When it comes to planning, designing and building a new company website, there are many things to consider. It is really important to have a team taking on the task as opposed to one person on their own. Despite a potential clash of ideas stemming from a group effort, the end result is usually far more well-rounded than a site that is developed in solo.
Having a multi-talented team (such one you can see here) is a great tactic. The team should ideally incorporate a lead designer, extra creative thinkers, technical developers, a project manager, a mobile developer, and those who are knowledgeable about digital marketing. Of course, there is more to it than this, so here are a few more things to keep in mind when designing a new website…
Make it mobile friendly
One of the biggest issues regarding websites today is that many of them still do not cater for those who are browsing on a mobile device. There are so many people who use a smartphone or tablet to look at web pages online, and ones that are not easy to read will simply be ignored. This could mean a loss of sales as people could opt for a competitor instead. For your own site you should consider responsive web design rather than having a basic website and a specific mobile one. This creates a blend of techniques, and simply resizes features to fit on different devices.
Create a brilliant user experience
However user experience is made up of more, so you should come up with likely user journeys and organise the site according to this. The general rule is that people shouldn’t need to click through pages more than three times before they find what they want, so keep this in mind as you are creating a site structure and subcategories.
Ensure that the search engines will index the pages
A search engine optimisation specialist is integral to the process as they will be able to point out the ‘correct’ way of writing page titles and tags. They will also understand concepts such as duplicate content or site errors, which could otherwise restrict the ability for users and search engines to access the site. This should be done during the planning stage, rather than an afterthought – it will be much easier to adapt in real time.
Use imagery to good effect
Another large part of web design is using imagery and visual content to connect with an audience. This is often the ‘emotional’ connection between business and customer, as opposed to text which can often appeal to the ‘practical’ side. A combination of these is important as you will help to widen your customer base.
Write fresh, new content
When it comes to written content, you should try and do something that sets you apart from your competitors. If you are doing an e-commerce store, stay away from manufacturer descriptions and write your own. You should also make sure that your site explains who you are, what you do, and avoids using buzz words that do little more than baffle your readers.