Website Redesign: Initiation

A NON-WEB DEVELOPERS GUIDE TO A WEBSITE REDESIGN
Download the template now

PHASE 1: PLAN

The project sponsors and other important stakeholders will decide whether to commit to the web project and define it at a broad level.

Identify the website’s purpose.

• What is the rationale for embarking on this website project?
  Example: We want a website that focuses solely on this program and the functions related to applying, enrolling, and being a student of the program.
• What are your objectives and how will you leverage the website to achieve them?
  Example: Increase newsletter subscriptions by making the web form responsive and brief.

Determine success metrics.

• How will you measure impact and success?
  Example: Increase subscriptions 10%, from 500 to 550.

Identify target audiences and audience goals.

• Who are the primary and secondary audiences?
  Examples: Prospective undergraduate students, current undergraduate students, prospective graduate students, current graduate students.
• Are there any other key audiences that will visit the website?
  Examples: High school counselors, parents of prospective undergraduate students.
• What are the top three tasks you want each of these audiences to do on the website?
  Examples: Read graduate program descriptions, learn how to apply, sign up for the newsletter.

Assemble a project team.

Who will be involved in the building, launch, and maintenance of your website? To determine whether you may need to hire an external vendor, answer the following questions:

• Do you have an in-house web developer? Yes/No
• Do you have an in-house content writer and editor? Yes/No
• Do you have an in-house designer? Yes/No
• Do internal team members have the bandwidth to make the website a top priority during key phases of the project? Yes/No

If you answered, “No” to any of the questions above, you should plan to hire freelance professionals or agencies. In this case, you will need to prepare a Scope of Work in order to find the best professionals to work with within your budget.

For those considering hiring a third party for their website work, Georgia Tech has an enterprise-wide contract in place that allows you to quickly get estimates from a group of pre-approved vendors. 

Resources:

• Hiring a Website Vendor (aka, How to navigate the enterprise-wide web projects contract)
• Scope of Work Examples: Small and Large Website Projects
  (Note: you will need to login with your GT account information to access these documents.)

TIP:
“Around this time, there may be a need to develop a communications strategy around the redesign effort and launch. In some instances, the communications will primarily be internal.” Shayla Hill, Assistant Director - Digital Strategy

Next Step

Once the project has been formally started, all team members should participate in the discovery part of the Planning Phase.