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Site Builder Guide - Introduction ]

The steps involved in the successful implementation of a web site can generally be broken down into four basic areas as follows:

• Rationale
• Content
• Logical Design
• Graphical Design

In concrete terms the corresponding steps (and coincidentally the names of the next sections in the guide) might be to:

• Write a Web Rationale/Mision Statement.
• Draw a site map.
• Assemble and structure content.
• Link your documents.
• Do (or hire) some graphic design.
• Establish a maintenance plan.

Regardless of the final web-page application, these four basic components and their associated steps can be viewed discretely (and at least for the purposes of building a first generation web-site, should be). That is to say that although there is some requirement that these activities be carried out in the order listed, there exists good opportunity for parallel efforts. The basic rationale for the web-site should be documented (if only to act as a reference point or focus criteria for inclusion of content) but once this is done it can act as a gauge for the appropriateness of content and the real work can begin: Content Assembly.

Next: Write a Web Rationale