The Touchwood Project

Since my other life was as a web designer, I still work on sites from time to time and I thought I’d share a helpful tool for any of you starting a website. For that matter, anyone with an existing one might find it useful too.

Start with a Website Strategy

Contemplating a new website...

Malcolm’s interested in starting a blog about hitchhiking, offering tips and advice, since it’s something he’s deeply passionate about. He knows that I’m a huge advocate of having a website strategy before you create a site, and so asked me to send him the template I used to use when working with clients.

But when I took a look at my my old document, I saw it was too complicated and I realised how daunting it could be for those people with a great idea and lots of passion, but anxiety about how they’re going to actually create that website.

What you’ll get from a strategy

So I’ve pared it down to an easy 2-page document with a few questions that anyone out there considering creating a new website can start with to help them:

• focus on what they really want to do so you don’t get sidetracked
• remember who you’re writing for
• help you write something people will respond to

It’s easy to get caught up with the mechanics and writing a website or blog, and you forget what you’re actually doing, or who it’s for.

When you start to feel like you’re going off-track, come back to this document. It will help you refocus and move forward with greater clarity.

Download and feedback

Here’s the document in both Mac Pages format and Microsoft Word (evil, but most of you use it so it’s only fair to include a version).

Easy Website Strategy (Pages version)

Easy Website Strategy (Word version)

If you’ve got suggestions for improvement, or tips to offer other people looking to create a website, please leave a comment.

Tags: Marketing

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