Collective Clicks Internet Marketing Blog

Website design

The process by which a website is planned and implement is basic in its overview, but can be complicated in its execution. It is imperative that the website designer sits down with a business representative, or website owner, to fully flesh out all aspects of the website’s design. Each party may come to the table with different ideas of success or failure, needs or structure. A thorough planning process will ensure all concerns are met. 

The following topics should be addressed during the planning process: 

-Discuss why the business wants a site, what it needs to accomplish, and what the owner’s expectations are. 

You can’t expect to get somewhere unless you have a road map. The businesse’s expectations and goals are the map. It creates the guidelines for a successful project. It is important not to assume that all parties involved know why the site is being built or what needs it will meet. 

-Who will use the site? In order to create a truly effective site, the designer will need to know and understand its intended users. 

The site’s users are the site’s customers. To be successful, you must know what those customers need and expect when they visit your place of business, i.e., your website. Understand their abilities and limitations, understand what they’re looking for and know how to deliver it to them quickly and efficiently. 

-Discuss and prioritize user needs, SEO and branding. A great site will cater to all three of these very important elements, but designers and owners may differ on their focus. 

A website designer, a marketing writer and a business owner would all likely place a different item at the top of their website priority list. Each item is important, but how to determine which gets top-shelf treatment? A thorough discussion and eventual agreement are the only way for the team to be cohesive and successful. 

-Compatibility: The site must be usable by all web browsers. Content will be shaped around this need. 

If the site doesn’t play nice with Explorer, Firefox or Safari (to name a few), what’s the point of spending precious time and resource on it? 

-Review process: the designer will present working pages on a medium such as story boards or a website wireframe to visually display their progress. 

A very important step that should take place throughout the design process. Designers can showcase thier progress and, before they get in too far, find out what the other team members think. This ensures that the designer is headed in the right direction and has the buy-in of all involved. 

If designers and businesses follow these planning steps, an exciting and effective website is sure to follow.

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Website design tips

1. Content – This is what drives people to return to your site. Content is what the site is made of. It should be useful, relevant and accessible. 

2. Usability – Don’t frustrate your visitors by having a site that is difficult to navigate, unreliable or hard to interact with. Users have come to expect easy-to-use websites. Make sure you’re one of them. 

3. Appearance – Your website is an important platform for your company’s branding. Make sure the style and appearance is consistent with your company, consistent throughout the site, and consistent with the image you wish to project to visitors. 

4. Visibility – SEO, SEO, SEO. Get your website seen on search engines. If you’ve got a million-dollar storefront that no one sees, does it really exist? 

5. Purpose – Your website’s purpose wraps all of these design tips in to one specific goal. Every design aspect should ultimately align with your goals.

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Website design mistakes

* Focus only on performance – Would you rather read a technical manual with tiny font and no pictures, or a how-to book with illustrations, examples and applicable information? Your website is the same way. If you strictly focus on the performance of the website, chances are no one’s coming back.

* Focus on style – Like a barbie doll with great looks but nothing between the ears, your website carries no significance if it’s all fluff and tricks. Strike the balance between style and content, performance and crowd-pleasing in order to really draw in and retain an audience.

* Create a website that is exclusive – Sure, country clubs are cool. They’re exclusive, and not everyone gets to play. But do you really want to be able to say the same of your website? Who knows how many paying customer’s you’re turning away by not being compatible with all web browsers, by limiting the use by people with disabilities? Unless you want to limit your bottom line, you’re better off unlimiting your website.

* Fly blind – Blind dates are fun, and a little scary. It’s like a romantic grab bag. Websites, however, are much more costly than dating mishaps. Not only a waste of time and money, but of missed opportunities. Websites should be well thought out, meticulously planned, and closely monitored throughout their creation.

* Don’t care – If you don’t care about your website, neither will visitors. Take pride in the creation of your website. Don’t do it just because it’s a trend or your 20-year-old niece told you to. Do it because you understand the importance of creating a strong web presence, know the power of a well-built website, and believe in the ability of your site to drive the success of your company.

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