Creating a website: design principles and best practices

Business - Marketing

DONTDATECREEPS.COM

Sources of Value:

The primary source of value on which the successful implementation of DontDateCreeps.com depends is accurate, up-to-date information that is directly relevant to the needs of clients. Secondarily, the website is designed to cross-reference information through the automatic use of multiple search engines. Specifically, the site will automatically retrieve information independently linked to legal names, aliases, current and former e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and screen names on multiple online forums and popular websites.

In addition to the accuracy of the information, the sources of value include the multiple directions and levels of informational searches performed automatically that pertain to different elements of identifying information associated with identifying information about search subjects.

Website Stickiness:

To increase the return rate of website viewers, DontDateCreeps.com will implement general features conducive to website stickiness as well as specific features more particular to the unique format and purpose of the venture. Generally, quick loading pages, logically related layout, and visually attractive web pages increase website stickiness. More specifically, DontDateCreeps.com will feature a limited trial function similar to those used by existing background information search websites to demonstrate the breadth of information available without disclosing enough to undermine sales.

Website Design Elements:

Interactivity, navigational efficiency, and usability will require search fields corresponding to the full range of possible search criteria linked to searches for information associated with individual search subjects. Users will have the option of searching by name, telephone number, e-mail address, and online screen names. Initial name searches will return information useful for subsequent levels of searches and each independent search level will return more detailed information, such as that linked to phone numbers, e-mail accounts, online screen names, and other available information linked to each of those elements respectively.

The quality of information and content available on DontDateCreeps.com is assured by virtue of the reliability of the sources mined to generate the information.

Public records and publicly available data bases maintained by municipal agencies and government records are generally quite accurate, but DontDateCreeps.com will also incorporate a proprietary feature designed to resolve conflicting information, distinguish between current and no longer current information and present returns in a matrix hierarchy that emphasizes verified current information. Out-of-date information will be included for the purpose of facilitating possible lines of subsequent searches but in a manner that prevents confusion between current and out-of-date information. The graphics, text, and color of DontDateCreeps.com will strive for a neutral overall site look and feel conducive to a wide spectrum of appeal, because it is anticipated that users will represent wide variation in age and interests, in addition to both genders and alternate sexual preferences. This is a standard practice within all advertising media (Belch & Belch 1998) that is equally applicable to online formats. One mechanism under development includes prompts for users to provide basic information about themselves such as age, geographic location, and general interests.

This purpose of this feature is two-fold: (1) it is intended to augment the primary search functions by triggering additional searches associated with websites and databases particularly relevant to the descriptive information entered by the user; and (2) it will be used to coordinate page presentations most consistent with the user's age, location, and interests. For example, a user who enters "skateboarding" into the interest field will trigger hierarchical searches of online databases and web forums related to skateboarding, as well as presenting pages in formats corresponding to those interests.