* 404-219-7056
* Your Challenges
  ###### People We Help
  Learn more about the types of people we work with.
  ###### Problems we solve
  Dig deeper into the types of challenges we solve for clients.
  ### Looking to solve a marketing challenge?
  Look no further, we can help!
* Services
   [###### Leads and Sales
  Generate quality leads that are more likely to become your customers. [###### Online Reputation
  Turn your customers into your brand loyalists and biggest fans.
  [###### Website Design
  Transform your website into a lead generation machine for your business.[###### Brand Awareness
  Be found by your customers with a strategic and purposeful approach.
  ### In need of digital marketing services?
* Customer Stories
  ### Making a difference in our clients’ lives
  We positively impact the lives of our clients beyond their KPI reports.
   [###### Case Studies
  Have a look at some of our real-world client success stories. [###### Testimonials
  Check out what our happy clients have to say about working with us.
* About Us
  [###### Why WSI?
  We don't believe in cookie cutter digital marketing strategies. [###### Leadership
  Here are our fearless leaders. We can take you to them if you want. [###### THE WSI STORY
  We are the world’s largest digital marketing agency network.[###### AWARDS
  We hate to brag (okay, no, we don't),but we've won a lot of awards.
  !
Menu
!404-219-7056
  + 
## Persona Development
Understanding your ideal customer profile is one of the keys to business success. It is important for your entire company to use a common definition of your customer. Building out customer personas are the perfect way to drive alignment around your customer.
#### Ask the right questions
To make the transition from being product-oriented to customer-oriented, it is essential that you understand your ideal customer profile or buyer persona. If you understand their challenges, needs and methods of consuming information, you will position yourself as a leader in your niche.
!
#### Analyze the data
Go through your database to determine trends about your past and current customers, such as how long it takes them to buy, how much information they can consume, and their preferred methods of communication.
#### Use your sales team
Gather feedback from your sales team about your company’s top leads in order to understand them better. What motivates them, what are they looking for, what problems are they looking to solve? These answers will help you further develop your personas.
## Did You Know?
Companies who have adopted buyer personas early on show significant boosts in the effectiveness of their
 entire marketing process. Some interesting statistics that reveal the importance of buyer personas:
2-5x
Using buyer personas made websites 2-5x more effective and easier to use
2x
Companies who exceed revenue and lead goals are 2x as likely to use personas
900%
Using buyer personas increased the length of web visits by 900%!
7x
High-performing organizations are 7x as likely to have updated their personas in the past 6 months
## We do more than just Buyer Persona Development
###
Outlining your buyer personas is just one component of your . It’s a great start, but if you want to see results from your digital efforts, you need to incorporate your buyer personas into all aspects of your .
#### Build Brand Awareness
Get found by your ideal customers and build more awareness about your services.
#### Drive More Leads and Sales
Generate quality leads that are more likely to become your customers.
#### Grow Your Online Reputation
Turn your customers into brand loyalists and raving fans.
#### Improve an Ineffective Website
Transform your website into a revenue driver for your business.
## Speak with a WSI Expert today
Leave your contact details, and our Owner  will follow-up in less than 24 hours and arrange a time that works best for you to have a quick discussion.
Todd has over 25 years of experience Marketing and has worked for some of Atlanta’s leading companies in marketing leadership roles.
We look forward to chatting!
* !
### Let's talk buyer personas
Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
###### WSI MARKETING UPSIDE
* 1264 Redemption Drive
  Lawrenceville, GA 30045
* Phone: 404-219-7056
* Email: tmccarty@wsimarketingupside.com
###### SOCIAL
###### ABOUT US
###### CONTACT US
###### SERVICES
###### CUSTOMER STORIES
###### BLOG
© 2023 WSI. All rights reserved. WSI ICE and WSI IM are registered trademarks of RAM.  and . Each WSI Franchise is an independently owned and operated business. | Built and
###### 
## The Importance of Developing a Website Requirements Document & Blueprint for a Successful Website Project
August 05, 2024 |   4  minutes to read
[Todd McCarty
Fractional CMO & Career Coach
Summary:Is your website getting your results?  How many leads did you get from your website in the last 30-90 days?  Are you unsure how to measure results?  If so, embarking on a new website project can be exciting yet daunting. To ensure success, starting with a comprehensive website requirements document and blueprint is crucial. This …
Is your website getting your results?  How many leads did you get from your website in the last 30-90 days?  Are you unsure how to measure results?  If so, embarking on a new website project can be exciting yet daunting. To ensure success, starting with a comprehensive  and blueprint is crucial. This foundational step encompasses technology integrations, a site map, and wireframes, providing a clear roadmap for the entire project. It may also include a new brand message designed to help your customers and prospects see how you will help them save money, make money, save time, and more. Developing a blueprint and requirements document is essential before diving into the actual website development.
### **Clarity and Vision**
A website requirements document is a detailed guide outlining the project’s goals, objectives, and specifications. It captures the website’s vision, ensuring all stakeholders understand the project’s aims. This clarity is vital in preventing scope creep and keeping the project on track. Without a well-defined requirements document, the project can quickly become disorganized, leading to misunderstandings and misaligned expectations.
When buying a new car, you must consider what bells and whistles you want and need. Do you want a moon roof?  What about leather seats and seat warmers?  Is the technology package and Bluetooth connection essential? Building a requirements document for a website is a similar effort because it allows you to outline the “bells and whistles” you want for the site. Do you want a chat function? How important is keyword research and search engine optimization? Do you have the photos for the site, or do we need to buy photos? Who will write the content? How should you organize all the pages?
### **Technology Integrations**
Modern websites often require integration with various technologies, such as content management systems (CMS), customer relationship management (CRM) systems, e-commerce platforms, and third-party APIs. Identifying these integrations upfront in the requirements document is crucial. It allows the development team to plan for compatibility, ensure seamless functionality, and avoid costly rework. A clear outline of the necessary technology integrations ensures the website can handle its intended functions efficiently and effectively from day one. If you avoid planning this out, you may be scrambling at the last minute to add a piece of technology that really isn’t a fit for your website, so it can be like ramming a square peg in a round hole.
### **Efficient Project Management**
A detailed blueprint, including a site map and wireframes, visually represents the website’s structure and layout. The site map outlines the website’s navigation, showing the hierarchy of pages and how they are interconnected. This mapping helps organize content logically and ensures a user-friendly experience. At WSI Marketing Upside, we prefer site maps that are built in PowerPoint to give a visual representation of the site scope. If you think about it, every website has a page hierarchy, just like an organizational chart. The CEO is the home page, and all the pages underneath the home page are like Vice Presidents, Directors, and Managers.
Wireframes, on the other hand, provide a skeletal framework for each page, highlighting the placement of elements such as headers, images, buttons, and text. These tools are invaluable for project management as they provide a clear plan that the design and development teams can follow.
**Consistency in Design and Functionality**
Wireframes are particularly useful for maintaining website consistency in design and functionality. By establishing a visual guide early in the process, wireframes ensure that all pages adhere to the same design principles and user interface standards. This consistency is crucial for creating a cohesive user experience and building a solid brand identity. Moreover, wireframes allow for early feedback and iterations, enabling stakeholders to visualize the website and make necessary adjustments before development begins. You must develop wireframes with an understanding of conversion rate optimization or CRO. What is this, you ask? If you get 100 people to visit your site and only one calls you, you have a 1% conversion rate. Your website team should be well-versed in conversion architecture to help you build a site that will drive leads and sales.
### **Cost and Time Efficiency**
Investing time in creating a comprehensive website requirements document and blueprint can save significant costs and time in the long run. Identifying and addressing potential issues early minimizes the risk of encountering significant roadblocks during development. Clear documentation also reduces the likelihood of miscommunication, ensuring the development process proceeds smoothly. This proactive approach helps avoid costly revisions and delays, leading to a more efficient and cost-effective project.
### **Enhanced Collaboration and Communication**
A well-structured  foster better collaboration and communication among all parties involved. They provide a common reference point that designers, developers, project managers, and stakeholders can consult throughout the project. This shared understanding is essential for ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. It facilitates smoother decision-making and helps in resolving conflicts promptly.
### **Future-Proofing**
Finally, a detailed  will help to improve the website. Planning for scalability and potential future needs ensures the website can grow and adapt as the business evolves. This foresight is crucial for creating a website that remains relevant and functional in the long term, accommodating new features and technologies without significant overhauls. If you want your site to last, you should carefully plan, so you don’t have to re-do it in two to three years.
### **Conclusion**
In conclusion, developing a comprehensive website requirements document and blueprint, including technology integrations, a site map, and wireframes, is a critical step for the success of any website project. It provides clarity, ensures consistency, enhances collaboration, and saves time and costs. By laying a solid foundation, these documents pave the way for a smooth development process and a high-quality end product that meets the project’s goals and user expectations.
Investing in this preliminary planning phase is essential for creating a website that performs well and stands the test of time. When a consultant helps you develop a solid requirements document, it can also act as a request for a proposal or RFP with different marketing agencies and providers to help you get consistent quotes and recommendations. Sign up for a  to learn more about building a requirements document for a new website for your business to drive more leads and sales.
#### About the Author
**Todd McCarty, WSI,** has over 25 years of experience in Marketing and has worked for some of Atlanta’s leading companies in marketing leadership roles.
SHARE ARTICLE
# The Best Digital Marketing Insight and Advice
##### The WSI Digital Marketing Blog is your go-to-place to get tips, tricks and best practices on all things digital marketing related. Check out our latest posts.
Delivered by 
We are committed to protecting your privacy. For more info, please review our Privacy and Cookie Policies. You may unsubscribe at any time.
## Don't stop the learning now!
Here are some other blog posts you may be interested in.
#### Fractional CMO Services: Strategic Counsel Without Hiring a Full-Time Employee
April 23, 2024 |   3  minutes to read
As a business owner striving for efficient marketing leadership without breaking the bank, embracing Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) services could be your strategic game-changer. Forbes defines Fractional CMOs as seasoned marketers who collaborate with businesses for a set number of hours each month, offering tailored solutions without the hefty price tag of a full-time …
#### The Foundation of Success: Why Small to Medium-Sized Businesses Need a Marketing Strategy Brief
February 22, 2024 |   3  minutes to read
In today’s fast-paced and competitive business world, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often juggle multiple priorities with limited resources. Amidst the daily hustle, it’s easy for marketing efforts to become disjointed or reactive, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. This is where the importance of a marketing strategy brief shines through as the beacon guiding …
#### Building the Future: Seven Marketing Predictions for Companies in 2024 Impacting Growth and Talent Attraction
January 19, 2024 |   3  minutes to read
The business industry is on the brink of transformation, and marketing is at the forefront of this change. In 2024, companies will witness significant shifts in marketing strategies that not only impact their business growth but also play a pivotal role in attracting and retaining top talent. Let’s delve into seven predictions that will shape …