Planning is essential to the development of a good website. Author Stephen Covey advises readers to “begin with the end in mind.”
1 Establish the Goals
To what end does this website serve? Is it to present oneself respectably? Can we get the user to call us? Online shop or service provider? A time-saving device?
The purpose of the website must be stated explicitly in writing. Better outcomes can be attained with the help of well-defined objectives. Keep the result in mind as you start. What are you hoping to achieve with your site, and why?
2. Determine who you want to sell to.
Understanding your target audience is crucial for creating a successful website. Just who exactly are you aiming for? What are some of the characteristics of their population? Is this guy a she? Range of ages?
You can then proceed to delve even further. How do they typically shop? Which periodicals do they enjoy? Where do they spend their free time? What about golf? Hike? If you can answer these questions, you’ll be well on your way to designing a site that satisfies the needs of your target demographic. Selecting visuals that are relatable to the target demographic is also helpful.
Determine Your Domain Name 3
The shorter the name, the better.
If at all possible, include search terms in your domain name. (Keywords are words people might type into Google to find you.)
You may use a keyword like “PortlandPeaches.com” to help people find your business.
Steer clear of using brand names.
Words like “talbotttools.com” are easy to misspell since they share a letter at the end and the beginning.
Defending the Expenditures
How much money does one consumer typically spend over 24 months? (Total number of purchases multiplied by the average annual purchase value multiplied by two years.)
The number of additional site visitors required to cover the cost of operation can be calculated in this way. (The total construction budget is divided by the percentage above.)
5. Assess the Rivalry
How do you think your rivals’ websites stack up? Keep that in mind while creating your site’s layout so that it stands out from the competition while fitting in with your field.
Choose a Format (6th Step)
Explore the web and list 3–5 sites you particularly enjoy, explaining why you appreciate them. You should also pick out three things you dislike and explain why.
In the planning stage, a goal like this is invaluable. You need not start from scratch. However, copyright legislation prohibits copying or reusing another’s work without the author’s consent.
7. Compose the Body of the Text
The technique relies heavily on the writing of the textual content. Writing the content yourself can save you a lot of money and time. After all, nobody is more familiar with your company than you are. The information included in the text needs to be classified. The buttons on your site will be based on these classifications.
The designer won’t have to guess how much text has to be included on each page if it has been thoroughly massaged and edited before the site is designed.
8. A Flow Diagram
Create a site-wide flowchart based on the textual content, detailing the information presented on each page and the connections between them. The design process can then proceed with this plan.
Pick a Visualization 9.
It’s essential to use high-quality images and photography. Poor image quality, such as blurriness or pixels, can damage a company’s reputation. Make use of high-caliber lifestyle pictures that will appeal to your audience. Using relatable lifestyle photos may improve the user’s experience and leave a lasting impression.
You may find beautiful lifestyle photos and practical graphics on iStockphoto.com. It is crucial to observe copyright regulations and not exploit the visual works of others without their express authorization. Images purchased from iStockphoto come with a royalty-free license and the right to use the photo however you see fit.
Identify a site administrator. 10.
Who is responsible for the site’s upkeep should be determined from the get-go. If site upkeep is a priority, the site’s architecture can be planned accordingly. Adobe Dreamweaver webpages are usually maintained by the web designer who designed them. A CMS like WordPress can also create a site’s structure.
WordPress sites are built on a “theme” or template and can be updated with little to no technical know-how using just about any web browser. There is no need for any additional software. Using a template means your site could look similar to someone else’s, a drawback of content management systems.
11. Pick a Creative Director
Maybe it’s your turn! WordPress’s content management system is a fantastic choice if you have web design experience and wish to handle the design step independently. You may also use the services of a site designer right about now. All your previous efforts will have been worthwhile and cost-saving if you succeed. In addition, the designer will have a good idea of where to go with your project.
Select a Web Host 12.
Pick a hosting service you can trust, like GoDaddy or BlueHost. I found them to be reasonably priced and their technical assistance to be helpful anytime I needed it. Sites built in Dreamweaver work well on GoDaddy, but WordPress users will find more excellent gifts from BlueHost.
Price, phone technical assistance (as opposed to online chat only), and, if you want to use WordPress, a host that supports WordPress are all critical considerations when selecting a web host. Whether or not a company offers “one-click” WordPress installation is a good indicator of how effectively they support WordPress.
13 – Construct the Site
Carry out the strategy and construct the website. A website’s success largely depends on how user-friendly it is. The navigation bars should look the same across all pages, have descriptive names, and appear in the same places.
14. SEO
To discuss “getting noticed” is inevitably going into the vast and varied field of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Google, Yahoo, and Bing are just a few examples of popular search engines, and they all employ a similar algorithm to determine your site’s importance to the user. Your site’s rating reflects their thoughts.
When it comes to search engines, Google is unrivaled. SEO aims to increase your site’s visibility without resorting to paid adverts like those that appear at the top and sides of search results pages.
Including relevant keywords on your website is an excellent first step. These are search terms people might use to discover you online. Pick keywords that are both related to your content and specific locations.
Conclusion
Adhering to the guidelines above can build a user-friendly site that serves your purposes, features engaging visuals, goes above and beyond what your target demographic expects, and distinguishes you from the competition.
You may check out our portfolio of graphic design work at P2 Graphic Design.
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