Not happy with your Web site and thinking about a major overhaul? Retrace your planning steps and recall how your Web site committee, assuming you have one, managed the process. If your agency doesn't have such a committee, consider forming one before starting your site re-build.
Why have a Web site committee?
If you're going to build a Web site, you might as well create a good one that does what you want it to. Besides, Web sites cost money and it's foolish to throw money at a misguided effort.
Smaller agencies may feel hard-pressed to devote man-hours to a committee effort, but "one-man shows" tend to produce less than optimum results. A committee, by its nature, encourages multiple viewpoints, ideas, input, and dialog. Building a Web site is no small task; rather, it includes many elements that need thoughtful consideration. A committee effort spreads the effort across several people.
Likely committee members
There is no firm rule about who should be on your Web site committee, but common sense dictates that it should be a diverse group that represents a variety of agency interests. Ideally, individual committee members will be pro-Internet, welcome the opportunity, and be able to provide diligent effort. Assuming that, likely members might include:
Committee responsibilities
Considering the volume of work that goes into creating an effective Web effort, the committee needs to develop a plan. Where to begin?
A good starting point is your agency's business plan. Presum-ably the agency owner and senior managers know what they want to accomplish and have some idea of how to make that happen. Ultimately, the agency's Web strategy should be an outgrowth of the marketing plan, which is a key element of the business plan.
Also consider the prospects and customers who make up your target market. As an extension of your marketing plan, your Web site is but one of several marketing communication vehicles. Your Web development effort must focus on the people you want to visit and use your site.
With these two key issues resolved, the committee can develop a list of goals, objectives, expectations, budgets, and time-tables. With a clear idea of what the site is supposed to do, it's time to collect and develop Web site content - the words, images, and activity options that make the site meaningful and useful.
After things are "figured out," it's time to begin site construction. If you decide to outsource the project, you will also need to develop criteria by which you will evaluate and select a Web host, ISP, designer or developer, and other service providers. You will also want to develop checklists and other evaluative tools by which you can measure progress and make sure things are moving ahead according to plans.
Assuming you end up with the site you hoped for and are happy with, there are other things the Web committee needs to consider for maintaining the site. But that's another subject for another time.
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