Site Development - THE VISUAL MESSAGE


	What is dot-ws?	Compile a list of features you would like to see incorporated into your Web site. Do you need sound, animation, interactivity, forms, site search, databases, special JavaScript features? For a business, having your own domain name is a necessity. With an annual registration fee starting at US$19.95, you can find a domain now. Get your domain name TODAY!! These various elements are taken into consideration for developing the overall message communicated through your Web site.
		Do you want any particular font styles used? Type composes a mood for your Web site. It's a voice that speaks with a tone, contributing to your pages' nature and character. For this reason, the fonts selected for your Web site need to identify with the purpose, theme, and style of your site. There should be no more than three typefaces on one page.
		First impressions of your Web site can be critical. You have only a brief moment to catch the interest of your visitor. According to the Institute for Color Research, people make a subconscious judgment "within 90 seconds of initial viewing, and between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone." A color effects the responsiveness of the viewer. When choosing colors, consider these elements: Colors reflect the message you are communicating. What mood is the color? Warm colors suggest excitement. Cool colors attach dignity. Blue, money green, burgundy, gold and gray attract business persons and are associated with professionalism and quality. Red, yellow, bright and vibrant colors attract the general consumer. The emotional responses of the gender viewing your site. The culture of your visitors effects how they perceive what is communicated through color. Consider the effect of color with the page content. Is the color and the content formal or casual; serious or humorous? Color has meaning to the viewer, and needs to be carefully selected to carry the message that you want communicated. Color has more impact when it's used with careful selection. It loses this effect when overused.
		Adding music to your site contributes to the "feel" you want the viewer to experience. The more senses engaged, the more powerful and lasting will be your communication. Choose music that's compatible with your message. Is there a particular style, or atmosphere, you want communicated in your Web site? Here are are few ideas: Historic, of a particular era: Regional or Cultural: National:
		What are the top three messages your product/service needs to convey? List what you want the visitor to accomplish. Here are some examples: Find information Buy products Subscribe to your eNewsletter Participate in your poll for your collection of information
		Who is your audience? Their age Their gender Their culture Their interests Their needs Their skills Carefully consider your audience, as well as the messages intended for them. Spend time identifying the needs and desires of your visitor. Consider how experienced your visitors are with the Internet, and what forms of advertising effect them. You want to create an experience that relates to your audience and draws them into your site.
		Look at your competitor's Web sites. List what you don't like List what you do like Look at other types of sites too, to get ideas of what you might like. Record the URL addresses of sites you do like, so your Web site designer can see what you would like done.
		How will you organize the information? Alphabetically Categorically Chronologically Location Magnitude/size The way information is organized influences: The relationships of the information What the viewer perceives as the most important These points will enable your Web site designer the insight to create the site that you envision. Available technology and cost-effective solutions can be discussed more easily when you have given your perceptions and input regarding your desires for your new Web site.
		This document contains images from Windy's Design Studio and African Crafts Online. Used by permission. This publication includes images from Corel Gallery™ Magic 65,000 which are protected by the copyright laws of the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. Used under license.