The web site is an environment

Canada's best known environmentalists David Suzuki produces a documentary series "The Nature of Things". The most important information gained from watching David's documentaries is how inter-connected our environment is, and how important every single element is to the well being of our global environment.

Now this may seem somewhat irrelevant to web sites. However, take a moment to consider what happens if some of the web site's required elements are absent, or not functioning to their optimum potential. It is at this point we begin to understand a web site, like the global environment requires all things to work together for the benefit of the whole. With regards to web site development and promotion I refer to this as holistic web site development and promotion.

Web site elements

Numerous elements are required to work together and support the needs of each other within a web site's internal and external environment to ensure the web site is able to support business requirements. So what happens when some of these elements are either not included, or not functioning to their maximum potential? The web site obviously does not work as well as it should. Some examples are:

Information requirements: If a crucial piece of information is not available for a visitor where and when necessary, or is difficult to understand, it may cause a potential customer or client to abandon the web site.

Design and graphic design: Aesthetics are crucial. Internet users have high expectations with regards to web site design. If the design of the web site and graphics does not meet visitors' expectations, the likelihood of these visitors remaining on the business's web site, and becoming customers are minimal.

Web Development Coding: The web development code is what makes it all work, from displaying the web site in a browser, to supporting shopping carts and other features such as opt-in forms and Social Media sharing, the list goes on and on. Obviously if one or more coding elements has not been properly developed a web page will not view correctly in one of the many browsers visitors may using, or a shopping cart process will not accept information provided. Of course the result of these element failures is, lack of web site business performance..

These are just 3 examples, I'm sure you can think of many more examples which impact on the web site's business performance. An extensive number of elements are required to ensure the web site performs to its optimum potential, and it takes each and every one of these elements, and the professionals which develop them, to ensure your web site meets your business goals.

It's a team effort

With such a variety of different requirements necessary to develop and promote an effective business web site it is highly unlikely one person will have the skills required to complete the task. A team of specialized professionals is an absolute must if your business is going to leverage the power of the Internet.

With so many different elements, skills and people required, project management is at the forefront of creating a healthy web site environment for your business. To learn more about a holistic approach to web site development and promotion pick up a copy of the April issue of Web Site Magazine where I have published an article on Holistic Web Site Development from a management perspective. Alternatively you can learn more here.

The Last Word

I can not emphasize of how important it is to view the web site as an environment. We are all familiar with how important the different elements are to our global environment and our well being. The well being of your company's web site is no different. It's time we all become web site environmentalists.