email or newsletters? If you have workshops or classes, how many participants do you hope to have? Give yourself some firm and realistic goals to help your website be a growing success.