When you’re creating a website there are a lot of decisions you’re going to need to make. Beyond what to write and how much it will cost, there are many features and functions to consider and choose from to complete your page. There are so many fantastic and creative options for pages available now that the process can feel overwhelming.
To make it a little easier for you, I’ve laid out 4 decisions you’ll need to make. By tackling these before getting started, you can narrow down your website design and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Decision 1: What is the purpose of your website?
For most designers, this is perhaps the most important consideration. Don’t make it harder than it should be, if you know what you need your website to do, you can focus on those aspects first.
For example, if you’re a business coach, your website’s purpose may be to provide information, grow your list, apply for your program, etc… On the other hand, if you’re building an e-commerce site you will want a shopping cart solution and a product catalog full of product photos and descriptions. These are very different sites.
When you know your site’s purpose you can weigh your options based on your needs. It will help weed out what you don’t need and the decisions you must make will be much less overwhelming!
Decision 2: How will you create an amazing user experience?
When you’re looking for something online, how frustrating is it when you can’t find it? Don’t put your visitors through that! Your site should feel intuitive and easy. Your visitors shouldn’t have to dig for information. This means creating logical content categories, relevant pages, and streamlined processes.
Before you design your site or have someone design it for you, plan it on paper. Know exactly what your site’s purpose is and create a plan to make your site efficient and logical. Research other sites in your industry and keywords so you know how your prospects search. When you are clear on the next step(s) for your visitors, the easier it will be to create a website that provides an amazing user experience. Not sure what to include in your website? Head over to this blog post where I talk about the 4 essential pages you need for a killer website!
Decision 3: What is your budget?
Believe it or not, you can design a professional-looking website on just about any budget… The great thing is, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get the website of your dreams… I, for one, do not charge an arm and a leg for my web design services. My core mission is to bring your vision to life with affordable services so you can showcase your awesomeness with confidence!
Most people hire a web designer because they want it done right the first time or they just don’t have the time to figure it out themselves… If this sounds like you, I would definitely take a look at your budget to see if hiring a web designer would fit into your plan…
Although there are benefits to hiring a web designer, if you have a low start-up budget, you can always try to DIY your site until you can hire a pro. If you go this route, I definitely recommend using WordPress with a premium theme that comes with documentation to help you implement it all. This will help you to feel confident in your choice and give you a little guidance to make the whole process easier. For more info on creating your own website, check out my blog post, “How to Build Your Dream Website in 6 Steps!“.
Decision 4: Who is your audience?
Don’t forget, you’re not selling to you! Your audience plays a very important role in the design of your website. Not only do you want to make sure your site is easy to navigate, but you also want to make sure it appeals to your audience. If they’re cutting edge, then you’ll want a modern look and feel. If your audience is older, then you may want a more mature design.
Does your website niche fit better with video content or print content? How are you going to connect with your prospects, visitors, and customers? Your site’s design needs to support your audience and their needs.
Keep your visitors’ experience at the heart of every decision and you won’t go wrong. It will also help you to tackle this project and minimize the feeling of being overwhelmed. You’ll do great!
As you can see, when you’re creating a website there are a number of decisions you’re going to need to make. Which decision are you stuck on or dreading the most? Let me know in the comments!!
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