Great websites don’t just happen. They require a well thought out plan long before your website designer and developer even reach for the keypad. And while it’s easy to get lost in all the pretty and cool aesthetics, you firstly need to make sure your website is developed with your business goals in mind. This is where you need a little thing called strategy.
Like most businesses, your website is the hub of your marketing activity. Giving your website a good foundation will ensure you get the most out of your site. Neglecting to allocate time and resources to strategically plan your website is a crucial mistake many businesses make.
A clearly defined strategy ensures effective design and development, and will avoid any costly setbacks. So what does a website design strategy involve? We’ve broken done some of the steps you should include in your planning when designing a new website.
Define your goals
To put it simply – what are the main reasons you need to have a website? And how will this support your overall business strategy? The clearer you can be with setting your goals and measurable objectives, the more successful your site will be.
Zero in on your target audience
Focus on the customers that matter. Your website should be built around their needs and your content should reflect this. It’s easy to get bogged down talking about your products and/or services, but how do they provide a solution for your audience?
Brand considerations
Your site should reflect who you are. What kind of feelings do you want your site to convey? What are the key messages and USPs you want to articulate? How will you stand out from your competitors?
User centered design
You’ve defined your audience, now your website designer needs to consider how to design your site to ensure the best user experience. A good looking website is useless if it lacks substance and provides no value. Your site should be easy to navigate with engaging content and strong calls to action that drive your desired outcomes. Think about any business processes you could incorporate into the functionality of your site too.
Create realistic timeframes & budget
We’d all love to have a website created in the click of a finger, but if you want it done properly then don’t rush the process. Break up your website project in stages or sprints if required, and set realistic deadlines that you, and your website designers and website development team (whether internal or outsourced) can agree upon.
Outline your budget and resources dedicated to the project. Your budget will determine the level of functionality your website can offer, so it helps to know what is in and out of scope from the very start.
Measuring success
Tracking your results is critical to understanding whether your site is achieving its goals. Determine how you will measure your success and the process you intend to take.
Having a solid website strategy will ensure your project stays on track, but more importantly it will aid your online success.
Ready to start planning your website? Get in touch with Perth’s leading website design team today to get your digital road map moving in the right direction.
