20 Questions to Answer Before You Install Your WordPress Site

Filed under: Social Business - Strategy & Networking 

wordcamp-atlanta-logoWordCamp Atlanta answered questions about WordPress

WordCamp is a conference type of event that focuses squarely on everything WordPress. Everyone from casual end users all the way up to core developers show up to these events.

Presentations at WordCamp Atlanta covered design, development and content for beginner, intermediate and advanced WordPress users.

Several people I met at WordCamp Atlanta are not yet using WordPress. They have creative ideas and stories to share, and are attracted to the open source platform — the support of the WordPress community.

It’s easy to install WordPress and dive into blogging. Install and write. Easy-peasy.

Now, some of us are stepping back to consider more strategic questions.

Who am I? Where am I going? Why?

Seth proposed a list of questions we need to answer before we spend money on a website. WordPress is free, so we get started first, ask questions later. To be successful we must answer these strategic questions:

  1. What is the goal of the site? In other words, when it’s working great, what specific outcomes will occur?
  2. Who are we trying to please? If it’s the boss, what does she want? Is impressing a certain kind of person important? Which kind?
  3. How many people on your team have to be involved? At what level? Who are they?
  4. Who are we trying to reach? Is it everyone? Our customers? A certain kind of prospect?
  5. What are the sites this group has demonstrated they enjoy interacting with?
  6. Are we trying to close sales? Are we earning permission to follow up?
  7. Are we telling a story?
  8. Are we hoping people will watch or learn?
  9. Do we need people to spread the word using various social media tools?
  10. Are we building a tribe of people who will use the site to connect with each other?
  11. Do people find the site via word of mouth? Are they looking to answer a specific question?
  12. Is there ongoing news and updates that need to be presented to people?
  13. Is the site part of a larger suite of places online where people can find out about us, or is this our one sign post?
  14. Do we want people to call us?
  15. How many times a month would we like people to come by? For how long?
  16. Who needs to update this site? How often?
  17. Does showing up in the search engines matter? If so, for what terms? At what cost? Will we be willing to compromise any of the things above in order to achieve this goal?
  18. Will the site need to be universally accessible? Do issues of disability or language or browser come into it?
  19. How much money do we have to spend? How much time?
  20. Do we  understand ‘everything’ is not an option?

What’s your experience? Did you dive in and start writing? Is your site a strategic decision? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

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Comments

  • The low barrier of entry definitely makes it easy to jump into blogging without answering the right questions...which I'm highly guilty of. The most important one being defining the purpose...of course that's true for about anything in life.

    For me, I didn't start start with a well defined purpose, which drastically slowed any progress. I've since refined my purpose and am seeing a return on it.

    By the way , it was awesome meeting you at wordcamp.
  • Thanks, Nick, for taking the time to make a comment. Most folks I talk to
    jump in and develop their focus on the fly. I'm glad to hear you are now
    seeing a return with a refined purpose.

    WordCamp, and other learning/networking events have helped shaped my
    business plan, enhanced my knowledge base and expanded my sphere of
    influence. Glad to include you in my list of "smart folks I've met."
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