You know that your organization or business needs a website. You’re looking for a qualified web designer to build it, and you don’t feel like throwing your money into the wind.
So why do you need a website? That simple question is key to selecting the right web design company. If they only talk to you long enough to land the job and ask for your logo, walk away.
Why? Because without having a deep understanding of your branding & online marketing objectives and where a website fits into your marketing plan, how could they ever build you the right tool for the job? Any designer worth his/her salt will spend time defining your site goals, audience, style etc., and should spend some time learning about your organization. Otherwise, they’re really selling you a one size fits all ‘solution’ which is no solution at all. It might look pretty; if anyone actually goes there to see it…
The first step in designing a successful web site is to gather business critical information. Many things need to be taken into consideration when your site is in development. When you hire us to build your web site, we first discuss with you the objective of your website (e.g. lead generation, information access, communications, product sales, etc.). We will ask questions that will guide the development and design process.
Specific items we must consider include:
- Purpose – Why do you need a website? Do you want to provide information, promote a service, sell a product, generate leads… ?
- Goals – What do you hope to accomplish by building this web site? Common goals include communication, to make money, or share information.
- Audience – What is your sites intended specific demographic group or groups? Identify the groups that will help you reach your selected goals? Consider age, sex, location, income levels or interests – this will later help determine the best design style for your site as well as help to identify important keywords that may be overlooked if one does not consider specific target groups.
- Content – What specific content or functionality will your target audience expect to find on your site? Information, products, services, entertainment…? What search terms might they use? View your future site through the eyes of the customers that will be using it.
A good web designer will ask enough questions to help them understand the specifics of your business and its requirements in a web, site rather than try to pawn off a one-size-fits-all clone site. And of course, if you already have an existing website then the process should contain the same level of care and attention to a well planned rebuild.
Now consider this; without having a clear idea of your siteʼs business objectives, you yourself have no way to know whether it is succeeding over time. Would you purchase any other marketing tool without being able to track its effectiveness?
Proper information gathering and site planning will provide a framework for decision making during the development phase, will guide your builder during the design phase, and will guide you and your webmaster after the site has been deployed…
When you are ready to start on your own website, or if you have any questions, click on over to BackusMarketing.com.
Do you ask your clients why they have a website? It feels like an obvious question. However, it is surprising how many clients do not have an answer.
Without having a clear idea of the siteʼs business objectives, the client has no way to know whether it is succeeding. This means they have no justification for further investment and that leads to quibbling over every penny.
However most importantly, without clearly defined business aims they have no standard against which to base their decisions. Everything becomes subjective and that will inevitably lead to problems.
Before we start discussing design, usability and development, we need to focus our clients on establishing concrete business objectives. This will provide a framework for decision making during the development phase.
This will not only help the client make decisions, it will also focus them on the business and away from micro managing the design.
Follow Us!