Step 1: Do Your Homework

A thoughtful Web exploration process is an opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on the Internet and your competition.

Once you know what is out there and how to rate your competitions web site you will be ready to start designing your own site.  Remember that web sites change daily – it pays to monitor the pulse of the Internet on a regular basis.

Know your options  

Check out different kinds of web sites to see what kinds of options are currently being used, and how. Can you tell which web sites have been updated and which have not?

Look for streaming video, rotating pictures, sound, etc.  Make lists of content, features, and design elements you like and don't like. Note the first impression, location of the navigation bar, color schemes, and the use of animations. 

Understand how people read the web:

Watch how you read a web page - did you read or scan? Most people scan web pages, they don't read them. According to a recent study, 79 percent of Web users scan any new page for individual words and sentences; only 16 percent read it word-for-word.

The implications? Use highlighted keywords, sub-headings, bulleted lists, one idea per paragraph, and half the word-count of conventional writing.

Explore the Competition

Download the Google tool bar and turn on the pageRaking option.  Explore your competition’s websites.  What page did you ‘land’ on?  What was the Google pageRank? 

What was your first impression, location of navigation, color schemes etc.  Which page on which web site do you think works?  Which web pages do not work?  Why?  Is there an area they have not considered?  What audience have they targeted?  What options do they offer to get their audience to come back to the website?