What do you want your site visitor to know, and when do you want them to know it
As you think about what information the user will need to know, you have to consider what information you are willing to share with them. That information may include how to contact you, what the purpose of the site is, who you are, and what your expertise is.
The WordPress content management system (CMS) makes it simple to build Pages — which makes the process of presenting and organizing static information easy. Pages, similar to posts, are most commonly used to present unchanging information such as Pages for About Us, Contact Us, Sign Up for Our Mailing List, and other static information. Before creating your individual Pages, you need to think about what information you would like the Page to hold. Write down the possible Page titles and describe the information you are willing to share online on each Page.
Comments
Part of the fun of WordPress is the ability to have viewers leave comments on your site. It creates a dynamic interchange between you and the viewer. Do you want comments on your posts? Comments on posts come in a variety of forums, from pats on the back, “Good job! Like the post!” to extensive conversations and commentary about the posts turning into long chats. Or, maybe you are seeking comments that add to the information you’ve posted. How you present your comment form, and whether you do or not, invite people to comment is business choice.
Responding to comments and moderating them can also take up a lot of time. If they are critical to your site, then include them and consider how you want them presented. Comments do add extra management overheard, but managed well helps build a community around your website.
When you have reached your decision about how you want to handle comments, take time to read through the article on comments and WordPress discussion options to help you set those features.
With this basic information, you are ready to return to your computer and start laying out your site and setting it up.
Good Luck and remember the first rule about how to plan your WordPress site is using the Plan-Do-Check-Act-Cycle. Review you site analytics regularly to see if your audience is responding as you had hoped. If not, make changes and adjust your strategy until they do.
We hope to see you at an Austin WordPress Meetup soon.
Leave a Reply