Enthusiasm does not replace a lack of preparation. The purpose, business model, target market and competitive strategies should be determined even before you draw the blueprint of your website.

Purpose: what is the site for?

• What are your business and personal objectives?
   

• What type of business model should you choose?

• Transactions
  • sell your own products
  • sell other business products (reseller)
     
• Information publishing
  • offer information to share knowledge
  • provide information to attract traffic and generate income through sponsorship, advertising, subscriptions, memberships, affiliates
     
• Directory, index
   
• Vanity site: online presence only
   
• Any combination of above models.

Target market: who is it for?
 

• Who will be your visitors? Draw a profile (eg age, gender, lifestyle, culture).
   
• Will you attract new visitors or existing customers
   
• Will your audience be local or global?
   
• How competent are your potential visitors with online technology (ability to navigate)?
   
• Are you looking for qualified leads or the greatest number of visitors?

Competition: how do you compare?

• What differentiates you from the other million websites: originality, customer service, price, product?
   
• What does your competitor's website look like?
   
• Why would people buy from you? What's your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?
   
• What are your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)?

Content: how will you communicate your message?
 

• What information and how much should you provide? How much does your audience knows about your business?
   
• How many sections? On what basis  (eg type of audience, product) will you categorise your information?
   
• How will your audience take action (eg enrolment, feedback, contact or order form)?
   
• Do you need visuals?

Other planning considerations
 

• Your budget
   
• Your type of products and services.
   
• Your human resources
   
• Traffic size expected
   
• Administrative implications.