FUNDAMENTALS

Planning a Design for a Website

I. Purpose and Target Audience

A. Designing a Website for a Purpose

  • A successful website design requires more than a collection of content; it focuses on specific goals and measurable objectives.

  • Building the Brand:

    • Showcase individuals' or organizations' work, enhance with social media integration.

    • Use promotional elements such as splash pages, banners, and engage in reputation management.

  • Interaction with Potential Clients:

    • Retain visitors by providing reasons to return through interaction options such as chat support or forums.

  • Increasing Visibility:

    • Implement SEO strategies to improve visibility on search engines.

    • Organize content for user-friendliness and enhance transaction efficiency for business.

  • Becoming an Authoritative Resource:

    • Develop trustworthy content that increases reputation and attracts visitors. Ensure content is up-to-date, credible, and marketable.

B. Designing a Website for a Target Audience

  • Understanding the target audience is vital; a cutting-edge design must cater to user needs.

  • Identify the Audience:

    • Great design starts with understanding who it’s for, influencing design choices like typography and layout.

  • Create Personas:

    • Roleplay as the audience to develop scenarios that the website's features can accommodate.

  • Check the Environment:

    • Evaluate competitor websites to understand the current landscape and identify opportunities.

  • Use Unity and Design Essentials:

    • Maintain a consistent and unique personality through cohesive use of text, images, and colors.

  • Think About the Content:

    • Ensure high-quality, appropriate content that resonates with the target audience. Use industry-specific jargon where necessary.

  • Put Information in Order:

    • Organize content visually to enhance navigation and user experience.

  • Use the Element of Surprise:

    • Introduce fun or quirky elements to delight users, making them remember and return to the site.

II. Website Content

  • Planning site content is critical, encompassing text, images, charts, and downloadable files.

  • Collaborating with others ensures content is tailored to meet user needs and objectives.

A. Planning Website Content

  • Evaluate What You Have:

    • Consider factors like accuracy, currency, utility, and completeness of existing content.

  • Collaborate with Others:

    • Seek feedback from team members or relevant roles to refine content prior to publication.

  • Use Storytelling, Not "Storyselling":

    • Focus on user-centered storytelling rather than pushing products, meeting visitor needs effectively.

  • Create Content for People and Search Engines:

    • Balance SEO needs with natural writing styles to avoid robotic content.

  • Make It Action-Oriented:

    • Encourage visitor actions like contacting or purchasing through clear next steps.

  • Give It Visual Appeal:

    • Use images, charts, and formatting techniques like bullet points for better engagement.

  • Set Deadlines:

    • Establish project timelines to ensure content is completed and the website launches on schedule.

III. Website Structure

A. What is Website Structure?

  • The hierarchy of web pages that form a website enables seamless navigation.

  • Each page directs users to specific content or other pages.

B. Why Plan for a Website Structure?

  • The Blueprint:

    • Determines the hierarchy and accessibility of webpages.

  • It Improves Visitor Experience:

    • A well-structured site enhances user experience and encourages prolonged visits.

  • It Makes Web Crawling Easier:

    • A sound structure aids search engine indexing, making the website more visible.

  • It Accomplishes Site Goals:

    • A well-connected structure helps users find desired information efficiently, increasing engagement.

C. Things to Remember for Creating Proper Web Structure

  • Know What the Site is All About:

    • Define the purpose and target audience to guide structure planning.

  • Do Keyword Research:

    • Research effective keywords to enhance visibility on search engines and attract traffic.

  • Check for Competition:

    • Analyze competitors to find unique keyword opportunities.

  • Plan the Hierarchy:

    • Create a logical and user-friendly order for data organization, avoiding over-categorization.

  • Plan Your Navigation:

    • Ensure easy access to all web pages for users without unnecessary searching.

  • Implement an Internal Linking Strategy:

    • Connect popular pages strategically for both user accessibility and search engine efficiency.

  • Don’t Forget the Sitemap:

    • Maintain a sitemap for search engines to index pages quickly and efficiently.

IV. Site Navigation

A. What is Site Navigation?

  • Site navigation connects web pages and allows user access to content through hyperlinks.

B. Why is Site Navigation Important?

  • Essential for users to locate important pages and enhance overall browsing experience.

C. Types of Website Navigation:

  • Header Menu:

    • Traditional navigation method with main categories, sometimes including dropdowns for better organization.

  • Sidebar:

    • Vertical navigation bars that organize links, often utilized on information-heavy sites.

  • Fat Footers:

    • Footer sections that provide links to major pages and resources, enhancing user experience.

  • Breadcrumbs:

    • Hierarchical links showing a page's nesting within the website's structure.

  • Hamburger Menus:

    • Mobile-specific dropdown menus that reveal additional links when tapped.

Post-Discussion Activities:

  • Complete Laboratory Exercise 1 and corresponding quizzes as assigned by the instructor.