Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Ted, I think you`ve provided pretty much that "site plan" in the context of what I was asking.

On another thread, people wonder what is SuN all about. To me, it`s this kind of shared knowledge coming from all kinds of sources. The intermingling of long-term corporate and enterprise people with people new to the business community shows up nicely.

Thanks for the break-out. I think it`s a solid foundation, and it encompasses I think both Edgar`s and Nikole`s part of the process, folding the two into a larger "plan."

So now you techies have posted . . . but from a laywoman`s point of view -- I wanted a brick & mortar in a lucrative business and the one that was for sale wasn`t quite kosher and not nearly worth what the owner was asking.  I went outside the box and asked my wonderful self how I could accomplish what I want -- was there another way?  I decided to go e-commerce with the same business as the brick & mortar.  First I harvested info from employees of the b&m to figure out what products  sell best, found sources for those products, did research at SuNation on what makes for good websites, did extensive surfing and made notes on what I  liked and didn`t like about various sites, figured out a name and got it registered and parked, built me a crude website with all the info I THOUGHT would be needed, and then hired out the job.

What was important to me?  A site that looks professional, is secure, works, is fun, doesn`t look cluttered, is easy to use, and generates income.  Did I know how to do that?  Not just no, but H*LL NO.  I am not a techie and was totally naive as to the things needed to develop a site that would do what I wanted,so it is taking a bit longer than I thought, but fortunately my developer/designer gets it that I don`t get it!

So, did I have a plan?  Goals?  Desires?  Wants?  Needs?  Yes, albeit in crude form.  But if the developer couldn`t figure out what I was asking for and didn`t know what I was trying to achieve, the site would be a flop.

The point I think I`m trying to make is that it doesn`t matter to me site map vs. marketing plan, as long as you professionals that I hire know how to interpret what I ask for and be able to explain what you need to do the job well.

 

OOops!  It posted before I could finish and sign off.  The client has to figure some of it out, but the developer/designer has to put it all together, put in all the stuff I didn`t know I needed and be able to explain it so I understand it.

Site plan, Site Map, Marketing Plan, whatever.  It`s like a chicken and egg to me -- which came first????   All I know is that my site is almost done!

jillybeans

Maybe a better way to phrase it is that the client has to have a basic plan, and also have a good developer. However, their marketing agency or "ad agency" should know how to pull it all together?

Developers shouldn`t have to write content, and store owners shouldn`t have to know web design. So who`s left? Who`s in charge? :-)

Craig,

I think it has to be C) All of the above!  The owner has to be in charge of final approval on artwork/layout/content -- the developer has to be in charge of how it gets done -- the marketing person has to be in charge of the plan to get the word out about the site.  I think it has to be a comingled job because the owner`s vision might not be marketable in the format the owner originally wants or it might not be in the best interests of the business to do it that particular way.  The developer might need other stuff to do his/her job properly.  The marketing expert might want to suggest other things be included to make the site more appealing.  Etc., etc., and so forth.

Obviously this would be regarding an online business; however, I think it also pertains to a business that wishes to have a presence online because the world needs to know of its existence.  For example, I have a friend who is a well known real estate developer in the midwest.  One of his companies has a two page informational website -- the purpose is strictly to tell about the company, not to solicit business.  It still has to look good, be professional, etc.

jillybeans