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"17 Steps to Your Website" - Intro
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- The Wingman
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1208
- Thanks: 0
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So I am going to release my guide to Building a website in this thread. Sign up to it and join along in the discussion!
It will be most informative and I will share why I went about creating these steps.
Step 1 of 17 will be posted in this thread in my next post! GET READY!
update!
I use Google Docs to set this up and because of that I can control everything and document everything. That is very important! Clients tend to forget! I save every chat, email and doc and get sign off from them for everything. Also, it can be confusing for you and especially your client if you don't establish a sound communication format.
Also, remember they need your guidance.
Google Doc - Intro
This is the steps it takes to launch a site. The most important thing is you complete each task before moving to the next one. There is no jumping back and forth.
Step 1 - Need simple bullet statements of your purpose of website.
Without purpose - how can you decide what to build?
Step 2 - Need simple bullet statements of your message on the website.
Without message - what will the site tell the visitors?
Step 3 - From Steps 1&2 write down functions needed for your website.
Without knowing functions needed - how can one know what to put in the site?
Step 4 - I look for what is needed for the website and put together a plan in a proposal for you to approve.
Step 5 - Approval of drawings.
Step 6 - Final drawings.
Step 7 - Phase IV Foundation - Function, Flow & Layout
Step 8 - Phase V Test Foundation
Step 9 - Phase VI Content
Step 10 - Phase VII Repeat Steps 8&9 (To get it down)
Step 11 - Phase VIII Design - Look & Feel
Step 12 - Phase VIIII Design
Step 13 - Phase X Design Testing
Step 14 - Phase XI Design Homepage
Step 15 - Phase XII Design Homepage Testing
Step 16 - Phase XIII Basic SEO
Step 17 - Phase XIIII Launch Site!
The above is a simple outline!
Coming up next - Step 1 of 17 - Last Edit: 15 years 6 months ago by The Wingman.
- "You can learn a lot from a dummy. So, pay attention to yourself." Quote by me.
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- The Wingman
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1208
- Thanks: 0
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Please note: I updated the first post in this thread!
The first step is simple - create a Google Doc or whatever you are using and include this for your client.
Note this is the standard one I give, but I will post a completed sample of one from a client of mine.
Google Doc
Step 1: Your Website's Purpose
Directions:
1. Using bullet statements list your Website's Purpose. (Note: This is a thought process so give yourself time think about it, review it, add to it, take away or change. Also, if you are a group all of you add to the list).
2. Once you've created a list of Purpose's of your website and soaked it in write a single concise and to the point short paragraph of your Website's Purpose below the bullets.
3. Once done share this doc with me. Please Note: You must finish this before you can go to step
4. Also, there is no skipping ahead or going back. It's like building a house - you have to do it in order.
* ?
* ?
* ?
* ?
* & so on...
Short paragraph of your purpose here:
End of Doc
Um, the * are actually bullets but they are not showing that way in the post.
That may look real simple but it really forces the client to look at what they are trying to do. I know this is going to sound silly, but in most cases you will have to show the client what a bullet statement is and what a purpose is. Because they will start talking pretty pictures with cool buttons and lots of flash!
If they don't complete this right or at all - how can you move forward without purpose? So, get them to understand and finish it. Also, this will put you in charge from the start and set the precedent for work dynamics between you and your clients.
Any questions? Just ask.
Below is the sample from real client.
Live Sample (It took 4 times before they got it right LOL You don't want to see what they originally wrote for their purpose )
Step 1: Your Website's Purpose
Directions:
1. Using bullet statements list your Website's Purpose. (Note: This is a thought process so give yourself time think about it, review it, add to it, take away or change. Also, if you are a group all of you add to the list).
2. Once you've created a list of Purpose's of your website and soaked it in write a single concise and to the point short paragraph of your Website's Purpose below the bullets.
3. Once done share this doc with me. Please Note: You must finish this before you can go to step 2. Also, there is no skipping ahead or going back. It's like building a house - you have to do it in order.
*
serve as online store
*
serve as online instruction portal
*
serve as store for new customers
*
serve as self teaching site (galleries, video)
*
serve as informational portal on XXXXXX
*
serve as online manual/guide for new users, beginner and low handicappers
*
serve as motivation for high XXXXXX to get better
*
serve as an introduction to some of the worlds best up and coming players
*
serve as a media guide for the company and it's tour players/founders
*
serve as gateway to following us via Facebook, Twitter & XXXXXX
*
serve as a gateway to XXXXXX to see what is going on in other XXXXXX communities online
*
serve as an area where general public can see what the XXXXXX is doing in the XXXXXX for all players, professional and amateur
*
serve as a demonstration portal for golfers from around the world to come and view tips, video and pictures to see how they can improve
*
serve as main advertising/marketing portal for our product to be viewed
*
Community site
*
informing viewers/customers or a product
*
yes, site is being used for sales presentations
*
website must show/prove the XXXXXX to customers that it is the best training tool on the market
*
customer will be using the functions on the site,XXXXXX will have control from back end (I'm not a purpose okay! LOL) <--- I had to help them understand that I am not a purpose!
* Show that we are XXXXXX that started and run the company
* Show that we are enthausiastic about the product
* Show that the XXXXXX is a great teaching tool
* Keep customers on the site and let them know in a hurry what the XXXXXX is
XXXXXX Website
The overall purpose ofXXXXXX is to provide the viewer/customer with a wealth of knowledge on how the XXXXXX can improve their overall XXXXXX with simple and understandable instruction. The site will serve the customer providing them with videos, picture galleries and content to help them improve their XXXXXX while using the XXXXXX in their regular practice routines. The site is to be clean, easy to view and very user friendly. XXXXXX wants to provide the viewer/customer with a completely different experience than any other website; video tutorials from actualXXXXXX, question and answer section, and an up close and personal look at how XXXXXX approach their practice routines. The website will also serve as an online store where the XXXXXX can be purchased with custom logos and colors. XXXXXX wants to have this site serve as an online teaching tool for our clients along with providing our XXXXXX, the XXXXXX. Providing the customer with updated video and content on a regular basis will be one of the main goals and purposes. The site will also serve as an area where customers and viewers can follow their favorite XXXXXX as the popularity of the XXXXXX grows and reaches the top XXXXXX in the world.
end of live sample
Input or suggestions? Feel free. - "You can learn a lot from a dummy. So, pay attention to yourself." Quote by me.
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- wingz007
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 146
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- student
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Hey, thank you for this great contribution, Wingman!!
ANYTHING or suggestion/experience to smooth a client along I'm interested in reading!! :cheesy:
I'll have to get all into the details later - too tired from staying up with the new release last night! Um - looks like you stayed up all night?
This could be a great discussion if people will share. After being toooo lenient with allowing constant client changes this last project, I was considering either snake charmers or cementing them into walls next time.
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- J!eremy
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 2108
- Thanks: 8
- Killer Idea... You are seriously the typical Wingman...
- Send moderators PMs ONLY if they request it.
James' First Blog Post lol
Top Tips for Support
Be SPECIFIC when posting.
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- Invision
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 261
- Thanks: 0
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The Wingman wrote:
So I am going to release my guide to Building a website in this thread. Sign up to it and join along in the discussion!
It will be most informative and I will share why I went about creating these steps.
Step 1 of 17 will be posted in this thread in my next post! GET READY!
update!
I use Google Docs to set this up and because of that I can control everything and document everything. That is very important! Clients tend to forget! I save every chat, email and doc and get sign off from them for everything. Also, it can be confusing for you and especially your client if you don't establish a sound communication format.
Also, remember they need your guidance.
Google Doc - Intro
This is the steps it takes to launch a site. The most important thing is you complete each task before moving to the next one. There is no jumping back and forth.
Step 1 - Need simple bullet statements of your purpose of website.
Without purpose - how can you decide what to build?
Step 2 - Need simple bullet statements of your message on the website.
Without message - what will the site tell the visitors?
Step 3 - From Steps 1&2 write down functions needed for your website.
Without knowing functions needed - how can one build a site?
Step 4 - I look for what is needed for the website and put it together in a proposal for you to approve.
Step 5 - Approval of drawings.
Step 6 - Final drawings.
Step 7 - Phase IV Foundation - Function, Flow & Layout
Step 8 - Phase V Test Foundation
Step 9 - Phase VI Content
Step 10 - Phase VII Repeat Steps 8&9 (To get it down)
Step 11 - Phase VIII Design - Look & Feel
Step 12 - Phase VIIII Design
Step 13 - Phase X Design Testing
Step 14 - Phase XI Design Homepage
Step 15 - Phase XII Design Homepage Testing
Step 16 - Phase XIII Basic SEO
Step 17 - Phase XIIII Launch Site!
The above is a simple outline!
Coming up next - Step 1 of 17
Can i put this in RT 4 Dummies? I will share the royalty (If i ever get a $ )
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- The Wingman
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1208
- Thanks: 0
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wingz007 wrote:
Hey, thank you for this great contribution, Wingman!!
ANYTHING or suggestion/experience to smooth a client along I'm interested in reading!! :cheesy:
I'll have to get all into the details later - too tired from staying up with the new release last night! Um - looks like you stayed up all night?
This could be a great discussion if people will share. After being toooo lenient with allowing constant client changes this last project, I was considering either snake charmers or cementing them into walls next time.
It will make more sense as you go along, but the trick is stay the course - no jumping back and forth. Also, think of this as building a house you wouldn't tell a builder after the house is in the final stage of painting the outside of the house to move the kitchen around to the other side of the living room and laundry room to the right of the house and pack on a 3 car garage along with a pool and tell them, the builder, to do it for free. Ain't happening. So, you have to layout the ground work and rules up front.
J!eremy wrote:Killer Idea... You are seriously the typical Wingman...
Thanks!
- "You can learn a lot from a dummy. So, pay attention to yourself." Quote by me.
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- The Wingman
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1208
- Thanks: 0
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The purpose bullet work sheet my look simple, but it is very important to both the client and you.
Once they, the client, completes the purpose worksheet - I set it to view only for them. In other words - they can no longer make changes...so, I make sure they have thought it out very carefully. I can't have them on step 12 telling me they changed their purpose without starting all over again.
Remember - you can make changes till you die and most clients will be oblivious to the fact that that is not okay. They wouldn't bring their car into an auto paint shop tell them they want royal blue with gold specks only to come back after the job is done and say "Wow, on the way over here to pick up my car - I saw this cool banana yellow car - change it to that for free!"
1) make sure it is complete.
2) make sure you discuss it over with them and allow for final changes.
3) lock it down and move to next step. - "You can learn a lot from a dummy. So, pay attention to yourself." Quote by me.
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- Dave Goodwin
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1472
- Thanks: 4
- Howdy!!
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Sweet! I can tell that you've had a lot of client interface too. lol Very informative. Thank man. YOU ROCK!!
- "I'm an individual, just like everyone else."
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- The Wingman
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1208
- Thanks: 0
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Invision wrote:
Can i put this in RT 4 Dummies? I will share the royalty (If i ever get a $ )
Sorry, this being released as Creative Commons - attribute - no-commercial!
- "You can learn a lot from a dummy. So, pay attention to yourself." Quote by me.
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- The Wingman
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1208
- Thanks: 0
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I'll cover part one in more detail and clean it up, but want to keep the ball rolling.
Step two is the kicker! Seems to allude people. But here goes -
Say your a donut maker and you make the best donuts in the world - they are hot gooey yummy sticky puffs of delights! When telling a potential customer about your donuts do you -
A) Tell them - "they are made of flour, milk, eggs, sugar, yeast, bicarbonate, vanilla extract, blah, blah, blah, blah......
We make the best donuts in the world - they are hot gooey yummy sticky puffs of delights!
If you said A) you just bored your customer and they walked away!
If you said you might of made them hungry and they might try your donut and if they are as good as you say they will come back for more.
So, why is it every client wants to list their ingredients on the front page instead of sale their product, service or whatever?
Hence, every message the website is to say needs to be defined so as to structure the site!
Personal story
I tell a client that to best feature their product - they should have a video on top to the left featuring the item and a slide show to the left breaking down the item. They spend four months designing one of the most silliest sites I have ever seen (I even told them that I am not putting my name on the project - I'll deny it) then they went out to talk to potential clients. They came back so distraught cause the site was totally useless and didn't get their message across. They stated they literally made asses of themselves in front of major buyers. Then they asked me to put it back the way I had designed it to begin with.
Truth be told - I laughed my ass off! They were friends of mine who argued with me over and over for months ignoring everything I recommended and I had even told them before they went out what would happen. So, they had to fall on their face and get humiliated before they got a grip. Note: I will never do another site for a friend again, not unless I don't want to keep the friendship or if I want to end up killing them. LOL Just kidding.
But for clients...that wouldn't happen. I am allowed to bust on my friends or let them fall on their face. What are friends for?
end personal story
Back to what I give the clients in step 2
Google Docs Step 2
Step 2: Your Website's Message
Directions:
1. Using bullet statements list your Website's Message. (Note: This is a thought process so give your time think about it, review it, add to it, take away or change. Also, if you are a group all of you add to the list).
2. Once you created a list of Message's of you website and soaked it in write a single concise and to the point short paragraph of your Website's Message below the bullets.
3. Once done share this doc with me. Please Note: You must finish this before you can go to step 3 - there is no skipping ahead or going back. It's like building a house - you have to do it in order.
* ?
* ?
* ?
* ?
* & so on...
end google docs step 2
Also, when you go to design the site - all these purpose and message bullet statements can be used to sprinkle across the site. Spice it up! - "You can learn a lot from a dummy. So, pay attention to yourself." Quote by me.
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