New Site Checklist

This information is based on Hawaiʻi’s New Site Checklist.

Before we can do our work, we need you to do yours. We have expertise in designing Web sites, but you are the experts about your agency and your constituents or customers. To design an effective site, we need to know more about what your agency does, who your Web site will serve, and what your goals are for the site.

The following questions may help you organize your thoughts and begin brainstorming ideas for your new web site. Before you begin, be sure to identify your project team, especially the project leader who will organize and drive the project and communicate decisions. It is also important to identify the individual(s) who will ultimately be responsible for the site’s maintenance upon its completion. With your project team, please complete the following questionnaire.

It may be helpful to supplement with marketing materials, brochures, a current logo, or sample content. There are many other information-gathering tasks that your project team can be working on during this planning phase that will be very helpful and are best completed before HIC begins work on the project. If you do complete any of these tasks, please provide a copy of the notes, data, or information to your HIC team.

For Redesigns

Which information is hardest for people to find on your site?
Which parts of your existing site work particularly well?
Which content do people mistakenly visit your site for most?
Will existing page content be rewritten or moved over as is?


What new page content will be developed?
What will the main navigation options be?
What kind of information do people regularly request from you? Most common calls, emails?
Are users submitting site feedback? More…
Have you reviewed your own web logs to analyze how people use your site?

Website Activity Logs

What pages and directories get the most visits?
Which pages get the least traffic?
Any major drop-off points?

Target Audience

Who is your site intended to help most?
Describe each audience type: e.g. members, retirees, or employers?
Who are the users: e.g. age group, income, or tech savviness?
What actions do you want them to take: e.g. fill out a form, or check balance?
Is this website targeted at a specific geographic area?
What benefit do you provide to your target audience?
Will your visitors have any special requirements? More…
What do you want your visitors to do once they get to your website? More…
How will you inform your target audience about your newly redesigned site?

Project-related Questions

Deadline, timing or exact date of completion for your website?
Where is your website currently hosted?
Will the domain stay the same or would you like to change it?
What software was used to create your site?

Web Project Team

Who will be the key decision maker?
Who will be project manager?
Who will be responsible for site maintenance?
What are the staff roles?
Who will be editing the website, how many users?
Billing address and billing contact?
Are there any forms? Feedback? Surveys?

Design & Site Functionality

Name 3 things that are most important about the design of your new website.
Name 3 things that are least important in the design of your new website.
Please list the names of a few other sites that you like. Why are they attractive to you?
Do you have any color (colors, branding, or otherwise) that you do or do not want to include?
Is your logo and other imagery web ready?



Are there any important agency goals or initiatives we should be aware of?
 
Is there an official motto or mission statement?
 
Do you regularly send notices, newsletters, etc?
 
What would you say is the most interesting thing that you do, or the most interesting service that you offer?

Other Helpful Planning Tips

Post an online survey on your current site and start collecting user feedback and suggestions.

If you have ready access to one of your key audience groups, consider surveying them or conducting a focus group to determine how a Web site could best meet their needs. Survey (formally or informally) your “front-line” staff. The folks who answer the phones and deal with general email can be a treasure-trove of information about what kinds of frequent questions and requests your agency is receiving.

Gather your project team and (1) explore your current Web site and try to think from your typical user’s perspective, (2) visit the Web sites of similar agencies in other states and note what you like and don’t like. It’s okay to borrow ideas!