Define requirements
Select technology
Gather content
Create structure
Create design and layout
Build
Launch
Manage
Phase 1. Define requirements
Analyse your business requirements and how a website will help achieve them. Focus on commercial and organisational objectives rather than technology.
At the end of this phase you can describe your business reasons for having a site, your target audience and what actions they will be able to perform, success criteria and budget.
top
Phase 2. Select technology
Identify technology solutions and suppliers which best meet your business requirements.
You might revisit Phase 1 to refine your requirements. That's OK. Remember that business needs dictate technology choices, not vice versa.
At the end of this phase you know who is going to develop your site, who will host it and what software (such as content management systems) you will use.
top
Phase 3. Gather content
Start bringing together the material you will publish on your site.
Content can be created in-house, adapted from other material or commissioned new.
This phase always takes much longer than anticipated. Prioritise, produce important material first and fill gaps later. Content gathering can continue while you work on the remaining phases.
top
Phase 4. Create structure
Decide how to organise your content and what page names and headings to use.
Start by grouping the content into logical categories. Name each category and determine the order in which they will appear on the site.
You might decide to return to Phase 3 and revise your list of content.
At the end of this phase you have the information hierarchy and the navigation menus.
top
Phase 5. Create design and layout
It's time to focus on the appearance of your site.
Develop the site's look and feel. Decide how to arrange the various elements on each page.
At the end of this phase you have your site's graphics, overall design template and designs for specific areas such as online forms.
top
Phase 6. Build
Construct the actual web pages and put in the content.
How you do it depends on a few things such as your choice of site building technology, whether you or a web developer is doing the work and the number of people involved.
At the end of this phase your site is ready for launch.
top
Phase 7. Launch
It's time to "go live".
Promote your site, ensure it is integrating well with other business operations and test search engine results.
At the end of this phase it's time to move into ongoing site management.
top
Phase 8. Manage
Your published website will always need attention.
Have a regular review process. Check content for currency and accuracy. Test links to make sure they still work. Review your site's performance against the criteria you established in Phase 1.
At longer intervals, for example annually, go full circle and return to Phase 1. Reassess your business requirements and how your site helps you achieve them.
top
