Before

Web sites need a lot of thought, before, during and even after you build them. You need
to plan, design, build and grow a site. If thinking is too much trouble, you can always
pay someone else to do it for you. PLAN: I think the biggest mistake people make is to
jump into building a site without figuring out why they want or need one. I know it seems
obvious, but I see a lot of sites where I end up wondering, "What were they thinking?
Spend the time to figure it out, or you'll waste a lot of time and money and lose a lot of
opportunities. So first, figure out what you want your site to do:

* Content (you broadcasting to others)

* Communication (people talking back and forth)

* Commerce (sales), or combinations of the three.

Then decide what you want to say and figure out what others need to know. A good
way to do both is write down your site's purpose in 20 words or less-like a TV-guide
blurb. The fewer words the better.

Next, write down everything you want on your site. Then create an outline or org chart
of sections and start moving things around until you create an organization that makes
sense for your material. It's like a puzzle, and it can be fun. DESIGN: Once you know
what you want to say, figuring out how to say it is easier. Web site design can't just look
good, it has to be practical and efficient. A beautiful site that isn't effective is like a
drinking glass with a hole in the bottom of it. What's the point? GROW: Think of a Web
site like a garden. You don't just plant it and leave. You tend to it. It grows. You add,
you prune, you rearrange. And it gets better over time.

Many websites are poorly thought-out. The people behind them didn't spend the time to
figure out what they really wanted to say, so the site ends up saying nothing. Many sites
are poorly written-they're just trying to sell rather than inform. Often websites are poorly
designed and don't reflect well on their owners. A site is your "personality in pixels." It's
the face you show the world. More people will see this than ever see your office. Spend
the time and money to make "yourself" look good. A well-designed site can make a
small company look big and impressive. But a poorly designed site can make a big
company look like they're operated out of a damp basement. Fungo Designs can make
the site that works for you or your business