Website Audit

A 7-step approach to the development of a new website

We use a seven-step approach to new website development to test business plan assumptions and ensure that all areas of the website are thoroughly covered:

• How should the new website look and be laid out?
  
• How should the documents on the website be categorised?
  
• What content do you currently have that would be relevant to the new website?
  
• What is the website development plan and upgrade path for the new website?
  
• What is the gap between current content and content required for the new website?
  
• What new content needs to be created?
  
• What are customer reactions to the website?

  

Develop, revise or implement the website development plan.

Step 1: How should the new website look and be laid out?

• We guide you through best practice in site design and layout to ensure the success of the new website
• We provide guidance on the functionality required for the website and how the technology interfaces with your customers
• The site design is based on ensuring it is customer friendly and has intuitive functionality

Website Design : Provide advice on industry best practice in site design, layout and functionality. To ensure the websites meets customer needs.

 

Provides:

1. In partnership with the website developer clear guidelines on the functionality of the site
2. An independent view on whether the site meets the customer needs

Step 2: How should the documents on the website be  categorised?

• The categorisation of the documents is central to the audit approach of new website development
• The categorisation is designed to be customer friendly and intuitive to complement the layout of the new website
• The documents can be categorised in a variety of ways and by a number of criteria

Document Categorisation : The categorisation format is agreed through consultation with the client and is ensured to work with the CMS for the new site.

 

Allows the creation of a searchable database of content:

1. Designed to fit within the existing CMS structure or the new CMS structure or both
2. Customer testing can be used to ensure that the categorisation is customer facing and meets the demands of your customers
   

Step 3:  What content do you currently have that would be relevant to a new website?

• Review and evaluate material currently held by your company that could be described as leading edge information and advice
• The documents are categorised in a number of ways and can include a rating (red, amber, green) as to the applicability of the content to the new site

 

Website Audit : A team of experienced business researchers will manually audit the content of your current website(s),  and categorise the documents along predetermined classifications. This gives a robust methodology to what documents will be moved to the new website and in where they should be placed within the new site structure.

 

1. Creation of a searchable database of your current content
2. The content forms the basis of the new site design to maximise the value of existing material and minimise the expense of new content creation
   

Step 4: What is the website development plan and upgrade path for the new website?

• The website development plan focuses on setting attainable goals for the new website
• This sets out how the content development fits in with the development of the technical side of the website
• Potential problems with the development are highlighted at an early stage to ensure smooth delivery

Website Development Plan : A report is produced setting out the steps required to create the new website and ensure the smooth delivery of the new website.

 

Provides:

1. Management with an overview of the website development project
2. Timelines for the various stages of the project and an estimation of the internal and external resources required to deliver the project
   
   

Step 5: What is the gap between current content and content  required for the new website?

• The gap analysis provides an in depth look at the volume and quality of documents currently available
• Gaps are highlighted where there is no existing content or where the content is not of a high enough quality for the new website

Gap Analysis : Using the database created in step 3 an analysis of the gaps for the new website is created.

 

Provides a report:

1. Showing in what areas the current content is strong and where it is weak
2. Highlights where existing content needs to be rewritten
3. Gives actionable insight into where new content is required
   

Step 6: What new content needs to be created?

• We make recommendations based on business best practice on exactly what content needs to be created for the new website to fill in the gaps highlighted in step 5
• We can then support your internal term in what content needs to be created
• We also have a team of experienced business writers and content experts who are able to create the new content for the website

New Content Recommendations: We make recommendations on what new content is required for the new website to be created through your in house resources or by our content team.

New Content Creation: A team of consultants can create content of a high quality to a tight deadline for the new website.

 

Provides:

1. Guidance on what content needs to be created
2. Can provide experienced business writers to create high quality new content
   

Step 7: What are customer reactions to the website?

• An example website can be created containing the proposed site structure and example content
• A focus group is used to test the site to ensure that it meets the needs of the customer before the launch of the website

Customer Testing : The site is tested through the use of focus groups to ensure it delivers on the key needs and demands of your customers.

 

A report including:

1. The results of the focus groups including feedback
2. Recommendations on changes that should be made to the site design, layout and content of the site before the site is launched