Preparing For Web Design

Web Design Overview

Even if you have an experienced professional to design your web site based on your custom needs, it can still be a daunting and anxiety-causing experience. Trying to run your own business can be challenging enough without having to worry about a world of ever-changing technologies with cryptic acronyms such as JSP, PHP, SQL, and the hundreds of other unfamiliar terms out there. This article will help you prepare for having your website designed by a professional (hopefully us) and alleviate some of the worry around what you can expect.

Writing Content For Your Custom Website

Being professional web designers, our job is to worry about the ‘how’ of your website. How will it be coded, viewed, and accessed on the internet? We provide the actual implementation and create a pleasing visual design you and your users will like. What you need to think about is what you want people to know about your business and industry. What services does your company provide? What are your company goals, values, and policies? Why would I buy from you instead of your competitor? Divide these up into clear categories that will be ‘pages’.

Think In Search Keywords

Think of a good word that says what your company does. Then think of at least four more. Use these keywords repeatedly throughout your writing, also using good synonyms for these things when possible. What products or services do you want to be known for?

Surf the Web For Success

Spend time visiting your competitors’ websites. What do you like about their websites? What don’t you like? Your web designer will need to get a basic idea of this before they can begin on a graphic design proposal for you. Do you have company colors? A logo? Do you like websites better with navigation at the top or on the side? Many people having their first website designed really don’t know what they like because they’ve never taken the time to think about it. Visiting other websites will help you get a better idea of what you like and don’t like.

Make Your Website Helpful

The internet is saturated with websites and online companies. To stand out, you have to do more than everyone else. One of the easiest ways to do this is to provide helpful articles and resources pertaining to your industry. If you are a travel agent, provide articles on places you’ve been and good car rental agencies. If you are in real estate provide selling and home improvement tips. The possibilities are really endless if you give it thought. Every article you write could be one more customer who stopped to read and stayed to buy. In addition, it gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and experience, and it makes consumers feel more confident in your product or service.

What Does My Website Do?

Many people online just want to provide information about their company and establish a web presence. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. It is a necessary form of advertising in today’s world, and you may want to just leave it at that. However, there are things to consider besides content. For example, many people have contact forms or a guestbook for visitors to leave comments. Do you want to have people sign up for newsletters or provide discussion boards for your visitors? Do you want people to be able to actually purchase your product or service over the web? Do you need a secure login for your customers? These are all things to give serious thought.

My Custom Website is Done… Isn’t It?

Really, a website is never done. Even after your design is completed, and you have everything you thought you ever wanted, inevitably something happens. Things change. It may be your business or your competitors, but mark my words, things will change. You want your website to be able to reflect these changes as soon as possible, so it’s important that whoever you choose as a professional provides ongoing updates to your website. Also, the more often your content is updated and the more useful content you have, the better your website will be. So, keep it growing!

There’s no reason to worry as to how it’s done if you have a good professional helping you out. All you need is to spend some time deciding on your needs and preferences. The more planning you put into it, the easier the web design process will be. We wish you much prosperity and success.