Website Basics

Objective

The purpose of this website is to educate people, particularly college students, with basic information about sustainability and to give information that will urge them to take action.  I will provide as many resources as possible.  Resources include links to other websites and blogs that offer more information, names of institutions that support the environment, and links to stores and online businesses that sell sustainable products.  By including these resources on my site, I hope to broaden the sustainability network on the web and to encourage my readers to continue learning more about specific issues under sustainability.  My website seeks to be user-friendly, easy-to-navigate, and organized.

Project Timeline

• Stage 1: I will conduct extensive research and compile all the information I need for my project. 
  Expected completion date: May 15, 2009
• Stage 2: I will condense all my research and re-write the information so that it is easy to read and understand.  After condensing this information, I will see if I need to add any extra sections on my website. 
  Expected completion date: May 22, 2009
• Stage 3: Tidy up the website, make it visually appealing, and be creative. 
  Expected completion date: May 29, 2009
• Stage 4: Begin advertising and contacting potential websites that will advertise my site.  Look into the costs of my website, like the Intellectual Property cost - more under "Cost," and address them.  Look into any grants or funds that I may be able to attain for my site.
  Expected start date: May 29, 2009; will be ongoing
• Stage 5: Finish working on website; I will continue maintenance and update the website as needed. 
  Expected completion date: June 5, 2009

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Features

This website will be divided into several sections in order to simplify the broad issue of sustainability.  These divisions are listed under the navigation bar on the left-hand side of the website, which is self-explanatory.  There will be many links to other pages on my site.  In terms of visual features, the image of Kermit the Frog will be on every page, and the color green will be used throughout the website. 

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Needed Resources

In order to develop and create this website, I will need many research tools and materials.  I will be referring to books, using many internet sources, and talking to people involved with sustainability at Stanford.  I hope to get advice from these people and experts in order to determine which subjects within sustainability are most important for the reader to know.  Also, under the Get Involved section of my website, I provide attachments that serve as examples for the reader if he wants a reference.  I may need to communicate with some people in order to attain certain documents to attach to my website.

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Maintenance

I will have to update the website with new information and add more resources even after the "completion" of my project because the number of sites and sources about sustainability will grow.  More basic maintenance will include making sure all the links work and adjusting to new website tools that Google Sites provides in order to maximize the user-friendliness of the website.  Also, if I apply for a grant (see "Financial Model" further down this page), I may have to apply for it more than once; if doing advertisements, I will have to keep track of them.

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Costs

Because I am using Google Sites, there is no start-up fee for my website.  My cost will mainly be the time and effort I put into creating and maintaining this website.  I will be providing my email address on the website, so if people contact me with questions or suggestions, I will answer their emails.  Also, if my site expands - in terms of information and the number of readers it attracts - or credibility of the website becomes an issue, I will consider re-creating this website under a different domain; this would require a start-up fee and a possible renewal fee, in addition to more time and effort on my part.   Another cost may be my usage of Kermit the Frog - both images and the name of the character - on this website.  I may need to pay a fee in order to use this intellectual property.

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Market Analysis

Target Market

While I am targeting anyone interested in learning about sustainability, I hope to attract mostly college students and Stanford students.  Because my website is two-pronged, in that it both educates and provides resources, my market will include students who know nothing about sustainability and students who are knowledgeable but want to learn how to make an impact. 

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Market Hook

Sustainability is currently a hot topic, and I think the timing of my project will help attract readers.  Also, since sustainability is an important issue on campus, Stanford students will be willing to read my site.  Freshmen at Stanford will especially benefit from this website because it will help them get accustomed to Stanford's atmosphere and way of life, which is highly eco-friendly.  My website will also serve useful to Stanford students who are interested in sustainability and are looking for ways to get plugged into active groups or projects on campus.  Lastly, this website will appeal to students on other college campuses where sustainability is not an important issue; these students will be able to use my site as a guidance and as a tool for getting their campuses more involved in sustainability.

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Competition

There are many websites about sustainability on the internet, but I have yet to come across one that is very user-friendly.  I hope that compared to other sites, mine will be easier to read and understand.  I plan on focusing on the basics of sustainability rather than going too much into detail and overwhelming the reader; my goal is to give the reader a foundation in knowledge about sustainability and to provide resources for further learning.  More importantly, I want to provide information that spurs the reader to act.  My website will also be more directed toward college students, and beyond education, I want to give them opportunities - specific ideas and ways - to get involved. 

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