More owners realize that the trend is to turn their business to mobile web design. What if you hardly know anything about the technology but you don’t want to be left out? Here are a few tips for beginners on getting your website made better that even more seasoned ones can use as a reminder.
Tip #1. Begin with the end in mind
Not to sound like Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, but isn’t it the way we start on anything? The first step is to decide what type of website you want. Is it a product showcase, a blog, a social media forum? This will save you a lot of changes later. What do you want your website to do for you?
It helps to write down what you have in mind. Here’s one idea that surprises many, but it works.
- Dedicate a wall in your room or office where you can post your ideas. Have a pen and a 3’ x 5’ Post-It notepad nearby.
- Start by writing basic ideas of what you want. Post it anywhere on the wall. Keep adding new ones every time it hits you.
- You will soon run out of new ideas and find yourself facing a wall cluttered with Post-It notes.
- Start sorting out those ideas by grouping together notes under certain categories—one could be designed, the other could be content, yet another could be functions or applications.
By now you’re organizing your thoughts by 3-5 categories instead of dozens of scattered, disconnected ones. This way, you can work out one category at a time and be getting a better picture of what you have in mind.
Tip #2. Choose a reputable web designer
You may have the skills to create your own website, but could your time be spent more wisely doing something you are better at? Even more skilled web designers discover later that creating their own website took them more time than thought. The choice really breaks down to skills, time and finances.
It helps to leave the work to the pros. Professional web designers, those have the experience and resources to help you turn your ideas into reality at a very reasonable price and for a fraction of the time. Plus, you can take advantage of warranties to maintain your site long after it has been launched.
Professional web designers can help build your website by using either existing templates, CMS or Content Management Systems (such as WordPress, Ning, etc.) or code it from scratch.
Tip #3. Choose your target audience
You know that defining a target audience is a business best practice. But defining a target audience is a best practice for anyone that needs others to give them something. Your web developer can work out your website’s design to suit the taste of your target audience. Is your target audience knowledgeable about social media technology and the Internet? They may be hard to impress. Or is your website a support community for people with rare health conditions? A simpler, more intuitive layout may work. Have a feel for current trends that appeal to your chosen audience bracket.
Tip #4. Decide on your website’s content
For those of you who understand the value of writing the copy for
Also, by using “semantic keywords” you can develop a variety of words that provide the same meaning around your core keywords.
If you are a divorce lawyer, for example, don’t say “divorce lawyer” every few words. Instead, use related terms like “family law” or “child custody.” This will help vary your content while allowing you to keep words that support your search efforts.
Getting back to your wall, you may have already created a list of what your website content will be. From there, you can decide to include tabs and thumbnails, how many pages will be added, or how much space to dedicate to some implements such as ads if any. Do you want a slideshow preview, a showcase of products, links to blog pages? These can be designed after you have decided the content with your chosen web developer.
Tip #5. Start with broad strokes, then add details
At template monster, you can browse through hundreds of templates from their web design gallery to find a web page that reflects the ‘feel’ that you want. Take your time playing around with colors, fonts and image combinations. It is better than having to change them later.
Once you are done with the bigger picture, then you can start adding smaller elements to your web page. Keep a clean, clutter-free style and try to keep sub-page designs consistent with your homepage.
Tip #6. Be accessible and SEO -friendly
Despite the number of literature on the web about search engine optimization (SEO) many still fail to remember its role in web design and development. You simply cannot ignore
It helps to have a Contact Us tab where people on the go can reach out for their queries. Social media getting popularity day by day and its gain the attention of the mobile and web users by adding social media links are a favored option to many who want to make contact. Adding buttons linking to your Twitter or Facebook account makes it more intuitive.
Conclusion
Creating your website for the first time has its challenges. The above tips will help. You will find that more questions may come along the way, but you need not fret if you have a professional web designer by your side from day one. He/She must know how to transform the design into a professional website that looks appealing and create value for your business in the modern era.
