Most of Card One Concepts clients think that a domain name is the same thing as web hosting, and that when they register a domain name they are ready to let the world see their website. However, this is not the case and the following explanation will hopefully clarify the difference between web hosting and registering a domain name.
The easiest way to explain web hosting is to think of your web site as a traditional store with shelves displaying products or services, with a cash register and even employees.
These questions are designed to help you as a designer or business owner to focus on what the needs of the web site project are.
Background:
1. What is the nature of your business?
2. Who is your target audience?
Message:
1. What goals does your company intend to reach with a new web site?
2. What is the primary message you wish to convey to your audience with this site?
Perception:
1. Use adjectives to describe how you want your site to be perceived by the user. (Examples: conservative, progressive, friendly, formal, casual, serious, experts, humorous, service-oriented, professional, etc)
2. How is your company currently perceived? Do you wish to carry through the same kind of message through your web site?
3. What web sites do you find compelling? What do you find the most interesting about these sites?
4. Are there other web sites you've seen that have functionality that you would like to have on your site? Due to differences in server operating systems, not all functionality you see on the web may be available on your site.
