The creation of a – excellent – website requires complete planning. This is the only way to make sure that it will precisely meet the objectives you set for yourself. It is here thatA specifications are essential. Whenever you want to build a new website, introduce a new important feature or carry out a complete overhaul of the site, you will need a specifications. Let's see it all in detail in the rest of this article:

A specifications, what exactly is it?

A specifications are a written document that explains your product (In this case a website) and specifies what you want him to do as well as the way the user must interact with him. Although it may seem laborious to write everything, this is the most crucial step in the development of a product / service. There is Two main types of specifications: functional and technical.

The functional specifications

For the design team, this is a essential document Since half of the success of a project depends on it. After an in -depth study, the document is created by the customer and contains extremely complete and specific design requirements which must be applied in a coherent manner, until the end of the project. With such a list of requirements in hand, designers will be able to give life to what the customer sees.

The technical specifications

Technical specifications Define what the website is forwhat he has to do and how. There may be variations in the way this document must arise, but it must fulfill its main objective which is to ensure that the owner of the product and the development team have clearly agreed on the details of the future website.

Good specifications led to a precise estimate and implementation of the project. This does not mean that you cannot make changes to your project in the future. A technical specifications do not restrict your flexibility – it simply offers a substantial starting point and something to guide you.

We advise you to Mix functional and technical specifications In order to have a complete specifications, detailing the whole overhaul. Here is the details of the most important parts.

Presentation of the project

On the first page of your document, present your business and your project. No need to make a large description, go to the essentials so that your reader quickly understands your activity. Then explain the reasons why you want Refound your website And finally present your target. You can detail it with the following criteria:

  • Age
  • Sex
  • BtoB, BtoC, both
  • Consumption habits
  • Places of life …

Also list your competitors and what differentiates you from them (offer, message, communication, target, etc.). Afterwards, Detail your marketing strategy and communication channels : This will allow your service provider to better understand your vision and/or to guide you better and advise you.

Site needs

The needs of your site can be multiple Or unique. Here are some Examples of needs ::

  • Get new customers
  • Promote a new product
  • Conquer a new market
  • Create or increase your notoriety
  • Acquire prospect emails

At this stage, you can also define other needs such that:

  • Need accommodation?
  • Need monthly maintenance? Annual ?

User needs

The needs of your users are not not necessarily the same than those of the site. For that, Analyze your current site Looking:

  • How do your users sail?
  • Where do they stop?
  • What is the rebound rate?
  • Do they fill out the contact form?
  • Do they subscribe to your newsletter?

You should also wonder why your prospects should come to your site and not that of your competitor? Ask yourself if your support is understandable enough? Think about the need for a bot cat for example.

Objectives and KPI

It is interesting to Define the KPI as soon as possible of your future website. You can then Follow the evolution of your data In a weekly, monthly or annual way. This allows you to see the health of your site and its evolution over the weeks. Here is some data that you have to think about ::

  • The number of visitors.
  • The number of sales
  • The rebound rate
  • The number of contacts
  • The cost of your average basket

Functional analysis

Functional analysis consists of Work on the sales tunnel of your site. Take the example of an e-commerce site:

Simple purchase tunnel

Your prospect consults a product and then adds it to his basket. He chooses a delivery method, enters his personal information and selects a payment method, then pays.

Working tunnel worked

Your prospect consults a product, then compares it to other similar products that you offer. He adds his product to the basket and adds or not a promotional code. It connects or creates a customer account. Finally, he chooses a delivery method, enters his personal information and chooses a payment method, then pays.

The constraints

We must not forget this part which is one of the most important. Even if it is often difficult, you must Define different constraints related to the overhaul of your website ::

  • Technical
  • Budgetary
  • Temporal
  • Human

Graphic charter

Here we are talking about design! If you don't have a graphic charter, this is a problem. Your service provider can either make it or orient you towards someone who knows how to do it. In this case, Indicate what you would like to have As logo or examples of things you like (color, shape, typography, slogan, etc.). On the contrary, if you have a graphic charter, you must indicate in the specifications ::

  • The logo In all forms and aspects you can.
  • The colors of your logo and all element of your charter
  • Typography (s) used on your logo or communication supports
  • Rights of use of your logo

Ergonomics

For work on the ergonomics of your websiteask yourself the right questions:

  • How users Are they going navigate On my site?
  • Do they need a Research module To find information more easily?
  • My typography Is it adapted to my content?
  • My colors Do they reflect my activity?
  • THE information Are they easy to find ?
  • Do I have enough ” Call to actions ”? Are they well placed?
  • For more specific caseas in An e-commerce siteshould users have product suggestionsS similar?
  • In a blog, articles Should they be classified?

The contents

There are two cases. On the one hand, You have content. Ask yourself if:

  • Is it in tune with the objectives of the redesign?
  • If it is suitable for the web?
  • Is the contents well optimized for SEO?
  • Do you have copyright on the content: typography, images, writing, creation of illustrations?

On the other hand, You don't have content. So you have to think about the content to create And who you will call on to perform this task.

Technical information

You must present the technical aspects of your future site. First of all, Your domain name : Is it still available? Then, with whom is your site hosted and is this accommodation taken care of by the service provider? You must also think about all these points:

  • The current technical environment of the site.
  • The desired technical environment for the redesign of the site.
  • The languages ​​used and for each their version.
  • The list of detailed features to be developed for the redesign of the site.
  • Security constraints in project development.

Planning and budget

Last step and not the easiest, it is about Define an average budget and a schedule. Indicating your budget is not derogatory, quite the contrary! It will allow your future service provider to offer you the most suitable quote according to your budget. You also have to Indicate your deadlines and key dates of the project So that the service provider can tell you if it is doable or not for him.

A web project? Let's talk about it! Free audit