It’s never been faster or easier to build a website. With web building tools, templates and plugins, you could even do it yourself in a weekend. And chances are, your friend’s niece is taking web design classes in school. She can probably help you out on the cheap – and it might even look great. But you’re ignoring a vital aspect of web design – branding.
A website isn’t just a nice-looking page that has information about you on it. It requires strategy. It requires looking at your market and demographics. It requires research and data to build the appropriate layout.
Spending a little bit of time up front can save you from having a website that just isn’t quite right. Your new design is nice… it just isn’t “you.”
Here are a few questions I use to get the conversation started:
All about you
1. What do you do – in 30 seconds or less.
This is the classic “elevator pitch.” If you spent a 30 second elevator ride with someone, what’s the best, most succinct way you could describe your business? Attention spans are short. Get to the point as soon as possible.
2. What problem do you solve?
Most businesses aren’t selling a product or a service, they’re selling the solution to a problem. We can work this into the copy.
3. Who are your competitors? What do you like/dislike about them?
Your designer isn’t likely an expert in your field of business. If we can see some examples of what other companies are doing, it will be much easier to make the site of your dreams.
4. What makes you special?
Tell me about your product or service. In what category is it the best? Is it the most cost-effective, is it the most advanced or premium option?
5. Is there a story behind your name or logo?
Often, customers will choose a small business because they fall in love with it. If your shop has a cute story about the way it got started, let me know. This goes great on an “About us” page.
6. What is your tag line?
7. What are 5 adjectives that describe your company?
This helps designers see what you see. Maybe your current website doesn’t evoke these feelings very well, but if we know what to aim for, we can illustrate how innovative, friendly and efficient you really are.
About the site
Now that I know how the website should feel, I need to know what it will do.
1. Who are you trying to reach? What are your demographics?
Your designer and copywriter need to know who their audience is. Is it teenage boys or middle aged women? It can make a big difference in font choice, color scheme, and even the phrases at are used. Be as thorough as possible. Describe your top customers.
2. What is your desired action for the site?
For a visit to your site to be successful, the user will have to complete some kind of action. What do you want them to do? Sign up for a newsletter, make a purchase, request a quote, or follow you on social media?
3. Which of your products or services are you trying to push?
Adding a large image or a special section can help drive traffic to a specific page.
4. What is your four-word SEO keyword target?
This is an important question. What search term will people use to try to find you. Avoid using jargon specific to your industry. Is it “brick masonry San Diego”? “Cheap used cars Colorado”? Take some time and come up with your perfect term. We will work that into the copy.
5. Do you want a blog or latest news section?
Continually updating the site with new content makes it look more important to Google. It also helps bulk up your content, giving your SEO a boost that way too. Is it something you’re interested in writing and maintaining? Let us know.
6. What special functionality do you require?
Adding complicated features after the fact can be really difficult. Different features might require different code libraries, and it’s a lot easier to plan ahead than to add retroactively. Do you need an interactive map? A list of all your SEC filings that are sortable by year and type?
7. Email alerts and newsletter
A good way to keep yourself in mind is to send out email newsletters. Announce new hires, show off recent projects, and offer coupon codes and deals. Do you have an email list already? Do you want to have a sign-up form on the site? What incentive will you offer? Let’s discuss.
8. Who will administrate the website?
After the site is launched, who will manage it? If you want to keep your designer around for occasional updates, that will require a different type of build than if you want to manage it yourself. Does your selected administrator have experience with any kind of code? Let us know and we can build the back end of the website with them in mind.
9. Do your visitors have any accessibility needs?
Do you sell a product or service that often attracts people with visual disabilities? If so, we can build the site with screen readers in mind.
Once these questions are discussed, we can continue the conversation and drill down into your more specific needs. Contact Rad Rat today to start your web design project.