Small Box continues the series on Web Site Porject Management with this week’s entry focusing on Web Site Planning and comments about platforms and architecture.

For Small Box, 2008 was the year we took a step back from the day to day tasks of building web sites to build a Quality Assurance Program. Over the previous two years we saw many of the same problems coming up over and over again that were decreasing efficiency and profitability, and in the end limiting us from providing the best customer service. When we were a smaller agency with 3 employees in a 200 square foot office it was easy to get the critical piece of information that was missing.

But as we grew there needed to be one place where all the information lives and can be updated by everyone. By streamlining the kickoff and production process it allows us to do some really great things to improve our customer service, like one free site update after launch and free SEO implementation.

Here are some other really great things we can do in the Planning stage that sets us apart. Some of these are necessary while others depend on the available budget, but in every case they are services that individuals and businesses are asking for, so we are providing the highest levels of service. It’s what makes us different – thorough planning and analysis before we write a line of code.

Site Architecture is the combination of technology, tools and requirements for the job. At Small Box we shy away from anything that contains licensing fees, proprietary frameworks, or end user software purchases. We do however provide design, Internet marketing, and consulting services for these clients. But our primary development architecture is open source PHP and MySQL on an Apache web host. Our Content Management System requires only a web browser and an Internet connection, there are no licensing fees, and each installation is configured specifically to our clients’ needs.

Defining Site Goals is an important first step in any project. After all if we don’t know the goals then we don’t know what we are working for. When we start a client might say “I’m embarrassed to even show them our site because it looks so bad.” That is not a goal. “I want to have the site visually integrated to our new brochure and increase new business through Organic SEO and Pay Per Click.” That is a goal.

Site Maps are visual logic documents that illustrate all the pages, content modules, and private content. It still surprises me how in the Internet of today, that clients and design companies still sometimes approach a project with no clear picture of the site prior to beginning the work. Our site maps are collaborative and no work begins on the design or programming until they are approved by the client.

Wireframes assist a designer by providing a concept of the balance between visual and functional information, a general idea of all the design requirements. Wireframes are informed by an understanding of the primary and secondary audiences for a site and asking the question, “What do we want them to do?”

Baseline Analysis is a process reserved for the redesign of an existing site by examining Search Engine Results Pages, usability studies of the current site, and surveys of staff and customers about desired features

Keyword Research gives us a picture of the actual keywords that people are using to find sites like yours, and we are able to create a map of words to pages.

Strategic Web Business Planning this is a process for future blog entries. Many people come to Small Box with business ideas, but few have thought through all the business issues the way we do in the planning phase.

Risk Assessment is also a lengthy process for future blog entries.