Planning, Planning and Organizing Websites. Web Services, Office of Information Technology, University of Maryland

Planning and Organizing Websites

Lida L. Larsen
Web Services
Office of Information Technology
University of Maryland, College Park
www.inform.umd.edu/Web/Planning

Planning

Web Developers, both content creators and adaptors, need to think about their information in terms of:

The User - NECESSARY

ALWAYS Remember Your Users
Get user input before you start and then in every stage of development. Remember: You are not a user. Your boss is not a user.

Who are your users/audience? Who will the website target?

What are their information needs?
How will they use the website?

Are they information literate?
What technology do they have to access your website?

The Content - EASY, but takes time

what services do they want to provide
what do they own and what do they republish that belongs to another group/person
their frequently asked questions (FAQ) - what is the most requested information
what is public information and what should have limited access.

and

The Implementation - HARDER

how it should be organized
appropriate formats for efficient retrieval and effective use

The overall design of the document should be planned before any implementation is done. Care should be made in the design to allow full informational access to clients utilizing LYNX or other non-graphical browsers, including adaptive technology used by persons with disabilities. (Check out our Universal Design website.)

Planning and Organizing Websites

Planning

LLLarsen, VLWarnick, First published December 1994. Last revision January 2002