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Recent posts have talked about the role of requirements when you create, redesign or generally improve a website. This week, I saw an excellent example of what can happen when a business owner concentrates so hard on new website features that successful features from the old site get lost in the shuffle.

Earlier posts have talked about your website's business requirements and user requirements. Functional requirements are the third category of requirements necessary for your website.

Functional requirements define how you want your website to work. Like the other types of requirements, a functional requirement must be so specific that someone reviewing your website can identify specifically where and how that requirement is met.

Here is the link to the podcast from my appearance on the Orange County based TalentTalk radio show with Chris Dyer:
http://talenttalk.podbean.com/2013/09/10/jason-ciment-and-steve-goldberg/

If you want to play the podcast now, click below

Last week's post talked about the business requirements for your website. Those requirements include a description of the "typical" customer (or customers) that you want to visit and to use your website.  

Before going too far in your website design and development, step back and list the requirements these customers (or users) will have when they land on your website. In general, your "users" have several key requirements.

Once you have decided what you expect from your website-- general purpose, website business goals, visitors, sales, and results--you are ready to write specific business requirements. Your website developer and programmer will use these requirements to design your website and program its features and functions.

Later, you will define user requirements and the functional requirements for your website. Your business requirements drive the features and functions of your website. Begin with them.