We have founded or opened our business or a business already exists. For that the foremost requirement is to have a presence on the ubiquitous internet. This is the basic and one of the most important requirements for any kind of businesses out there today.
Before we publish the business website or open for the public to view our business website a high-level validation is very necessary, since it is viewed by many.
Follow these guidelines according to your website. Understand that not all websites are similar nor these guidelines are in particular order. However, these are the major things that need to be validated before going public with your (business) website. Here are the five final guidelines (with Five Functional validations) to validate before you hit the publish button or go public with the website.
1. Functionality:
How purposeful (focused) is your website?
In functionality the first requirement to validate is on business strategy.
1. Strategy:
Strategy is what the firm is willing to provide. That is the scope of the business.
Example, Starbucks strategy is to provide coffee with an ambiance (experience) for its consumers. Starbucks commitment (focus) and its processes are consistently connected to this strategy.
Hence, before publishing the website, validate that the overall business strategy has been tightly knitted into the business website.
In Functionality the second requirement to validate is on the business segment.
2. Segment:
Segment is your target audience. According to the segment businesses provide their services.
Example, LinkedIn visitors predominantly are professionals who are looking for either connecting with other professionals or with recruiters or professional who are there for learning or professionals looking for jobs.
Hence, before publishing the website validate whether the services you are providing are meeting with your target audience (segment) on your website.
In Functionality the third requirement to validate is on the Site Map.
3. Site Map:
Site Mapping is charting of the business services that the businesses provide. Adapting a viable mapping makes navigation easy for the users or visitors.
Example, most of the e-Commerce website generally has number of categories to be displayed with sub categories and sub-sub categories (drop down) in within the available space.
Hence, before publishing the website validate your mapping on your website and feel how easy it is for the user to navigate on your website page to page.
In Functionality the Fourth requirement to validate is on the Site Design.
4. Site Design:
Site design is planning how to space the available place strategically for the users or visitors to view and weigh in about the product(s).
Example, when a visitor visits an e-Commerce home site (page) like Amazon, the visitor should be able to know what the best-selling (sold) items are for that week and also the items that are on sale for that day or for that week and so on. Basically a lot of information should be displayed within the available space strategically.
Hence, before publishing the website validate your site design according to your product(s) that should be displayed strategically crafting the space tactfully.
In Functionality the Fifth requirement to validate is on the Site Scalability.
5. Site Scalability:
Site Scalability is how easily one can update or include a new feature to your website into the overall design of the website without amending the overall site design or site mapping.
Example, as I mention earlier on an e-Commerce site there might be number of categories and if you need to include one more new category with a sub-categories the site (system) should be built in such a way to easily accommodate this requirement without changing or amending the overall structure or design or site mapping.
Hence, before publishing the website validate your Site Scalability (depending on the business) if you need (might want) to include any new feature in the future.
2. Convenience:
Convenience is about, how conveniently (accessibly) a user can lever and linger around on your website?
It is how conveniently the websites have been arranged from strategy to services to mapping to designing so that the visitor can happily stay and browse with ease.
Example, some web culture has been so ingrained (defaulted) into the user (visitors) mindset that the login (Sign In) button is usually on the right hand side of the user’s screen. Hence, a user unconsciously looks for a login on the right side of the user screen. Placing the login button on the right hand side of the user’s screen makes much more sense and convenient. Because it is so normal for the user rather than lingering around in search of the login (Sign In) button here and there on the website might ultimately leave the website without registering or signing in.
Hence, for the convenience of the user we need to arrange the services, design and mapping according to the web culture most of the world is following out there.
3. Eye Appealing:
How appealing or aesthetic is your website on/in the eyes of the users?
Being eye appealing is the preferences and choices that are made according to their business strategy and business segment. Since, each color is associated with a special energy and vibe. Choose a color that might match to your strategy, core values, mission and segment.
Hence, provide an eye appealing pleasant color combination that is attractive at the same time soothing to the user’s or visitors eyes.
4. Information:
How you want to provide the information and what information you want to provide on the website according to your business?
Sharing information through your story to tell or writing about page or including about your strategic partners or your core values, mission and strategic statements that you want users (visitors) to share with.
5. Other details:
Other details are (might be) about sharing the site with your other social media accounts and contact details etc.
In conclusion, in one line, your business website can be THE ONE major factor (among many) differentiating your business from your competitors.