| Determining
Need |
Decide
with your department/organization members what you'd like to
accomplish through the web site:
 Who is
your audience?
Are there
recurring topics in user phone calls/emails that could
be covered on the site?
Is there
news you'd like to communicate?
Who will
provide content for this site? Updating the content and how
often?
Under which “topics” (headings/pages)
should we organize the material?
Are there
links between these topics?
Decide and
schedule when the site will need updating, including a biennial
site redesign
|
| Investigation |
Planning
will save hours of rework; gather content first since content
will determine design
Visit other
web sites and note what you like and don’t like about
them
List content
you'd like to include and gather documents, review content
suggestions
Map your
site out (perhaps using an “org chart” layout)
to show structure and logical relationships/links between
pages, then create a draft, even in PowerPoint (sample) |
| Design |
Choose
colors to use in the site, develop a consistent "look" or
identity for the site; consider sample
layouts, Wellesley
graphics, look and feel suggestions
Check legibility,
printing, and accessibility
Plan layout
and structure, consider multiple ways to navigate through
the site
|
| Creation |
Create
final pages in Dreamweaver, inserting images formatted in Fireworks/Photoshop
etc. and saved as GIFs or JPGs, organize material in one main
folder
|
| Testing |
At
a minimum, test on Mac/PC, Netscape/IE/Safari
Seek feedback
from your department/organization members
|
| Uploading |
Upload
your site to the server and check the results through a browser
|
| Communication |
Let
users know your site is live by email, conferences, if appropriate,
traditional mail
Add a feedback
link to your site to help gather information for future redesigns
|
| Maintenance |
Schedule
dates to review the site
Add a What's
New space to the home page to highlight changes
within the site
|
| Redesign |
Review
what's working well and what isn't
Be careful
not to remove content or features users may rely on
Begin
again, with Determining Need
|
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to the Publishing a Web Site home page