1. Website Audit and Redesign
The following Scheme of Work demonstrates the level of research we undertake to ensure a new
website truly reflects a company’s vision.
Scheme of Work
1. Introduction
People buy products and services from people they like, people they trust and people who are
credible. This is particularly true in a service industry. The website is one of the media to
communicate this message – will your potential clients like, trust and believe that your service
matches their needs? A client’s whole experience of selecting your company may hinge on what, at
first sight, is a small part of the marketing process. Capturing and keeping the client’s attention on
the website is paramount.
The overall purpose of a website is to attract clients and encourage them to contact you. The
website’s secondary function is to educate and inform. Thirdly, websites are users’ preferred source
for contact details. All your staff should be proud of the website and be keen to let their contacts
know about it.
2. Initial Research
Initial research by Alterra with your team to establish:
a. Goal setting for the website in order to align the design with the desired audience.
Some of the questions which need answering include:
i. What are the priority groups of users you want to attract to the website?
ii. What do you want them to look at?
iii. What do you want them to do next?
b. Analysis of existing website’s statistics.
c. Definition of the deliverable and scope of the project, including discussion on photos of
partners and use of video.
d. Inclusion of new logo
e. Constraint setting in terms of budget and time.
f. Critical evaluation of the likely end-user benefits and risks of the project.
g. Development of a Project Plan
3. Requirements Analysis
A Requirements Analysis ensures that the website meets all the end users’ needs. It is an
analysis which looks at the website form the users’ point of view not from your point of view.
This is achieved with a Use Case Diagram.
4. Visual Impact Design
a. Develop layout and composition using grid theory
b. Select Browser-safe, relative typeface and font selection
c. Develop banner and logo position
d. Select heading and subheadings style
e. Choose text and background colour
f. Background texture
g. Set text leading style and text alignment
h. Determine use of underline rules
5. Site Outline design
a. From Use Case Diagram develop top-level outline
b. Create second level from the use cases that extend or include primary use cases
2. c. Assign priorites to each outline element
d. Develop site map including navigation flow ensuring 3 click rule is embedded and
avoidance of dead-ends.
e. Design in external links
f. Banner
g. Header and footer
h. Hyperlinks and icons
i. Design of icon suite
6. Usability design
a. Relative as opposed to fixed fonts
b. Liquid layout to accommodate browser size variation
c. Visited links are different colour from non-visited links
d. Use of breadcrumbs (eg Home>Business>Graphic design>Contact)
e. Images enhance the message and are not for decoration
f. Web pages use headings for users who scan and information is divided into manageable
amounts
g. Ensure accessible for users with disabilities and for users with different browsers
h. Fold line positioning for different browsers
i. Printable format
j. Consistency from page to page
k. Call to action
l. Social media inclusion
m. Content Management system decisions would be made at this stage
7. Content design
a. For each page:
i. Gather text, images, photos, downloads, links
ii. Co-ordinate text and copyright
iii. Image selection at the appropriate size and quality.
b. Photographs and video ensuring it plays in Quicktime, Windows Media Player,etc
c. Flash animation and/or music can be included unless it detracts from the site’s purpose
d. Deliver in appropriate form to developers
Amanda Brown BA MSc DIC
Alterra Business Consulting
40 Lemsford Village
Welwyn Garden City
Herts AL8 7TR
01707 373138 | 07947 502760
info@alterra-consulting.co.uk