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Website Strategy: Identifying the Needs of your Users
Last updated: September 24, 2005
Part of a good online strategy is determining what the top needs
of your target audience are and then addressing those needs with
your small business web site. At
Crafty Pixel, I talk a lot about business-focused web design and
planning. But how do you decide where to focus your web site? One
factor in that decision-making process is learning what your
target audience is longing for.
Common User Needs
- High Quality
- Meeting Certification Standards
- Low
Prices
- Before-Purchase Support
- After-Purchase Support
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- Large Selection/Options
- Product Availability
- Expert
Advice/Guidance
- Fast Service
- Personal Service
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Determining User Needs
Here are some ways to identify the needs of your target
audience:
- your own knowledge
- online surveys/polls
- hardcopy surveys/polls
- in-person interviews
- focus groups
Just to complicate things, user needs are not necessarily
static. The needs of your target audience may change from year
to year as your industry changes or their needs may change
during the course of a single purchase. Make sure you continue
to check in with your users. Occasional reality-checks can keep
your small business web site on the path of achieving the goals you set for it.
About The Author: Keita Del Valle is the owner of
the Inland Empire website design
company, Crafty Pixel (www.craftypixel.com). This article may be
re-published for free provided this byline, with its active links,
remains intact.
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