Creating a Learning Fountain Website
by Paul "the soaring" Siegel
Creating a Learning Fountain takes time - at least 4 to 6 months - much of it devoted to testing and learning. There are 4 major steps in the creation of a Learning Fountain:
1 - PLANNING
This is the most important step. Planning includes defining your purpose, without which you can not proceed in a rational way. The other items are plans for the following 3 steps: designing, testing, and redesigning.
2 - DESIGNING
I disagree with the prevailing notion that good design means colored backgrounds, fancy logos, "netscape enhanced" graphics, sound, animation and other "bells and whistles".
The most important element of website design is content: What should it be? How to structure it? How to present each page? How to make it easy to locate and access information? How to simplify feedback?
3 - TESTING
This step is lengthy, but crucial. It should help you find out if you're on the right track, or you need major changes. It consists of :
- Promotion, via search engines, niche engines, newsletters, and publications
- Visitor research, by participating in news groups and mailing lists.
- Feedback from visitors
- Auditing and evaluation of the site
4 - REDESIGNING
After several months of testing, you should have a better idea of what your website should look like and do. Now, you may add graphics and other embellishments, but only if you are convinced they will help the visitor learn and make her more eager to complete the business transaction.
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