I need a new website - Where do I start?
First of all, you need to think hard about what you want to achieve with your website. Do you just want to have one because everybody seems to have one nowadays or have you thought about it for a while and how it can benefit your business?
Ask youself the following questions and try to find an answer for each of them. It really helps you and your web designer if you have defined goals that you want to achieve with your website:
- What you want to achieve with your website?
- What do you expect from your website visitors?
- Do you want them to buy products online?
- Do you want them to phone you and arrange a meeting?
- Do you want them to simply know about your business?
- Do you want them to fill in a contact form, or do you prefer them to phone you?
- Do you want to generate business with your website?
- What do you want to tell your website visitors?
- Do you want to tell them who you are?
- Do you want to tell them what you do?
- Do you want to tell them what you sell?
- Do you want to tell them what you specialise in?
- How do you want your business to come across? Progressive? Laid-back? Professional? Crazy?
Please find below a few examples of how you can answer the questions. This will give the web designer an excellent idea and a great starting point for the design and development of your website.
What do I want to achieve with my website?
I have started a new Marketing Consultancy business and I want to raise awareness about my business in the local area and the services it offers. I am hoping to build a client base and want to encourage website visitors to contact me online by using a contact form or to phone me. Potential clients should find useful information about Marketing Services and reasons why they should make use of my services.
What people will most likely visit my website?
Professional people from small to medium-size organisations who are looking for marketing services because they want to increase their exposure and prefer to work with a local contact they can meet on a face-to-face basis.
What look and feel of my website will these people expect?
My website visitors will expect a professional and progressive look to my website. They will expect a logical navigation and lots of information (and images / examples if possible) about the services I offer. They will not expect playful things like music, movies etc. They want information served quickly.
What colour scheme should I choose?
Have a look at websites that offer colour charts with complementary colours (example with colour charts). This will help you decide on colours you can use for your website. CreatWeb can provide colour charts that can help you finding a suitable colour scheme for your website.
What services does our business / organisation offer?
This is the time when you start thinking about the services your business offers. In our marketing example, you will probably offer things like copy writing, preparation of sales literature, product marketing, advertising and PR. Make a list of your core services. You should be able to fill an A4 page about each of these core services you offer.
Who is behind my business / organisation?
What additional company information would you like to display on your website? It's always better to say something about your company rather than hiding behind a PO Box or a phone number. This makes your website more personal.
Header - Logo - Strap Line
Think up a strapline for your business, such as "Photography and Art Online", or "Web Design for Small Businesses". The strapline summarises your core business activities in a few words.
A website cannot and should not be designed by a web designer without a solid understanding of your business. The more you discuss your business with your web designer, the better idea they get for the design, layout and structure of your website.