Planning your new website

planning your website
When you approach a web designer to create a new website for you, they will have a number of questions to gather info that is essential for the build. To speed up this process, it can be helpful if you have a think about these things prior and have all of your ducks in a row before you get started. Here is a quick overview of some of the things you’ll need to consider.

The basics:

  • What is the domain name and have you already registered it?
  • Who will the website be hosted with?
  • What is your business name and tagline?
  • What are your products/services?
  • Links to your social media accounts

Your business and website purpose:

  • Why do you need a website? What do you need it to achieve? e.g. to generate client leads, to sell products, to educate and inform etc.
  • Who is your target market? Who are the people who will be using your site? Be specific.
  • Provide a list of example websites that you do like/don’t like and why.
  • Who are your competitors?
  • Are there any special features required? E.g. portfolio, booking capability, e-commerce)

The website:

  • What are the pages you will require for your site?
  • How can you help or solve a problem for your potential clients/customers?
  • What do you want your customer to do when they get to your website? e.g. book a call, purchase a product

Copy/Content:

Home page – What is the key message for your website?
About page – your customers want to know who you are and how your business has taken shape. You can showcase your experience, who your ideal client is and how they can benefit from working with you
Services page – What are your key services? How can they help your customer?
Contact page – How can your customer contact you? Will you have a contact form? If so, what fields are required? After successfully filling out the form, what message would you like to say back? E.g. thank you for your message, we’ll be in contact within 24 hours.
FAQ – Consider a list of questions that your potential client may have and write down your responses to these. Consider questions you have been asked frequently in the past
If you are providing the copy yourself, ensure you have it all written and ready to go. Alternatively, your designer may provide professional copywriting as part of your web design package.

Images:

In most cases you will need to supply images yourself unless you request this of your designer. Ensure you are using royalty free images or you have the correct license to be using your stock imagery.
Make sure YOU feature on your website with professional photography. Book a headshot or lifestyle session with a photographer to create natural images that show who you really are.
Resources for free stock photography: Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay, Canva

Testimonials:

Once you have completed a job for a client, ensure you give them some time before asking if they will provide you a testimonial. Direct them to your google page so they can review you there, then you can use this on your website.

Email capture:

If you would like website viewers to opt-in to a e-newsletter, you will need to have your email marketing account set up. Some options for email marketing include MailChimp, MailerLite, Active Campaign, FloDesk, Klaviyo

Once you have all of this content mapped out, you’re on track for a super smooth website design and build. If you have any questions or would like some advice on your new website, drop me a link here or fill out a project enquiry form here.