Website and Digital Product Needs Analysis Lesson

The Importance of a Website

Technology has fed the hunger of users wanting more, at a faster pace, and with ease. In addition, it has opened doors for users, for personal or business reasons, to be able to showcase themselves and their products or services to the masses quicker and more easily. The best method to date has been through online exposure. The popular online tool that is driving users to a greater online presence is a website.

Many people spend their time on the internet accessing and browsing websites related to their jobs/careers, for educational purposes, purchasing products, and for entertainment among other reasons. Recognizing the benefits and opportunities of having a website, businesses have moved online. Having a website has become a definite need for businesses. Without a website, business owners could lose out on potential customers. Therefore, knowing the importance of having a website is key.

Take a look at the interactive below listing important reasons why businesses should have a website.

Client Needs Analysis

Before developing a new website, businesses need to define the needs of their users pertaining to the product or services that they are selling. The best approach to this is for the business to construct a customer needs analysis. A customer needs analysis is an organized, methodical approach to a customer's relationship with, and perception of, an organization’s product or service and its brand. To do this, they need to explore who their target users are. Part of the process of gathering information about their target market involves gathering details about the characteristics, user behaviors, and preferences of individuals. The goals of the customer needs analysis for all businesses should be the following:

To identify what core needs the product or service is solving.
To identify levels of users’ interests, knowledge, and skills.
To identify key segments that the business can succeed in.
To identify segments of those unaware of the brand.
To understand customers’ expectations.
To see the purchasing habits of its target market.
To understand what drives customers’ decisions to purchase.
To seek out performance expectations.
To identify the most and least valuable markets.

When evaluating their customer needs, businesses should also recognize a diversity of interests. Although there are different types of businesses with different customer needs, the customer needs analysis can apply to all businesses. Creating a customer needs analysis is a process that takes research and action. Knowing what motivates a customer to purchase a product or service will help a business generate a potential plan for its website. Customers have five basic needs.

Customers Five Basic Needs
Functionality to Price to Reliability to Usability to Compatibility

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Functionality

The product or service functionality should meet the goals or needs of the customer. In other words, it should benefit the customer. It should work well to perform the desired task by the customer.

Price

Customers will be concerned about price. However, you do not always have to have the lowest prices. Customers relate price to value. They will pay more for a product or service if they feel they are getting more value. This may include free shipping, flexible return policies, and good/reliable customer service.

Usability

Usability is about making sure that users can access the functions of the product to use it. The design of your product plays a role in this need. Overall, the product should work in a way that is easy for the customer to use.

Reliability

Customers want to trust that the product they are getting is reliable. They need to believe that the product can function properly for an adequate amount of time.

Compatibility

The product must be able to exist with existing products that the customer may have without there being conflict. Customers need to know that your product is there to reduce friction while serving needs without causing a greater or additional problem.

Project Management Methodology

Creating a business website is not an easy task. It takes a lot of planning and managing. To manage such a project, it may require a team to come together to see it through. The best project management methodology for this will need to be determined. A project management methodology is a set of principles, tools, and techniques that are used to plan, execute and manage projects. Project management methodologies help project managers lead team members and manage work while facilitating team collaboration.

There are many different project management methodologies, and they all have pros and cons. Some of them work better in particular industries or projects, so you’ll need to learn about project management methodologies to decide which one works best for you.

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