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There are many variables to take into account when planning a web site. By spending a few moments thinking about some of the basics, we can get a better idea of what you're after. Please don't feel obligated to come up with absolute answers; this is simply intended to give us a starting point in our discussions. I recommend you print this page out so you can study it at your leisure.

• Who is your target audience? What are your expectations for having a web site? Are you aiming your site to the general public? Professionals? The elderly? Artists? Do want to sell merchandise online?
• How do you envision the organization of information; how many pages? Even the smallest sites usually require a few pages...a Home page, About Us page and Contact us page. Perhaps you need a few pages to display your products?
• Text: Do you have text written that can be modified for the site? Or does new copy need to be written?
• Visual Design: Most web sites require at least some graphic elements. Is there a specific color scheme you would need to use, or a particular logo? Do you want complex graphics or would you prefer a simple, sparse look for your site? What kind of "feel" do you want for your site?
• Are there other web sites that you like? It's perfectly acceptable to use other web sites as inspiration for your own. Keep a list of sites that you like and try to note what it is it that you like about them. Is it the color? The way the information is organized? The simplicity of the graphics? The flashy, high-tech look?
• Photos: Do you need photographs of your products, personnel, facility, etc.? Are these photos already created, or will you need photographic work done also? Forms: Do you need any pages that collect information from your visitors and then automatically forward the information to you in email?
• "Shopping cart": Do you want to sell products online via an automated "shopping cart"? Or will a simple "fill in the blanks" form work just as well?
• Number of products: About how many individual products do you want to sell? Take into account different styles, colors, sizes of a particular item.
  

The process

• Register domain name. This should be done as early as possible with a reputable registration service. I can do this as part of your web design package. The cost of a domain name is $35 per year.
• Organization and site architecture; basically, figuring out which pages go where, what information will be on them, etc.
• Design & layout of visual concept. Based on our discussions, I generally design 2-3 site mockups that you can then choose from or that we can use as starting points for arriving at the final design. Final design of site. During this phase, good communication is crucial to ensure that the final result matches your ideas.
• Addition of text and pictures into final site pages, finalization of layout, and testing of all aspects of site.
• Arrange web site hosting. This is an outside service that I can arrange for you. A reliable web site host costs about $15-20 a month for most sites.
• "Go live" with site - put it online, accessible to the public.
• Register with search engines. This is an optional, although highly recommended, final step in putting your site online. This assures that your web site is seen by potential customers when using online search tools.
  
  
  Jesse L. Young Web Site Design
  425.827.4994
  jesse@jesseyoung.com