Designing a website doesn’t have to be complicated. Here at Design Grid Digital Marketing, we have created a handy guide to help you on your way to creating a successful website.
By asking yourself the following questions, you will be able to identify what you need and help you get it built.
Take note; you’ll probably already know the answer to these questions, but providing these to the person building your site will make it easier to get your website right the first time!
1. What sets your business or organization apart from your competition?
It’s vital to understand what sets your business apart from your competitors, particularly those local to you. For example, if your company does waxing or beauty, what is unique about your business? Do you offer organic or vegan wax? Do you provide extra services such as a forehead massage? Make sure you think about why a customer should come to you over someone else.
2. Why do you believe site visitors should do business with you rather than with a competitor?
Leading from the previous question, what would entice a customer to choose you over your competitor? What are your products you are offering? Consider offering an exclusive online deal for first-time customers to entice them to become a regular customer.
3. Who are your ideal customers?
Knowing your audience is critical. As a business, you need to understand what type of customer you want to target. For example, there’s no point trying to sell your baby goods to retirees with no grandchildren, or, coffee to a tea drinker.
4. What is your budget and turnaround for the project? Do you have a deadline you need the site completed by?
Two items that affect your website design are budget and timelines. It’s crucial to set expectations with your design company early. Websites take time and can’t be done overnight – by being transparent; you can receive realistic timeframes and a cost to match this. It also allows the company to work with you within your budget – you can be selective about what needs to built and what doesn’t.
5. What staff would be involved? Who will be updating your site afterwards?
A fundamental question to ask yourself is who will be managing your site after it is built? Whether it’s your admin staff or assistant, or, you hire a support pack, it’s essential to know this upfront. Your site will need to have instructions written for your staff to update your website and may need some additional components put in place to ensure it simplified enough for you to take it on.
6. What websites do you like? What do you like about them?
Be prepared when you come for your first meeting. Investigate your competitors, work out which sites you like or which parts of their sites you like. If you’re providing a service, check out our service websites and see what you think works well. Take a list to your meeting to give an idea of what you might like to see on your website.
7. What website don’t you like? What don’t you like about them?
Likewise, write a list of what you don’t like. Be clear about items or websites that annoy you or you dislike. These items can then be avoided when building your website.
8. Are there any particular features you want to include on your website?
Be clear about what features or functions that need to be included on your website. For example, do your customers or clients need to make a booking? Do you need an events calendar or news section? These items add to the complexity of your website and will also determine the costing.
9. Is your content ready?
When building most websites, we’ve found that the project stalls when the content is not ready. Your existing material can be taken from your current website, but it’s best to have this all ready before you leap into building your website. Also, don’t forget to advise if you have any branding guidelines that need to be considered and have all your logins ready to share.
10. If you were using a search engine, what words or phrases would you use to find your site? Which of these phrases are essential in ranking for?
Being located on Google and other search engine result pages (SERP) is just as crucial to have a website. Work out what are the most important phrases or keywords that your customers should find you through.
11. Do you have any concerns or worries?
A good working relationship is key to the success of your website. Express any concerns or worries you may have about your website or the work that is about to be undertaken. By being transparent, a good company will be able to alleviate and resolve any issues upfront.
12. To call your website a success, what would need to happen?
Finally, how would you rate the website a success? Do you want to see x number of customers visiting your site, or x number buying a product or making a booking? Make sure to have clear goals to help you make your website as successful as possible.
Do you want to discuss a new website project or redesign with us? Get in touch at Design Grid Digital Marketing.
