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Published by: Judy Cobb 08-13-2013  |  POSTED IN: Traffic Tuesdays

Words Blog 34: Website Requirements!

 
Requirements are a key factor in determining how well a website achieves your business objectives. Simply put, requirements describe how a website works and what content and features should appear there.
 
Requirements identify, in tangible terms, the specific content, functions and capabilities a website must have. In short, a requirement defines what your website looks like and how it works.
 
Clearly written requirements are an essential tool whether you are building, updating, replacing or evaluating the effectiveness of a website because they allow you to direct development, to communicate clearly with your developer and to recognize that the final delivered website meets your identified needs.
 
Requirements serve as a critical tool in working with web designers and developers. Well-written requirements often determine how quickly you can produce a website that meets your needs and how well the website works once it is online.
 
For web designers and developers, the requirements are a road map that allows them to successfully design and build a website that meets your business needs. An effectively written set of requirements bridges the gap between your needs and expectations and the work of the people creating your website for you.
 
Successful requirements have two essential features: they are specific and measurable. What does that mean in real terms? When your website is complete, a tester or someone has never seen your website should be able to identify where and how each requirement has been met on your website.
 
For example, many people say they want the navigation on a website to be "intuitive." What exactly does that mean? And intuitive to whom?
 
This could mean that most people looking for content on the website will see key terms they recognize and be able to quickly find what they are looking for. It could also mean that the navigation uses icons and conventions that are commonly used on other websites. It could mean both or something else entirely.
 
What is "intuitive" to you, to the person developing your website and to your customers could be three entirely different things. Your requirements can begin with this kind of general description, but you then need to take it further and translate "intuitive" into specific terms that a developer can implement and that someone unacquainted with your website can recognize.
 
Here are some suggestions for writing good requirements.
 
1. Begin by thinking about the purpose of your website. For example: Are you selling products and services? Building a company identity? Establishing your place in a specific community where you do business?
 
2. Be specific about what you want visitors to know or do when they visit your website. Buy a product? Contact your company? Select your product the next time they are in a store? Contribute to a cause? Join your email list?
 
3. Describe in specific, measurable terms what you want a visitor to see and be able to do on your website.
 
For example, if you have an engineering firm or an architectural firm, your primary visitors may be both customers and potential customers.
  • Your existing customers might need to access an area of your website where they can get specific information about their project
  • Potential customers want to quickly see if your firm provides the services they are looking for and has a successful track record
Your requirements should identify both types of visitors and describe specifically what the website will offer each.
 
4. Think about how you want to the website to look and feel to a visitor. Do you want to project a conservative and credible image or a "fun" contemporary image?
 
5. What functions do you need on the website? Do you need a calendar? A system that makes online payment easy and secure? A way to easily update certain sections or the entire website? A way for people to sign up for your email list?
 
Clearly, the development of an effective set of requirements requires a certain amount of time and thought. However, the more clearly you can define the specifics of your website, the more effectively the person developing your website can be in building a website that works for you.
 
It is never too late to develop, expand or use requirements. You may currently have a website. How well is it working for you? Do you want to improve its effectiveness? Increase its visibility in searches (Search Engine Optimization--SEO)? Begin by looking at your original requirements and build on those.
 
If you never formally wrote requirements down, write them down now. You may find that they have changed since you created your website. Then look at your website and see how well it meets those requirements. You may be surprised.
 
Stay turned to future posts for further ideas about how to develop and use requirements.
 
 
Please share your ideas, comments, questions and suggestions about this blog with us. Feel free to leave comments below or to email Judy at [email protected].
 
Judy Cobb is an independent writer and business writing coach whose clients have included Parsons Engineering, Mattel Toys, The Los Angeles Times and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She has specialized in developing training materials for instructor-led courses as well as interactive online courses and websites. She holds advanced degrees from Columbia University and Stanford as well as an MBA from UCLA's Anderson Graduate School of Management.
Thanks for reading. Jason.
P.S. Don't forget to subscribe below to this blog.
 
About Jason Ciment
Formerly an attorney and CPA, Jason has been working online since 1997. His columns on affiliate marketing can still be found on www.Clickz.com and his book on search engine optimization can be found at www.seotimetable.com.

This blog is published 4x per week and covers website design and SEO tips as well as a wide range of tips and advice for working and living online more efficiently and enjoyably.
 

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