Gateway Marketing Online

A web design storyboard is the process of making a rough outline of what your web site will include before it is actually created. It can be used to organize thoughts and content.

1

The Main Page or index
Think of this page as the cover to your "book" inviting viewers to enter your site. Our goal should be to make it colorful and eye catching. Your company logo, name and a brief description of your company may go here.

2

About Us
Think of this page as chapter "one" of your "book".
Your company profile or a more in-depth description of your company is described here. Additional pages can spring from this page such as:

Company History

Credentials

About Our Employees - Individual Biographies

Customer Testimonials

Company Awards

Customer service with hyperlinks

3

News Page
Chapter "two" page of your web site
Let's people know you have not abandoned the site and gone out of business. Keep people up to date with your industry. Latest product news, etc. Plus it is useful when bad weather or emergencies occur.

4

Services Offered
Chapter "three" page of your web site
Again, additional pages can spring off of this page to describe your services in more depth.

5

Products Offered
Chapter "four" page of your site
This page will describe in detail the products your company offers. Again, additional pages can be linked from this page to describe your products in more depth.

6

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Chapter "five" of your site
List any frequently asked questions about your company and the answers. The old FAQ is still a useful tool and everybody understands what it is used for. Many people look for it.

7

Contact Us
Chapter "six" of your site
This page should list your address, phone number, e-mail address, hours of business, etc. Mini pages could spring from this page to include:

Company Directory of Individual employees/title/work extension and e-mail addresses.

Information request form

Directions to physical location

8

Feedback Forms
Chapter "seven" of your site
Your customers will help you improve your Web site if you give them the opportunity. Respond promptly and don't be afraid to take their advice.

9

Graphics
Chapter "eight" of your site
Graphic "lite" is the phrase. Don't go crazy! Is your total web page, including graphics, 50k or more? Too heavy. Search Engines can't read graphics, so get those keywords in HTML. Drop shadows and clunky buttons are out. Flat and pleasant contrast is in!

10

Search Engine
Chapter "nine" of your site
With a good informational site, your visitor will appreciate the ability to find what they are looking for without having to drill down in your site. Did we mention that all content should be no more than three clicks from the home page?

11

Site Map
Chapter "ten" of your site
This important page is similar to a Table of Contents except it is made up of hyperlinks to each page of your site. Keep it simple. Put the link at the bottom of the web page, so when people get lost, you help them find their way.

12

Relevant Links
Chapter "eleven" of your site
Well they do take visitors away but links are like FAQs, people appreciate that you have located good resources that are relevant to what they are researching on your site. Check them often because dead links aggravate people. Be sure to give a brief description of what the link is about.

13

Navigation Bar
Chapter "twelve" of your site
Good navigational tools should look the same and be consistent on EVERY page of the site. Home and Contact Us should be visible. We recommend the bottom of every page. More if you have a long scrolling page. Use standard link colors. Don't use a frame for navigation. Design the navigation so it indicates the location to which you have surfed.

The ideas for content are endless. Additional web page ideas include:

Online coupons

Helpful links

Definitions of words pertaining to your business