Contact Join Newsletter

How I Designed My Website

Define Specific Goals

Duration: 1 hour / ongoing

Measurable goals set apart successful websites from the launch-and-pray websites. If you accomplish your stated goals then your site is successful. It's pretty much that simple.

There are two types of goals: measurable goals and non-goals. Goals that can be measured can be managed.

Goals need to be succinct and on a short list.

For me, too many goals means the site is trying to do too many things too quickly. I keep my goals to four items or less, and I don't make new goals until I've accomplished half my initial goals.

Most importantly, goals need a time frame.

Generate sales leads and refer work to my Ockham Design network

Time frame:1 month
Difficulty level:Medium

How this will be measured: I keep in contact with my recommended experts pretty regularly. I've asked them to ask any potential clients on how found out about them. My initial goal is to refer one job to at least one person in my network per month.

Find 2 other graphic designers in 2009 to partner with

Time frame:12 month
Difficulty level:Easy

How this will be measured: By the end of 2009, I want to be doing coding for two more graphic artists who I've helped transition from print to web.

Generate backlinks to the site

Time frame:6 month
Difficulty level:Medium

How this will be measured: The object is to generate quality backlinks from business sites. At this time, my plan is to write articles for various people I know in order to generate a backlink. I'll be using tracking my backlinks via Google and keeping a spreadsheet of which pages are linking to my site.

Next: Information Architecture