Web Design All-in-One for Dummies®

Chapter 3. Gathering Content

In This Chapter

• Determining a site's content needs

• Gathering existing content and obtaining new content

• Organizing site content

• Creating a visual site map

At this point in the process, you've created an identity for the site, have a clear understanding of the target audience, know who the ideal site visitor is, and recognize the benefits that can be offered to site visitors. You're now at the stage where you can begin guiding the Web client in the task of gathering and organizing content for the site in a useful and meaningful way. Content includes any text, logos and branding, graphics, photos, illustrations, Flash movies, MP3s, QuickTime videos, plug-ins, and so forth that will appear on the site.

Why would you (and your client) want to determine the site's content needs before you begin working on the design? Because the content can help determine the design, organization, navigation, and layout of the site. You need this information now, before you start the design.

With luck, the client has already prepared a lot of this material for you, and your work is just a matter of helping the client organize that information in a way that's best suited for the Web environment. What's more likely, however, is that the client has only a vague, fuzzy idea of what should go on the site, how that content should be organized, and what a visitor's experience on the site might be like.

Please try not to feel too overwhelmed by this task. Yes, a lot of content may be available, ...