CREATE A WEBSITE PLAN
A Free Guide for Beginners

Do You Really Need a Website Storyboard?

Creating a website storyboard is a very important when putting together the structure of a website, especially if you’re planning on having a web designer build it for you. Just as an architect prepares a blue print before starting construction on a building, a website builder should prepare a website blueprint before starting construction on a website.

Drawing a storyboard will not only help you determine the true needs of your website, but will also help you create a good usability environment for the visitors that come to your website. The blueprint will also make life easy for your website designer. A website blueprint will give you a better sense of direction and control as you fold out your website plan and help keep your costs down. If you hire a designer to build you website, he or she will appreciate a diagram of where things should go.

Website Story Board

A storyboard can help keep the cost of your website down. When you have locked down everything your website will need by using a storyboard, you have a better chance of minimizing unforeseen problems or having to make continuous tweaks to your site. Your web designer will appreciate that.

Where do you start?

Get a sheet of paper without lines. I suggest no line because lines have a tendency to make you feel confined as you draw out your websites diagram. A sheet of paper with no lines can make you feel more creative.

Do you need to draw a diagram of every page? You should draw out what each web page will have on it. The style of your secondary pages should be duplicated to match each other using cascading style sheets. Having the same look and feel on throughout your website will help create a unified cohesiveness for your visitors. You want your visitors to feel like they’re on the same website as they click from page to page.

Good usability consists of making it easy for your visitors to get around your website without having to think about it. As mentioned, each page should have the same colors based on cascading style sheets. Your front page may be slightly different. It will have content that reveals information about information found on your secondary pages. Secondary pages should look the same structurally and have indicators that clearly show the visitor what page they are on.

You have two website size options to choose from; 1024×768 or 800×600 (which fit older monitors). Click here to test monitor size for your website.

Create a memorable header graphic for your website. People have a tendency to remember images and a nice header graphic will help people remember the name of your company.

Draw information boxes below the header graphic. The boxes should be positioned in a way that best showcases the content you add to your website. You’re creating a clear diagram of what your audience will see. A website storyboard does not need to be a work of art. These are concepts that will help you flush out your final idea. It will continually change and expand as you continue to develop your website.

Each web page should have a clear goal to inform your visitors about your unique information. Make your content easy to read. Write is in a way that is interesting and fresh. The challenge is to make your information sound different. Chances are your website is like a thousands of other websites.

Once you have a storyboard of your websites inner workings, start adding unique content.

5 Tops Tips for creating a website Storyboard.
1. Draw a rough draft of your website storyboard.
2. Keep website costs in mind.
3. Draw a diagram of each page
4. Use cascading style sheets
5. Have a clear goal for each web page