A Systematic Process for Developing Your Website
Having an effective website requires more than a nice looking design. Websites today need robust capabilities to entice donors with interactive features, have sophisticated online event registration and donor capabilities, integrate with your donor database and social media. And, be found easily in online searches. It starts with strategy that takes into account your goals and requires compelling copy and content from the users’ point of view. All things that Red Rooster Group can help you develop.
1. Planning
The first step is planning to lay a solid foundation to ensure that your site will be successful in meeting your objectives and expectations. We will review your current site and organizational needs, identify the main content and features, and develop a Site Map.
Services include:
- Assessing your current site to evaluate what’s working and what needs improvement
- Determining the goals and audiences for the site, and the specific actions for each audience.
- Interviews with your team on their expectations and priorities for the site.
- Identifying the main areas of content to be used on the site.
- SEO Planning and identifying keywords for the site.
- Identifying the specifications for the various features to be incorporated into the site, such as donation and volunteering sections, e-commerce, events calendars, petitions and other advocacy, and social media integration.
- Developing a Site Map showing all the pages of the site.
- Preparing the hosting environment.
2. Copywriting
How your site communicates what your organization is all about is critical to its success. Compelling copywriting is often an overlooked opportunity for nonprofits to draw in their donors, supporters, volunteers, and others to their cause. Our copywriting services work hand-in-hand with the design to support your objectives, so visitors are moving through your site and taking action. We break down what can seem like an overwhelming task, to facilitate copywriting.
Services include:
- Review of content on your current site (if you have one).
- Development of a Content Map listing all pages to be written.
- Developing the 3Â key points for each page.
- Developing keywords for all pages, and writing page titles.
- Writing a main headline for each page and then subheads for each section.
- Copywriting for all pages, including body copy, calls to action, photo captions, and sidebars.
- Review and revisions.
3. Design
- Development of wireframes that map out where the content, actions, and navigation are on each page.
- Flow charts that show the sequence of steps that visitors would take on more complex sites.
- Design of Homepage and Secondary pages
- Determining the type of imagery to be used on the site — photography, illustrations, infographics, etc.
- Design of the main template pages in the site.
- Design of all pages in the site.
- Review and revisions.
Imagery
What photos and videos will be used on the site? Often organizations do not have many usable images and so we look to other sources. During the design process, we will determine what type of artwork or photography would be suitable for the site and make recommendations. We may also recommend allocating a budget for a photographer to do a few shoots at the various locations.
4. Development
For most organizations, it’s essential to be able to update the content on their website without outside help. That’s why we’re strong believers in using open source Content Management Systems (CMS) such as WordPress or Drupal. We also take great pains to ensure that all features on the site look good and are well integrated with the site, such as this custom donation page we created.
Services include:
- Implementation of the Content Management System on host environment.
- Development of all pages in the CMS.
- Populating the content of all pages.
- Developing and integrating features.
- Review and refinement of all pages.
5. Testing & Launch
The final phase is testing the site to ensure the integrity in the design across various browsers and platforms, and ensuring that all features work the way they should.
Services include:
- Integrating all features with your systems, such as donor database.
- Testing of the site all features across major market browsers.
- Coordinating the launch of the site.
6. Staff Training
Our goal is to put you in the driver’s seat with your website. In handing over the keys to the car, we want to ensure that are in good hands, so we provide documentation on how to use the site, provide training for your staff, and can provide support for up to 30 days after the site launches so that you have a chance to add content on your own.
Services include:
- Website user guide.
- Training for staff.
- Support period to answer your questions on using the site.
- Read article “10 Steps to Creating an Effective Websiteâ€
- Contact Red Rooster Group for help with your website.
Red Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, fundraising, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.