Planning a website that will achieve the goals you have set for your business is probably the most difficult part of the entire Internet marketing process.  But this critical step is usually the one business people skip, or just leave it to their web designer to consider, which can be even more damaging to their overall goals. 

The process of carefully planning the outline of a new website or upgrade to an existing website will secure for you not only a vehicle to show off your business in the best light, but also one that you are able to control the process of updating content, and, most importantly, achieve your business goals.  Here are a few steps to use in the planning process:

1.  List all the information about your product or service that a visitor to your website might be interested in knowing.  For example, visitors to a school’s website would probably want to know the attendance levels, size of the classrooms, information on staff members and what sports they can participate in.  Brainstorm every possible topic someone might want to know related to the industry, product or service your website will be offering.

2.  Take on the role of your website visitor.  Visit some websites and review them as if you are in the market for the services those sites have to offer.  As a visitor who is genuinely interested in your product or service, what are the good things and bad things about each site you visit?  Are you inspired to take action from the website?  How easily can you find what you are looking for? Are there a lot of pages to navigate through to get to what you are looking for?  With the goal of making your website as easy for potential customers to use as possible, note all of this information down for future use.

3.  Investigate to find out the keywords your visitors will most likely search for to find your website. Google has a free keyword research tool that will work fine for this purpose.  Type in a general phrase such as “high school” and see what other keywords come up.  Your visitors already have questions about these things.  Knowing this, you can plan your website content to answer their questions up front. 

4.  When planning your new website, make sure to keep in room to grow.  Don’t be lured into a website format that won’t let you expand easily to add new content pages or products.  A good website is a constant work in process. 

5.  The final thing to keep in mind is that you want to be able to control your new website, rather than be at the mercy of your web designer to make even the simplest of changes.   Successful Internet marketing today relies on a dynamic website with fresh content added often, and having an antiquated website that only your designer can change will just not work anymore.  You need a website platform that will allow you to add website content fast and simply.

Usually, a new website is one of your business’ largest expenses.  It is critical to take the time to plan a new website that is compatible with your business goals. 

Marty Dickinson is the founder of HereNextYear, Inc., a full service Internet marketing company in business for over 10 years. His specialty is Internet marketing solutions for the small business owner, speakers and authors. Visit to see what HereNextYear has to offer and to learn more about their innovative new website packages fully integrated for ease with social networking and other Internet marketing strategies.







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