Defining a Website

Three questions that must be answered in defining a website:

I. What is the purpose of the site?
- A Web site may have several purposes. In that case it is necessary to determine which is the primary purpose, which is secondary, and so on.
Possible answers:
- This site is meant to be informative.
- The site will be used to sell a product.
- The site will be used to recruit new members to our organization.
- The main purpose of the site is educational.
- The primary purpose of the site is to be a newsletter.
- Identifying Who will Visit the Site

II. Who will be visiting the site?

Determining who the visitors are likely to be is crucial in deciding not only the general appearance of the site, but also the technology that might be used to build the site.
Possible answers:
- Visitors using dialup access and modems.
- Students at a university.
- Faculty at an elementary school.
- People between the ages of 18 and 24.
- Expert Internet users.
- Internet newbies.
- Mom.

III. Does this site serve the needs of the client?

Serving the Needs of the Client
The term "client" in this instance refers to anybody for whom a site is built, not just a paying customer. In the case of a Web site built for a family reunion, the client is the family. Will the site properly serve the need of the family by providing clear directions to the location of the reunion? Can the family photos be properly displayed?
Possible answers:
- Yes, the pictures are perfectly clear!
- Yes, the map shows exactly where the store is!
- Yes, students can download their assignments!
- Oops, the site doesn't get the client's point across.
- Yes, the site can be updated by the client.
- Oops, the site takes too much of the client's time to update.