The following questions will help you think through the services you can offer on the internet and the services you will need to get your site operating. These are the kinds of questions we will ask.

1. Who are you trying to communicate with?
   For example, if you are a church, your web site might be much different if you are hoping primarily to attract people who have recently moved into town than it would be if you were trying to promote your youth group to teens, or communicate activities to existing members.
2. What is the main idea you want to communicate?
   Are you trying to tell them about a product or service? Invite them to your place of business? Encourage them to read a white paper? Show them a need and solicit donations?
3. What do you want people to do when they visit your site?
   Your design and emphasis will differ considerably if you are primarily interested in getting visitors to sign up for an information packet than it will if you are trying to solicit a donation for your cause or make a sale. You may want them to sign up for your e-mail promotional list, or to vote on a product you offer. Whatever your desire, we need to know it in advance.
4. What kind of content will make your point?
   Apart from your front page, what pages are you going to need? Will you need a contact form? Will you need an “about” page telling more about you than the front page?
5. Which words express what your business is about?
   What words express or suggest what you do?
6. Do you have unique information?
   Offering a bit of useful, free information can attract visitors and search engines to your site.
7. Do you have images that communicate who you are?
   Images are an important component of a web site. Your company logo is important to identify you and friendly pictures help your website connect with viewers. You will especially want to provide images that suggest what your company does.

Need more information before building your site? Contact Trustworthy Publications