CONCEPT Concept Introduction Preliminary Questions Stakeholder Input Focus Group Questions Resource Inventory Contributing Factors Considering Realities Considerations for Small Websites Considerations for Medium Websites

Concept - Stakeholder Input

Websites should be evaluated and tested at all stages of their development. At the conceptualization phase, you may wish to prepare a needs-assessment review for your website. This review should focus on questions that address the needs of both internal and external museum clients. As you gather information about the needs of your external clients, consider the following options:

Focus Groups

Focus groups provide valuable information to program developers. Focus group members generally have no personal agendas and do not form predetermined outcomes. They can offer unbiased and honest opinions about concepts and user needs and preferences. You will need to provide background information about the project and a facilitator to collect comments and input. Focus groups are cost and time-effective methods to gather information about your potential audience.

You may wish to invite different demographic or interest groups to individual focus group forums. You may wish to specialize your focus group participant list to include teachers, students, parents, or general audience members.

Onsite Surveys

Surveys can provide valuable information about visitor needs. Consider setting up a computer in your exhibit hall or foyer. Invite visitors to fill in an online survey or questionnaire or have a staff member invite general audience members to fill in an anonymous survey.

Stakeholder Input

Consider the needs of your stakeholder groups when conceptualizing your website. Remember that since your stakeholders already have a relationship with your museum, they may come with preconceived notions about your museum, so their needs and preferences may differ from those of your general audience members. Stakeholder groups may also wish to sponsor or support your website. Gather stakeholder input early in the conceptualization stage.

Peer Input

Museums across the world are building websites at a furious pace. Why not ask peers within the museum community for their input and suggestions on website development and usage? You may want to consider joining a museum listserve, or visit some of the museum association websites. Here are some resources for museum and website initiatives:

CHIN - http://www.chin.gc.ca
Canadian Museums Association - http://www.museums.ca
Museophile - http://www.museophile.com