Web Tips 101 : The Importance of a Little Analysis

If you’ve attended any of The Byne Group’s seminars, you’ve probably seen
the following formula:

Promise + Experience = Your Brand

An often neglected, yet supremely important, way that clients experience
your brand? Your website.

For all of you whose websites look and function like they were created by your nephew Ned… that’s because they WERE created by your nephew Ned! Sure, Ned’s got mad skill and probably created a super fab flash intro, but are your users able to find what they need, and does the caliber of your website match the caliber of your organization?

Here at The Byne Group, we believe using a website should be easy and pleasant. It should accomplish the user’s goals (They need to find what they are looking for quickly), and your goals (communicating your key message to them).

What’s the most crucial step in your website’s development? A little strategic analysis. Not only does it save time and money in the long run, but you’ll end up with something that looks great and meets your needs.

Here are a few of the things we look at:

1). Your functional requirements. Do you need to manage your own content? Does it have to conform to your corporate style guide? What accessibility laws must it obey?

2). Don’t forget your stakeholders. What does the CEO expect to see? What features does the fundraising committee need?

3). What tone and personality should the site have? What “voice”?

4). Who is your target audience? Who is using your website now and what information are they looking for?

5). If you build it, how will they come? Look at search engine optimization, social networking, and other ways to drive traffic to your site.

-Jennifer Zapf, Art Director