Web design project? Here are 6 things I need to know
Abraham Lincoln said “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” If the adage is true, then preparation makes a huge difference in the success of a project.
And so for a web design project, there are certain things needed to prepare well. The most important is knowing the purpose of your website. There’s also your ideal visitor, content requirements, competitor details and investment.
1. The Purpose Of Your Website
Knowing and refining the purpose of your web design project is where it all begins. When you have clarity about your website’s purpose, everything else falls into place.
The purpose of your website should align with your values and goals. Some websites exist to share information, others to sell products or services. Many do both. What do you want your website to do and why?
When thinking about the purpose, there are at least two things visitors want to know. They are asking what your organization is about and what next steps they can take. If you integrate those two concepts well, your website will be much more effective.
2. Your Ideal Website Visitor
As you think about your website’s purpose, you can also consider who your ideal visitor is. You may have a few, but drilling down to the ideal visitor helps to clarify your purpose.
Knowing how that visitor makes decisions or what influences them provides valuable data. This could tell you what colors, images, or content is best for your web design project. And it helps to figure out the type of content you’ll need.
3. The Content You Have
The content for your web design project is the most important element. Although quality design is critical, it exists to serve the content of your website. If you have existing content, it can give you a great starting point for your website.
Content you may have includes images, biography/company details, and articles. Depending on how recent and/or relevant this content is, you can use or update it for your website. New content is likely needed, but existing content is always welcome.
4. The Content You Need
After you identify your existing content, you can begin to determine the content you need. Your purpose will guide your content, but there are some standard content sections to be aware of.
Most business websites will have content about the company, contact details and services. Some other content examples are a FAQ section, e-commerce store, profile images, a logo and a blog.
Generating written content is often one of the most difficult things for some people. Sometimes you can start by writing lists or short phrases to get started. And then expand on your content as you are able.
5. What Your Competitors Have
A great way to develop ideas for your web design project is to study competitor’s websites. You can do any number of web searches to find out what content and design they use. After that, you can make a list of things you like and don’t like.
Learning about your competitors provides perspective on how they use a website. And it provides a web designer with requirements unique to your organization. This information is very helpful when planning your web design project.
6. Your Investment
When it comes down to it, you must consider the budget for a web design project. It can do a lot for your organization, so knowing what you can invest in it is wise.
Each project’s cost I work on will vary depending on the scope of services. An investment of $500 yields a different website than one of $5000. But not all clients need the design and features of a $5000 website. I recommend taking an honest look at what you can do on your own and what you need a designer to help with.
After the standard costs of a domain and hosting, you’ll need to consider at least the following. The number of pages, design style, copywriting, SEO, and e-commerce functionality. There’s more to consider, but always refer to your purpose when making these decisions.
Summary
As you have learned, a web design project requires a fair amount of preparation. Your website’s purpose and ideal visitor are the starting point. After that, you’ll consider content requirements, competitors, and the investment.
Once you cover these 6 things with your web designer, you’ll be well prepared for your web design project. But it’s likely you’ll come across other factors for consideration. Remember to focus on your website’s purpose every step of the way.
Thanks for reading my words! In addition to web design posts, I write about life design and topics I find interesting. If you’re curious, check out some of my recent posts:
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Note: I first posted this content on my blog on December 11, 2017.
