The document is a workshop presentation on what makes a good website, discussing key elements such as design, usability, and the importance of online presence for businesses. It emphasizes the need for clear specifications when developing a website and understanding the differences between online and offline business strategies. It also highlights the growing trend of online shopping and the necessity of keeping website content engaging and accessible for users.

1. What makes a good website? Presented by: Steve Gale Pyxisoft Ltd www.pyxisoft.com In collaboration with: Alan Holding Manchester Digital Development Agency manchesterdda.com

2. This workshop is 1 of 5 What makes a good website Payment systems Attracting customers – Marketing and Social Networks Attracting customers – Search Engine Optimisation & Advertising Stay Legal

3. Why have a website? Differences between online and offline shops Differences between global brands and small business websites Elements of a good website – design, layout… Coffee break Developing a website specification Some quick tips – domain names, keeping a ‘lever arch file’ for your website, statistics What I’m going to talk about

4. New figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index show that online spending reached £4.67 billion in December. ....up by 14.2 per cent compared to 2007, as the internet became a more popular way for consumers to do their shopping. “ ...consumers are turning to the internet as the most efficient way to save money in the downturn," comments Mike Petevinos, spokesman for Capgemini. Dec 08 online sales up 14.2% Source: IAB UK http://tinyurl.com/cv2e72

5. Raise brand awareness Provide information on your products and services Give customers a way of contacting you Sell products or services online Collect data about your clients for later use Why have a website?

6. Raise brand awareness Provide information on your products and services Give customers a way of contacting you Sell products or services online Collect data about your clients for later use Why have a website?

7. Raise brand awareness Provide information on your products and services Give customers a way of contacting you Sell products or services online Collect data about your clients for later use Why have a website?

8. Raise brand awareness Provide information on your products and services Give customers a way of contacting you Sell products or services online Collect data about your clients for later use Why have a website?

9. Raise brand awareness Provide information on your products and services Give customers a way of contacting you Sell products or services online Collect data about your clients for later use Why have a website?

10. Differences between… Online shop Open all the time Available to anyone anywhere they can access the internet Shopping is facilitated by technology - there is NO personal contact Offline shop Tends to have fixed opening hours Number of customers can be dependent on location Face-to-face interaction is a big part of the process

11. Global brand They don’t have to explain who they are People are usually very clear on what services or products that brand represents Small business People on the internet might not know who they are Has to explain who they are, what they do Has to work harder to make themselves stand out Differences between…

12. Design Layout Content Elements of a good website Usability

13. A well designed, usable website Why are these important? Good customer experience =

14. Consistent look and feel – website design follows your “corporate brand” Good use of images A sense of professionalism Design

15. Consistent look and feel – website design follows your “corporate brand” Good use of images A sense of professionalism Design

16. Consistent look and feel – website design follows your “corporate brand” Good use of images A sense of professionalism Design

17. Make it easy to find your way around the site Position your key messages correctly People usually scan web pages not read them Evaluate regularly and change things that don’t work! Layout

18. Make it easy to find your way around the site Position your key messages correctly People usually scan web pages not read them Evaluate regularly and change things that don’t work! Layout

19. Make it easy to find your way around the site Position your key messages correctly People usually scan web pages not read them Evaluate regularly and change things that don’t work! Layout

20. Make it easy to find your way around the site Position your key messages correctly People usually scan web pages not read them Evaluate regularly and change things that don’t work! Layout

21. The most common monitor resolution is 1024 x 768 Keep this is mind when having your website designed Remember to keep your most important messages at the top, so people don’t have to scroll down pages to see them A note about screen sizes

22. The most common monitor resolution is 1024 x 768 Keep this is mind when having your website designed Remember to keep your most important messages at the top, so people don’t have to scroll down pages to see them A note about screen sizes

23. The most common monitor resolution is 1024 x 768 Keep this is mind when having your website designed Remember to keep your most important messages at the top, so people don’t have to scroll down pages to see them A note about screen sizes

24. Content is the stuff on your website – words, pictures, video, audio, forms, error pages, etc. Your website IS driven by content. Avoid complex language – use plain language and say what you see! Know your audience. Check for spilling messtakes. Content

25. Content is the stuff on your website – words, pictures, video, audio, forms, error pages, etc. Your website IS driven by content. Avoid complex language – use plain language and say what you see! Know your audience. Check for spilling messtakes. Content

26. Content is the stuff on your website – words, pictures, video, audio, forms, error pages, etc. Your website IS driven by content. Avoid complex language – use plain language and say what you see! Know your audience. Check for spilling messtakes. Content

27. Content is the stuff on your website – words, pictures, video, audio, forms, error pages, etc. Your website IS driven by content. Avoid complex language – use plain language and say what you see! Know your audience. Check for spilling messtakes. Content

28. Content is the stuff on your website – words, pictures, video, audio, forms, error pages, etc. Your website IS driven by content. Avoid complex language – use plain language and say what you see! Know your audience. Check for spilling messtakes. Content

29. If customers can’t use your website to do stuff, even if the website looks nice, is it doing its job? Remember that customers come to your website to carry out a specific task – find out who you are, buy something from you, etc. The design of your website should help customers do those tasks. Test the website. What happens when things go wrong. Do you know when things go wrong? Usability

30. If customers can’t use your website to do stuff, even if the website looks nice, is it doing its job? Remember that customers come to your website to carry out a specific task – find out who you are, buy something from you, etc. The design of your website should help customers do those tasks. Test the website. What happens when things go wrong. Do you know when things go wrong? Usability

31. If customers can’t use your website to do stuff, even if the website looks nice, is it doing its job? Remember that customers come to your website to carry out a specific task – find out who you are, buy something from you, etc. The design of your website should help customers do those tasks. Test the website. What happens when things go wrong. Do you know when things go wrong? Usability

32. If customers can’t use your website to do stuff, even if the website looks nice, is it doing its job? Remember that customers come to your website to carry out a specific task – find out who you are, buy something from you, etc. The design of your website should help customers do those tasks. Test the website. What happens when things go wrong. Do you know when things go wrong? Usability

33. If customers can’t use your website to do stuff, even if the website looks nice, is it doing its job? Remember that customers come to your website to carry out a specific task – find out who you are, buy something from you, etc. The design of your website should help customers do those tasks. Test the website. What happens when things go wrong. Do you know when things go wrong? Usability

34. sensible.com

35. Examples…

36. boomkat.com

37. www.flickr.com

38. waterstones.com

39. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/

40. moo.com

41. www.cardinalmaritime.com

42. www.traditionalpaving.co.uk

43. www.autotrader.co.uk

44. www.bbc.co.uk

45. Coffee break Please take this opportunity to fill in the assistance form that is in your pack. Thank you!

46. Are you clear on what you want your website to do? Make a list of requirements in non-technical language Be specific – you want a search, but how should the search results be presented? Itemise each requirement so a “cost” can be attached to them – time, money, resources Put requirements into phases – this prioritised list can be the start of your website business plan Refer to the website business plan in meetings with developers Writing a website specification

47. Are you clear on what you want your website to do? Make a list of requirements in non-technical language Be specific – you want a search, but how should the search results be presented? Itemise each requirement so a “cost” can be attached to them – time, money, resources Put requirements into phases – this prioritised list can be the start of your website business plan Refer to the website business plan in meetings with developers Writing a website specification

48. Are you clear on what you want your website to do? Make a list of requirements in non-technical language Be specific – you want a search, but how should the search results be presented? Itemise each requirement so a “cost” can be attached to them – time, money, resources Put requirements into phases – this prioritised list can be the start of your website business plan Refer to the website business plan in meetings with developers Writing a website specification

49. Are you clear on what you want your website to do? Make a list of requirements in non-technical language Be specific – you want a search, but how should the search results be presented? Itemise each requirement so a “cost” can be attached to them – time, money, resources Put requirements into phases – this prioritised list can be the start of your website business plan Refer to the website business plan in meetings with developers Writing a website specification

50. Are you clear on what you want your website to do? Make a list of requirements in non-technical language Be specific – you want a search, but how should the search results be presented? Itemise each requirement so a “cost” can be attached to them – time, money, resources Put requirements into phases – this prioritised list can be the start of your website business plan Refer to the website business plan in meetings with developers Writing a website specification

51. Are you clear on what you want your website to do? Make a list of requirements in non-technical language Be specific – you want a search, but how should the search results be presented? Itemise each requirement so a “cost” can be attached to them – time, money, resources Put requirements into phases – this prioritised list can be the start of your website business plan Refer to the website business plan in meetings with developers Writing a website specification

52. www.37signals.com/papers/introtopatterns/

53. Be clear on what you want to achieve Think about your audience Research other websites – competitors, market leaders, websites your target audience would visit Ask friends, family and colleagues what websites they like and DON’T like – and why. Make a list of websites you like, don’t like, compete against or aspire to Homework

54. Be clear on what you want to achieve Think about your audience Research other websites – competitors, market leaders, websites your target audience would visit Ask friends, family and colleagues what websites they like and DON’T like – and why. Make a list of websites you like, don’t like, compete against or aspire to Homework

55. Be clear on what you want to achieve Think about your audience Research other websites – competitors, market leaders, websites your target audience would visit Ask friends, family and colleagues what websites they like and DON’T like – and why. Make a list of websites you like, don’t like, compete against or aspire to Homework

56. Be clear on what you want to achieve Think about your audience Research other websites – competitors, market leaders, websites your target audience would visit Ask friends, family and colleagues what websites they like and DON’T like – and why. Make a list of websites you like, don’t like, compete against or aspire to Homework

57. Be clear on what you want to achieve Think about your audience Research other websites – competitors, market leaders, websites your target audience would visit Ask friends, family and colleagues what websites they like and DON’T like – and why. Make a list of websites you like, don’t like, compete against or aspire to Homework

58. Find and employ a web professional

59. Some quick tips…

60. Do you know who owns your domain name? Do you know when your domain name will expire? Do you have an automatic renewal process in place? Do you know which company you registered your domain name with? Use a service like whois.net or nominet.org.uk to find out details about your domain name Domain names

61. Do you know who owns your domain name? Do you know when your domain name will expire? Do you have an automatic renewal process in place? Do you know which company you registered your domain name with? Use a service like whois.net or nominet.org.uk to find out details about your domain name Domain names

62. Do you know who owns your domain name? Do you know when your domain name will expire? Do you have an automatic renewal process in place? Do you know which company you registered your domain name with? Use a service like whois.net or nominet.org.uk to find out details about your domain name Domain names

63. Do you know who owns your domain name? Do you know when your domain name will expire? Do you have an automatic renewal process in place? Do you know which company you registered your domain name with? Use a service like whois.net or nominet.org.uk to find out details about your domain name Domain names

64. Do you know who owns your domain name? Do you know when your domain name will expire? Do you have an automatic renewal process in place? Do you know which company you registered your domain name with? Use a service like whois.net or nominet.org.uk to find out details about your domain name Domain names

65. Keep all the paperwork about your website in it Keep a copy in another location Keep it up-to-date If you can, make scans of those paper documents and save them as images or PDFs as backups A “lever arch file” for your site

66. Keep all the paperwork about your website in it Keep a copy in another location Keep it up-to-date If you can, make scans of those paper documents and save them as images or PDFs as backups A “lever arch file” for your site

67. Keep all the paperwork about your website in it Keep a copy in another location Keep it up-to-date If you can, make scans of those paper documents and save them as images or PDFs as backups A “lever arch file” for your site

68. Keep all the paperwork about your website in it Keep a copy in another location Keep it up-to-date If you can, make scans of those paper documents and save them as images or PDFs as backups A “lever arch file” for your site

69. Do you get statistics on the use of your site? Do you know about statistics services like Google Analytics and Mint? Use statistics to find out things like Popular pages Search phrases Which sites are linking to you Popular times people come to your site Website statistics

70. Do you get statistics on the use of your site? Do you know about statistics services like Google Analytics and Mint? Use statistics to find out things like Popular pages Search phrases Which sites are linking to you Popular times people come to your site Website statistics

71. Do you get statistics on the use of your site? Do you know about statistics services like Google Analytics and Mint? Use statistics to find out things like Popular pages Search phrases Which sites are linking to you Popular times people come to your site Website statistics

72. Questions? Manchester Digital Development Agency manchesterdda.com twitter.com/mdda mdda.blip.tv delicious.com/mdda Pyxisoft: Intelligent Web Solutions www.pyxisoft.com Steve Gale [email_address]