When creating a web site, you can never over plan or over organize. Regardless if you are developing and creating the site yourself or you hire a professional, you will most likely be involved in planning, organizing and preparing material for the site.

Step 1 – What’s the purpose?
Decide what the purpose of your site will be. You need to first know what you plan to do. Is the site just for fun or do you have a specific goal?

If for a specific goal, right down the purpose, then break down what you think you need in order to relay this purpose. Example of company site:

1. Information about the company
2. Images and graphics to help explain visually about the company
3. Contact Information
4. “More Info” form
5. Descriptions of services or products offered
6. Mission statement or main focus of the company

Step 2 – List your Contents
Make a list of what you want your site to contain.

Step 3 – Create a Flow Chart
Make a flow chart showing how this information will be organized and laid out.

Step 4 – Navigation
How will the user get to the content and how can they get back. Don’t Loose the User! General Rule: primary navigation links should be on every page.

Step 5 – Design
Design the look and feel of the site. Simplicity counts!

Step 6 – Organize Content
Get your content together and organize it in folders.

Step 7 – Build your Pages
Design, layout and assemble your pages.

I suggest reading two books; Jennifer Niederst’s “Web Design in a Nutshell” and Steve Krug’s “Don’t Make Me Think.”

The Bullseye, written by Nancy Greger, from The Business Helper, provides “on-the-mark” tips to help the small business owner succeed.