Both the detailed web business plan and scope of work are documents that we (or any professional website developer) require  - to accurately understand your web business needs and to be able to provide you with a quote for our services.  This ensures that you will:

get  what you need to be built into your website

have a website that will match your styles and preferences

own a website that functions exactly as you expect

own a website that fits within your budget

How do I prepare this required information?

We have provided samples that you can copy-n-paste and use as 'templates', Simply copy the sample text into your email or wordprocessor - and then modify to reflect your website requirements.  Then, forward this information to us. 

We can also prepare these documents FOR YOU.  We charge a $150 fee to prepare your detailed specification and scope of work documents.   These professionally prepared documents then become your property - and will clearly define the 'boilerplate' used to construct your web business.  Simply complete as much information as possible about your business and preferences - and we will prepare the rest! 

Should you choose to use professional website design services for constructing your website- we will reimburse this fee back to you.  

Should you choose to go elsewhere for web design services - all is NOT lost!    Simply distribute these Detailed Specification and Scope of Work documents to any professional website designer for quotes or website development. 
 

Samples you can use and modify for your business 

Web Business Plan Sample:

Business Overview:
We are a retail store that buys and sells used or old video movies.  We want to have a website designed that allows people to 1) view our movie inventory through a searchable database  2) purchase movies online 3) sell to us your movies through the 'trade' section of the website.

Domain Name and Hosting:
We do not have a domain name selected at this time, and have not yet selected an ISP for web hosting. We will require our selected web developer to obtain a domain and recommend an ISP. 

Security Requirements
We need to be able to process orders, and use credit card, money order, personal check as monetary exchange.

Data Requirements
We need to make changes to our inventory daily (pricing, new items, descriptions). We will also want to update our 'What's New' section weekly.   All other portions of the website will remain relatively constant. 

Processing Requirements
Buying a Movie / Viewing the Movie Inventory:
Movies will be categorized by 'Movie Type'  - so that the potential buyer can search through categories such as 'Classics', or '1940 films', etc.   Once they make their selections - the listings of movies that meet this search criteria willbe displayed -- allowing them to order from this list.   They can order multiple movies by placing these into their shopping basket.   At checkout - they will provide contact, billing and creditcard or money order information.   We will require that checks or money orders be sent to us via postal mail.

Selling a Movie:
We will serve as a trading post for others who want to sell their movies online.   Once we sell your movie - we will retain 20% of the sale.  The potential seller will identify their contact information, movie category, name of movie - and brief description and price.   Movies will be immediately posted for sale on the website -- but will not include the seller name. 

Browser Compatibility:
We advertise compatibility with all major browsers and must do our best to provide compatibility with HTML 3.2 specification. We will be avoiding the use of frames. The layout and design components should be supportive of older browser clients (e.g. the customer should still be able to navigate the site even if their browser does not support graphics - that is, textual cues should be present). 

Layout Preferences:
We prefer a 2-column front page layout (newspaper style) similar to http://www.amazon.com - and a 1 column layout for all sub-topic pages.

Some OTHER example MAIN PAGE siteslayout and colors to choose from:
------------------------------------------------- 
TWO column / top of page logo and site index / 
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.submit-it.com (membership registration included) 
http://www.listbot.com/ (member registration required, include graphical navigation 'map')
http://www.realtor.com
http://www.keybank.com/ (this is actually a 'frames' site -- which we would NOT want to emulate -- but the site design includes an interesting 2 column, w/navigational map plus striking color contrasts) 
http://www.colgate.edu/default.asp (sort of a cross between main & splash page)
http://www.dcop.dcgov.org/main.htm (ignore the 'frame-ness' here) 

THREE column/ top of page logo and site index / small icons 
http://www.microsoft.com/products/
http://www.adobe.com/

FOUR column / top of page logo & site index / what's new column 
http://www.linkexchange.com/
http://www.realtor.com/ (plus navigational site index 'map') 

Font
San serif for all content to improve legibility. Serifs permitted in major headlines.

Colors
Complimentary and soothing, colors selected to encourage responsiveness of those visiting the site and making use of our services.   Specific color combinations that we prefer include BLACK for all text, white page background (no textured background).

Competition
Our competitors include http://www.webexample1.com/, http://www.webexample2.com/, and
http://www.webexample3.com/. 

Icons/images
A consistent theme that is culture/gender neutral/sensitive and designed to best convey the meaning associated with each link and activity. All graphics are to web-optimized and provide both fast and consistent progressive presentation to the visitor (note, consistency with respect to timeliness of responsive is very important). Size of icons/images should not negatively effect layout when customers access the site with browsers that support different browser window sizes and resolutions. The layout should make the best use of available browser window space without causing a significant change in appearance of the site. Consider 640 X 480 as the design standard.

Logo
We will need a logo to be designed that includes both text and graphics.   The specific color choices for the text portion of the logo is navy blue.  3-D Effects including drop shadow is permissible.   Background graphics for the logo should be subtle and abstract - and will include both purple and magenta. 

Meta-tags
These tags will be inserted as keywords on all pages - so that the pages can be submitted to search engines. 

Description:
A classic video store specializing in online movies and films.  Buy and sell movies directly from this site.

Keywords
video store, movies, videos, classic films, Marilyn Monroe, black and white movies, 

Content / Copy
We will supply draft form 'words' to use on our site as defined in an attached word-processing document - but would like for the website designer to provide copywriting services as appropriate. We want our site to convey 'FUN' and 'EASY TO UNDERSTAND' language.

Web Visitor Types
There are primarily two types of users who will visit the site, each with different needs and interests. The site should be designed to enable a site visitor to efficiently obtain the information and/or service they have come to the site for. The visitors fall into the following two categories:

1. Potential customer: interest in information. Design/layout elements should emphasize marketing and enticing the potential customer to contact our sales team members.

2. Existing customer: interest in ease of use. Design/layout elements should emphasize efficient access to and use of services

Contact
Our Toll-free 800-555-5555 main telephone number and general email link should be readily visible and consistently placed on all pages of the site. The intent is to encourage visitors to contact us via phone.

Web Publishing
Once the website is complete, we would like to have our website published to the top 300 search engines.

Budget
My maximum budget for this project is $8500.  Ideally, I would like to spend approximately $5000 - and herefore I would like recommendations of areas in which I can perform specific tasks that will reduce the cost of my website development. I have also budgeted approximately $100 per month for monthly website maintenance - that I expect to include artwork / scanning of approximately 10 new films per month.

Scopeof Work

Create Web Development Environment

Create a new site (account) on the specified ISP

Submit criteria to ISP to obtain new domain

Data / Programming Setup

Review Movie Order form for data layout / make recommendations

Create Movie Order form

Define all required fields into a database structure for inventory

Obtain up to 10 records of movie 'data' and graphics from client

Create sample inventory (up to 10 records)

Scan up to 10 movie graphics to be displayed next to content

Create sample inventory file for website

Create inventory display HTML template

Write programming to merge HTML with inventory data and graphics

Show draft inventory display to client for approval

Once approved - prepare TEMPLATES for client.  This will allow for client to make updates to inventory

Web page design

Home Page - layout per specifications

Additional Web Site Topics / Links Include:

Contact Us

Site Index - How to Use this site !

About Us

How to Sell your Video Instructions 

Inventory Search Page

Inventory Display Page

Order Form

Sell your Video Form

Order Processing Software

Prepare listings of new orders

Create email notification of new orders

Create automatic response to shipment of new orders

Web Publishing / Advertising

Submit webpages to search engines