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Blue Prints for Websites
...some people may call this information architecture, but we go a lot further...
Blue Prints are a recipe for building your website. They are typically used to brief web and technical teams in what your website needs to do. Following a comprehensive analysis of your business, we will advise you on the structure, content and design style of your website that would be most suited to your customers and your commercial aspirations.
Blue Prints contain...
- An Overview of the Audience
How, why and when the different categories of customer will use your website. - Your Customer Journeys
How the different types of user will interact with your business. - The Website Structure
How the sections fit together and where the content will come from. - A Functional Description
How the sections and features technically interact with the user. - A Content Management Plan
How the website will be managed after launch.
The blue printing process highlights areas of ambiguity early on in a project, removing scope for misinterpretation once the build commences. If you are recruiting a website agency to build your website, Blue prints can also be used in the pitch process, asking companies to bid against building exactly what you need. How many times have you used a website that does things in an un-natural manner? Maybe that was because the website was unable to do what you expected it to do because the underlying technology is unsuitable. We believe that design and technology based decisions should be made after your blueprint is complete.
We work on the detail at the beginning and support your teams to build you the most effective website, on schedule and within budget.
The foundations of a successful website start with a Blue Print.
the process
We start by establishing the key stakeholders, and the aims & objectives of your project. We then collate and prioritise these to produce a document detailing what the project needs to do for each key stakeholder. We call this the Root Definition. The root definition enables the project to have a consistent objective throughout, which can be drawn from and checked against at all times.
Next we consider the detail needed to implement the project. This could include:
- Current site usage
- Technical detail
- Branding
- Detailed Audience Description (who is the site aimed at)
- Defined Audience Usage (why would they visit the site – all eventualities)
- Scenarios of Use (how can the audience needs be addressed?)
- Business Requirements (what the business needs to achieve from the site)
- General business awareness (structure, targets, competitors etc)
- Team Structure (how will the site be managed?)
- Business implications
- Global issues (localisation)
Once the necessary research has been completed, the findings need to be developed in order to create a suggested site map and list of the functionality needed. For this we use traditional user centred design tools such as card sorting tasks, paper prototyping and scenario building. These lead to the initial site plan and customer journey maps, which can then be tested against business and user requirements in order to establish if it meets all needs. The navigational and content plans are then built into a comprehensive brief so that the design and technical team can begin work.
By continually referring back to the requirements as agreed in the Root Definition, we are able to keep the project within scope and on track.
the outcome
Well planned blue prints ensure a better user experience that is highly customer focused. They also support high conversion rates as they ensure the route to the conversion point or goal is easy to follow.
Blueprints can have a direct impact on both the construction and maintenance costs of your site. A well organized site enables better content management, which becomes especially important as your site expands and changes according to customer needs and shifting markets. Smart content management can also increase search engine visibility and make analytics easier to obtain so that you can monitor your website's performance. Through meticulous customer journey planning, you will ensure your analytics help you with key business decisions as well as monitoring your website's performance.
Once you have your blueprint, the next step is to perform usability testing on the resulting website prototypes and designs.
the detail
When should I do it?
Website blueprinting should be your very first step towards creating your new website, before any talk of visual design and technical solutions. Blue printing will save you time, effort and money in the long run too.
How long will it take?
Blueprints need space for thought and consideration. The process may involve interviewing employees and customers, which has to fit around everybody's diaries. On average, the whole process is completed within 2 months.
How much will it cost?
Costs are hugely dependent on the complexity of your business, segmentation of your customers and project ambitions. Blue prints start at £6,000 for a typical SME.
Interested in Blueprints?
Contact Us to discuss your website blueprint needs.