WP Blogging Client's Web Site Development: Part 1

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when developing a web site? Stay tuned! We'll be blogging the development of an entire site, live -- from the planning phase to final proofing.

The Client: F.O.U.N.D.

Meet F.O.U.N.D (Friends of Unwanted and Neglected Dogs), an animal protection organization based in Valparaiso, Indiana. F.O.U.N.D. seeks to educate the general public about the plight of unwanted and neglected dogs and to assist local shelters and rescue groups in their efforts.

F.O.U.N.D's president, Deborah Pace, believes bringing her organization to the web will help to increase awareness and promote the group's objectives. Deborah contacted Web Presence by e-mail, to request additional information about one of our development programs.

Step 1: Collecting Information

To begin, we've requested some background information from Deborah about her organization. She's provided:

• F.O.U.N.D.'s mission statement and general history
• Animal care checklist
• Coloring book
• Children's activity worksheets
• A pamphlet entitled "Be Safe With Dogs"
• Several newspaper articles

Before deciding what type of web site best suits the organization's needs, we also review several existing sites from other various "competitors." This tells Web Presence what the most current trends are, for this specific market.

Step 2: Analyzing F.O.U.N.D.'s Needs

After reviewing the information, we've decided the best type of site for F.O.U.N.D.'s needs is an informational, multi-page web site, including individuals pages for:

• The home page (also called the index page)
• About us
• Literature
• Message Forum
• Links
• Join Us
• Contact Us

We've e-mailed Deborah to tell her to expect a first design sample within a few days. In our next entry, we'll show the first design sample developed for F.O.U.N.D., as well as the feedback Deborah and her organiztaion provide about the initial sample.