Tips for Getting Started

Step 1: Research and Brainstorm- If you could have anything you wanted on your site what would you have?

If you were building a house, this is where you'd be thumbing through the home magazines, searching the Web for floor plan ideas, and touring local neighborhoods. It's time to pull your ideas together.

• Gather all the topics you want to cover on the site and record them in a simple list of the topics and tools you want to have on the site.
• Have fun and include your long-term wish list for the site.
• Research sites from other businesses to determine everything you want. As you look at other sites, print out pages you like (or don't like), save addresses of pages with tools or functionality you like (or don't like).

Step 2: Organize and Categorize- How will the information be organized? How will the site be laid out so visitors can find the information?

In the house scenario, this is where you decide if you want a porch, the master bedroom upstairs, whether there will be one and a half or two bathrooms , if the cellar will have a walkout basement, etc. This is the time to think about how your visitors will find the information.

Step 3: Compile and Elaborate- you have the visitor's attention, now give it to them straight.

In the house scenario, this is where you decide what color the exterior will be, whether there will be tile or vinyl in the kitchen, if you should go with white trim or wood stained trim. Now is the time to pull together or write the copy for the site. Copy is the term used when talking about the paragraphs of information on the site.

What will you say to your visitors when they get to your site? How will you let them know how great your business is or why your service is beneficial to them? Some of your copy may be written on your current site and some of it may be in printed materials, such as brochures.

Gather all of the paragraphs and sentences for each section you outlined in Step 2. You can save time and money by providing the copy to me in digital format (Word, NotePad).

Give me a call so we can get rolling! (603) 661-2041.