Before you begin your web page, determine who your primary audience is. For example, your audience may include

• a large group such as the entire University community, all prospective students, all students, or all alumni

• a limited group such as prospective students with an interest in a specific field of study, staff interested in physical fitness, or researchers looking for specific data.

In addition to the primary audience, there is likely a secondary audience that will visit your page. At the University of Delaware, web sites are frequently viewed by external audiences as well as internal audiences. External users may be one-time or infrequent visitors to your site, while internal visitors may return on a regular basis seeking updated information. Each group comes to your page with a unique set of expectations.

Do you wish to appeal primarily to your main audience or are you trying to appeal to as wide an audience as possible? Be clear about who your audience is and develop your design and content based on that audience's needs.