Web Design Checklist
I have created this checklist and have found it very helpful when trying to design a website. Keep in mind this design checklist assumes that you have your business idea and plan together and also that you have hosting and a domain name. Make sure you have done your research before you actually start building the site.
1. Site Map
- Create an outline of your pages.
- Develop the keywords, meta tags, and a rough draft for your content based on the page outline.
2. Site Design/Template
- Overall feel and look for the site.
- Keep it consistent throughout the site.
These are some places that you may be able to find some templates that might help you develop your site:
3. Create Pages
- Create all the pages first.
- Don’t add any content to the pages.
- Creating pages helps to organize navigation.
4. Meta Tags – Page Specific
- Once you have all the pages created and the navigation the way you want it, add your meta tags.
5. Add Products/Categories (If Applicable)
- Create all product categories keeping in mind that you need to make it easy for your customers to find what they are looking for.
- Add all of your products keeping in mind keywords when creating descriptions and adding meta tags when able to.
6. Page Content
- Add page content to all the pages that you have created.
- Doesn’t have to be a final draft, websites are always works in progress.
- Remember that your content should be based on the keywords that you have developed.
7. Add Images to Pages
- Add photos or images to any pages that you want to put them on.
- Remember to make sure they load quick.
- Remember all images on the internet are copyrighted no matter if they say they are so be careful. If you have to pay $1 for an image it’s worth it for protection.
Places you can look:
- Search for images within the search engines.
- Take your own photos with you digital camera or scan some pictures in.
8. Connect Merchant Account (If Applicable)
- Make sure that your merchant account uses a compatible gateway with your shopping cart.
- Get your merchant account connected to your shopping cart so you will be ready to accept payments.
Merchant Account Options:
9. Add Statistics
Add statistical tracking to your website so you can know from the beginning what is happening on your website.
10.Review, Finalize, and Test Your Site
- Review your site and make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
- Finalize your content to where you feel it is complete for now.
- Test your site to make sure it functions properly and that it is ready for busines/traffic.
- Have other people look over your site to see if they can spot anything you may have missed.
11.Market
- You are now ready to worry about marketing.
Keep in Mind
Keep in mind that every site is different so some of these steps may be a little different from one site to another. A blog will be different from an ecommerce site. Let me know if there is anything else you would add to the list that I may have missed.