Five Key Questions

1.    What should the site achieve? What is the purpose beyond,
"We need a website! Everyone has one!"

2.    Does the website do or provide anything that people care about?

3.    Who is your target audience -- who uses your site?

4.    What are the most important things that users want to do or find at your site?

5.    Is a website the best way to give your target audience what they need?
(Do they have access to the Internet? Would it be better to use E-mail or print materials?)

Use the answers to these questions to help shape your website. Document your answers to help keep you on track throughout the development process. This early research will help you from heading down the wrong path and can actually save you time and money!