Prepare to build a website

Before building a website, you'll need to do some research to identify your: 

• target audience
• website's purpose. 

You'll also need to think about who will update and maintain your site once it's built. 

Identifying your audience

To design an effective website, you'll first need to identify who will be using it and what they'll need from your site.

When identifying your audience, be specific – members of the broader UQ community may visit your website or have interest in your content, but that doesn't mean the site should be targeted at them.

Identifying a specific target audience allows you to tailor your site's content and functionality to meet their needs.

For example:

• the my.UQ website is designed to meet the needs of current students
• the Study website is designed to meet the needs of prospective students.

Defining your website’s purpose

To ensure your website is engaging and usable, the purpose of your site should be focused around your users' needs.

When defining your website's purpose, think about the information you want your site to communicate and the actions you want your users to be able to take while visiting your site.

For example:

• the Research website's purpose is to showcase UQ's research outputs and provide core information for researchers and supporting staff
• the Current Staff website's purpose is to provide an entry point for core services and information for current staff.

Resourcing your website

ITS may be able to assist in building your website, but you'll need staff with appropriate training within your own team to maintain your site.

You'll need to make ongoing arrangements within your team for who will:

• write new content
• approve content
• update content and build new pages.

Requesting a new website

Once you've identified your website's purpose, audience and resourcing, see how to request a new site.