This Unit helps you assess your website needs and situation. The step by step process includes the following resources:

• Customer survey template
• Website assessment worksheet
• Industry assessment checklist

Many organizations do not need an expensive website packed with features. By doing a little research and self-assessment you can get a clearer understanding of what sort of online presence is right for you. This will help you save money and time, and also represent your business better.

This Unit helps you clearly define the purpose of your website to focus on business objectives. It also explains the various types of websites available. The simple process includes the following resources:

• Website purpose development worksheet
• Website objectives worksheet
• Website deliverables worksheet

Without a very clear focus for your website, it is not likely to deliver what you hope. Clarifying your purpose and objectives, and focusing on real outcomes will help you make better decisions.
The result is a website that actually works for you.

This Unit helps you assess then prioritise the audiences that you need to target with your website. It provides a simple process, and includes the following resources:

• Audience Definition and Assessment Worksheet
• Target Audience Worksheet
• Domain Name Checklist

Unless you really know your audience, you won't be able to target and engage them effectively. By focusing on the right audience you will be able to give them what they want, in a language and tone they are familiar with. This will help improve customer satisfaction and bring more referrals.

This Unit helps you write a clear and effective design brief, and highlights some of the key factors to consider when scoping and assessing potential designers. The following resource is included:

• Comprehensive website design brief template

A major reason for website projects taking longer, costing more, and creating more stress, is because a clear design brief was not used.  A well planned brief will help potential designers to better understand your needs and then present better solutions to you.
This will help you choose the right designer and price, and lay the foundation for a better website.

This Unit makes you aware of various options for websites, and the issues to be aware of. It then helps you interview potential designers. The simple process includes the following resource:

• Comprehensive website designer interview checklist

It is critical that you find a designer to work with that matches your needs, style and budget. You need to know what to look-out for when scoping designers, and what to ask when you approach them. 
A thorough, methodical approach will help you make better choices and save time, money and stress.

This Unit makes you aware of a range of costs that are often overlooked.  It helps you prepare a budget and compare pricing of different designers. The following resource is included:

• Comprehensive website budget for start-up and ongoing costs

Hidden costs and extra problems often arise when building a website. Many people allocate budget to starting a website, but then are surprised with the ongoing costs.
An awareness of potential costs will help you plan and allocate funds better.

This Unit makes you aware of the different stages in the process of creating and launching a website. It helps you plan and allocate resources to avoid surprises, and includes the following resource:

• Comprehensive website project plan covering pre-planning to completion

Launching a website can be a long complicated process.  To get what you want, in the timeframe and budget you expect, you need a detailed and structured plan. By knowing what you, your designer and any third parties need to do, you will stay in control. This will save you time, money and stress.

This Unit explains how people navigate through websites, shows you how to plan your own website structure, and guides you through the process step by step. The following resources are included:

• Objective and Structure Outline Worksheet
• Template for Mapping Structure
• Web Page Order Template
• Structure and Navigation Checklist

A well-planned website structure helps convert visitors into customers. A poorly structured website annoys visitors. Understanding user-behaviour combined with your objectives, helps you provide an intuitive, user-friendly structure. This will increase customer satisfaction and your success rate.

This Unit explains the key components of writing for a website. It helps you organise your information, then plan and write better web-pages. The following resources are included:

• Content Collation Worksheet
• Content Development Worksheet
• Web Writing Checklist

Many people make the mistake of putting content from their brochures straight onto their website. Web users don't read websites like brochures, they scan for information and skip from page to page. Following best-practice helps you better meet customer needs and keep them on your site longer.

This Unit outlines the key objectives a homepage needs to achieve. It helps you prepare your homepage and check that all key elements are included. Included are the following resources:

• Homepage Content Development Worksheet
• Homepage Layout and Content Checklist

If your homepage can make a great first impression and capture a visitor's interest, the chances of them staying and completing the tasks you want will be greatly increased.

This Unit shows you how to do your own user-testing and checking to ensure your website is user-friendly and effective. The step by step process includes the following resources:

• Web Site Usability Checklist
• Template for Usability Testing

Many websites do not follow basic best-practice rules.  As a result they have a very low success rate and in many cases actually annoy or disappoint potential customers.  
Making your website more user-friendly helps you convert more visitors into customers.

This Unit helps you make your website more effective by having visitors trust you. It covers the key elements to give visitors peace of mind and reinforce your credibility. Included resources are:

• Trust and Credibility Checklist
• Help or FAQ Page Development Worksheet

As websites have less personal interaction, a big challenge is to convince visitors to trust you. If you want their credit card details then this is even more important. Giving visitors information that reinforces your credibility will greatly increase your chances of converting them into customers.

This Unit helps you understand the key elements of selling online. It shows you how to assess eCommerce options, make your shopping cart and buying process more user-friendly, and provide good after-sales support. The simple process includes the following resources:

• Shopping Cart Set-up Checklist
• Shopping Cart Checklist
• Confirmation Email Checklists

If visitors do not have the information they need, and a simple process to follow, they will not buy from your website. By following best-practice guidelines you can greatly improve your conversion rate and the money your website makes.

This Unit helps you understand Search Engine Optimisation and shows you how to help your website get found by more of your target audiences. The step by step process includes the following resources:

• Search Engine Focus Checklist
• Keyword Development Worksheet
• Checklist for Dynamically Generated Websites

Many people buy a website then wonder why they are not getting any business through it. If a website is not structured and presented for search engines, it will miss alot of traffic. Applying basic rules and working with a professional can bring many more potential customers to you.

This Unit helps you plan resources to support your website and customers. It outlines systems to make better use of staff time, and provide better service to online customers. Resources included are:

• Customer Support Guide Worksheet
• Staff Training Development Worksheet

If you don't provide support to your website visitors you risk losing them.  Staff can waste their time as well if they are not organised. Your website represents your company, and must provide the same quality of service you provide personally. This results in more satisfied customers and more referrals.

This Unit helps you gather, organize and manage new content for your website on an ongoing basis. The easy process includes the following resources:

• New Content Development Guide
• New Content Checklist

Search engines and visitors want fresh content. Gathering appropriate and consistent content, then locating it logically in your website, requires a structured approach. This helps your website stay user-friendly and relevant to visitors, and show them there is a great organization behind it.

This Unit explains how to understand the performance of your website and helps you set in place measures to track and improve it. The simple process includes the following resources:

• Key Web Statistics Guide
• Website Performance Measures Guide

Your website is an accountable marketing tool. If you don't monitor its performance then you could be wasting your money. By understanding basic web statistics, and setting real performance measures, you can greatly improve the results from your website.

This Unit helps you take feedback about your website and then make careful and measured changes to improve it. The easy process includes the following resources:

• Monthly Webstat Review Worksheet
• Monthly Feedback Review Worksheet
• Fine-Tuning Activity Worksheet

It is virtually impossible to get your website perfect first time. With a structured approach you can improve its performance, often at little extra cost. Companies that don't monitor performance loose opportunities. Setting systems in place early helps you avoid losses and improve your returns.

This Unit shows you how to use the internet to get your website in front of more of your target audience, using best-practice, ethical methods. The simple process includes the following resources:

• Inward Link Development Worksheet
• Newsletter Subscription Checklist
• Newsletter Content and Format Checklist

Building a website then just leaving it is a waste of money. The internet provides a number of ways to cost-effectively reach huge audiences.  Following best-practice methods in an organised way can boost numbers of qualified visitors to your site.  This means better returns.

This Unit shows you how to include your website in your normal marketing programme, and also explains some low-cost methods that can get you huge coverage. These resources are included:

• Press Release Development Worksheet
• Press Release Checklist

Your website is part of your overall marketing and communications strategy. Complementing it with your normal marketing activities can drive more visitors to it. Marketing doesn't have to be expensive to be effective. By using appropriate channels you can greatly increase the returns from your website.