Chapter 3 - Planning the Site

A good Web site design requires a detailed initial planning phase. Before starting to code your site, pick up a pencil and paper and sketch out your site design. Creating the stylistic conventions and conceptual structure of your site beforehand saves time during development. This chapter walks you through planning and building a framework for your site, resulting in less recoding when you actually sit down at the computer.

When you complete this chapter, you will be able to:

• Create a site specification
• Identify the content goal
• Analyze your audience
• Build a Web site development team
• Create conventions for filenames and URLs
• Set a directory structure
• Create a site storyboard
• Publish your Web site
• Test your Web site
• Refine and update your content
• Attract notice to your Web site

Resource Links

Shareware.com
TUCOWS Shareware Site
WinZip
Aladdin Expander
Macromedia/Adobe Systems Incorporated

Sample Site Specifications

Site Specification Sample #1
Site Specification Sample #2
Site Specification Sample #3

Individual Case Project

Write a site specification for the site you defined in Chapters 1 and 2. Include as much information as possible from the project proposal you completed at thel measure the site's success in meeting its goals. Include a description of the intended audience. Describe how you will assess user satisfaction with the site. Include technological issues that may influence the site's development or function.

Work individually to determine the information structure you think is optimal for the type of content your site will contain. Then meet and work as a team to determine the information structure using the best pieces of each team member's information structure plan. Prepare a detailed flowchart for your site using the preliminary flowchart you created at the end of Chapter 2. Create a filename for each page that matches the ISO 9660 standard. Indicate all links between pages. Write a short summary that describes the flowchart. Describe why you chose the particular structure, how it suits your content, and how it benefits the user.

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