It is the site's purpose to serve a local client base. Adding links and facts of a local interest (even trivial facts) will help attract users and potential clients/customers to the site. The same applies to a more global site for users sharing a common interest, links and facts pertaining to that interest will attract those users. For example, a site for a radio station can use links and information such as other sites, concerts, bands, events, and music news to attract frequent visits to the site.
The site should contain both general and detailed information, both specific and non-specific data. The proportions of these different types, and the extend of how detailed and specific the information is, will depend on the nature of the expected audience. Knowing what the typical user will expect and want, is needed in order to develop the appropriate content and layout of the site.
Another consideration is the speed of connection the expected users will have. Typically many users will be accessing the Internet and the site through a dial-in connection with either a 28.8 or 33 kbps modem. These users can not be expected to have to wait for large graphical files to download. In fact some users may grow impatient while waiting for large files and leave the site to go elsewhere, but occasionally the expected audience may consist of businesses and institutions having high speed Internet Access. With this audience it can be safe, and possibly even desirable, to incorporate large graphic and multimedia files into the site.
By determining who the expected user of the site will be, the content and layout of the site can be developed. Knowing the expectations and abilities of the audience will help ensure that the site is successful and useful.
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Copyright
1995, 1997
E.T. Smith Associates
PO Box 148, Brogue, PA 17039-0148
York County, USA