Do you want to use the entire name on the site or just the domain name?   ‚ Entire Name   ‚ Domain Name

3. Do you already have a logo and other graphics to be used?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

If not, do you want to have one created?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

4. Have you identified a tagline?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No (A tagline example is like "Reach out and touch someone", etc.)

5. If you do have a tagline, what is it? _______________________________________________________________________

Step 2: Determine the Purpose of your Site
Size up Your competition. This simple important step will help you to determine the main purpose of your site. It will also give you an idea of what specific online features you want to offer potential clients.

Search for businesses that have web sites in the same field as yours. These businesses will be your Internet competitors and you want carefully view how they have done things. See what online services they offer. What are they charging for a similar product? What features are on their site? Do they have online payment capabilities?
List 4 of your competitor’s sites:

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your next step is to figure out what exactly you want your web site to do for your business. Is its purpose to sell your products directly over the Internet? Or maybe you just want to advertise your “brick and mortar” business to increase brand awareness. Do you want to start an online community where people can interact with each other? Perhaps you are just wanting to collect leads for business to business sales with an e-mail form? List a brief description below:

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Who is your intended audience? __________________________________________________________________________

Are they regional, industry specific, company size specific, etc.? __________________________________________________

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Describe your ideal client and tell us about any specific attributes that they would want or expect in your website. Remember you are building your site for your visitors and what they want and need.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Step 3: Online Transactions

If you want to take online transactions on your site, you will have to determine many more characteristics.

What are you selling or soliciting? _________________________________________________________________________

How many products are you offering? ______________________________________________________________________

Do you need or want to take donations on-line?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Do you want to sell gift certificates on-line?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Do you need or want to take coupons or code discounts?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Are you selling real products, digital products or a service(s)? ____________________________________________________

How will you be shipping real products?    ‚ UPS    ‚ FedEx   ‚ US Postal Service   ‚ Other

Are shipments based on weight, destination, percentage of sale, flat fee? __________________________________________

What are those charges? _______________________________________________________________________________

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Will you be selling to other countries or just inside the United States?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Do you need to charge sales tax?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No   If yes, State? _______________ Percent ______________

Will you need tracking numbers for shipments?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Do you have different options for each product, like color: red, blue, green, yellow, etc.?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Will you need to take recurring billing payments?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Do you need to collect a one time or start up charge in addition to recurring billing?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

If so what is the amount for one time charge? ________________________________________________________________

Do you need special shipping instructions from customers?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Do you need a special instruction page that pops up after purchase is complete?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Will you need a customer database on your site?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Do you have an account for a payment gateway like 2CheckOut or PayPal? Or do you have a Merchant Account that uses a gateway like VeriSign?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

If yes, which one do you have an account with? _______________________________________________________________

Step 4: Special Added Features

Determine what kind of features you would like to add for your visitors. Here is a list of a few popular features that you may want to consider. Do you intend to provide a call to action - fill out a form, be added to a mailing list, take a survey, etc?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Describe: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Animations or flash movies.   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Discussion forums.   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Guest book. This is a good idea for a personal site.   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Photo displays. There are many, many ways to display photos on your site - everything from a photo gallery upload like Copper Mountain to a flash photo slideshow.   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Describe ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Put a “refer this site” script on your page.   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Banner rotation scripts. (Usually used for affiliate programs or cross linking)   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Chat-rooms, or instant chat. These are a great idea if you want to have online customer service. Check out Humanclick.com or others online.    ‚ Yes    ‚ No

Other _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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Step 5: Organize Your Site

Decide how many pages your web site will need, what will those pages should be called, and what information you want on them?

This is very much like creating an old fashioned outline with sub headings. Of course you do not have to have sub headings or sub navigation. Remember, simple is usually better, ensuring that is easy for your visitors to find their way around.
Create the outline and then fill in the pages in a text editor like Microsoft Word or Edit Pad. Please do not use Publisher or other lesser known programs. We may not have compatible programs to read it.

See an example below:

• Home
• About Us
  • History
  • Management
  • Customer Service
• Products
  • Rings
  • Necklaces
  • Bracelets
  • Earrings
  • Resources
• Contact Us

Step 6: Determine the “Look and Feel” of Your Site

Your web site will be representing your business. It should be more than just an online flyer or advertisement. Your visitors should feel comfortable with the navigation. Web pages should be organized, well written, and attractive. Never annoy your visitors by putting up pop up or pop under ads, flashing banner ads, or scripts that won’t let your visitors leave your page.
The colors in your site should be appealing and non offensive. Try to pick colors that compliment each other and are easy on the eye. Also may sure that contrast of the page and type makes it easily readable. Use brighter colors to “sell” (or at least bring attention to) specific areas.

Keep navigation simple, neat and consistent. Too many scripts and animation can often be annoying and distracting, especially for returning visitors. Too much can also affect time it takes to load.

1. Please provide a list of websites that you like and don't like. Why do you or do you not like these sites?

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2. Do you have any ideas about the colors to be used, and colors you don't like? Please provide example sites.

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3. Do you have an intended website screen size – 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, or stretch to the entire width of the screen?
We urge you to optimize for 1024 x 768 with a small margin on the left and right.

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4. If the site isn't the entire width of the screen do you have a preference for left or center alignment?    ‚ Left    ‚ Center

5. Do you have a horizontal or left-side vertical preference for the main navigation?    ‚ Horizontal    ‚ Left-Side

6. Do you have existing business cards or other printed material we need to match?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

7. Do you have custom artwork or photographs in digital format or ready to scan when we start work?   ‚ Yes   ‚ No

Just download the checklist. Mouse over and click and you can start typing; then just tab to to each new question to complete the form. Skip any questions that are not relevant to your site.

When finished with the Checklist and Your Site Outline and Text Copy, send to us via email at info@kustomsites.com

We will discuss the best way to obtain your photos and artwork.