7 STEPS TO PLAN YOUR WEBSITE
If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never end up there. This is a principle that applies to road trips, life journeys, and websites alike. Creating a website is a little bit like planning the perfect road trip; it takes some planning and a bit of maneuvering, but the more time you take to plan, the better your results will be! In today’s post I’m going to be sharing the seven steps I go through to help my clients turn their website idea into a strategic and beautiful site.
KNOW YOUR GOAL
Know Your Goal- The first question I always ask my clients when we start planning their website is, ‘What is the overall goal of your site?’ I ask them what the site is meant to accomplish, and what action they want their visitors to take. As we move forward with the process, I make sure to keep this overarching goal in mind through every detail.
2. MAP OUR YOUR USER FLOW
Map Out Your User Flow- User flow is so important when thinking about how you want to accomplish the goal of your website. It’s all about guiding the viewer to the places you want them to go effortlessly. There is a lot of strategy involved in creating an optimal user flow, and this is one of the many reasons why it’s great to hire a website designer to help put those pieces together.
3. ENVISION YOUR IDEAL HOMEPAGE
Envision Your Ideal Homepage- Your homepage is without a doubt, the most important part of your website. It’s like the opening paragraph of a book; if it doesn’t hook your audience right away, they won’t want to stick around to see what it’s about. For this reason, I spend 70% of my design time on the homepage. My goal is to work with my clients to make sure your homepage looks beautiful, is functional, and has clear action calls in necessary places.
4. INFUSE YOUR STORY
Infuse Your Story- There’s no better way to create a connection with your audience than getting personal. Your website should be a reflection of you and what you’re all about! We’ve talked before about getting clear on your values, and incorporating your story, and your why is a big part of this. Having an About Me section is an amazing way to create a connection with your audience, but I also value using visuals (branded photography is key) in order to tell a fuller story of who you are.
5. BUILD TRUST
Build Trust- One important purpose of having a website is to build your credibility. A simple and effective way to do this is by including trustworthy client reviews. Depending on your industry you can also include before and after images of your work, case studies, and any awards or certifications you may have won. This is your space to show off your accomplishments, so don’t be shy!
6. HAVE A STRATEGIC OPT-IN
Have a Strategic Opt-In- Creating a freebie offer for new visitors is an opportunity that you should always take advantage of. Lead generation is a critical part of your website’s purpose. By having an opt-in for them to enter their email you can continue to grow your list of potential clients and give new viewers an instant way to connect with what you do.
7. EASY METHOD OF CONTACT
Easy Method of Contact- It’s simple, but super important: make it easy to contact you! You will thank me later when all those new leads are rolling in from your site.
If this list of steps seems overwhelming, don’t forget that you’re not alone! A website designer’s job is to do the heavy lifting for you and walk you through the entire planning process to give you the best website possible. If you’re ready to begin your own website planning process, don’t hesitate to reach out to me for a chat.
Hi! I’m Jannan
I’m Jannan Poppen. I help small businesses bring their vision to life through brand and web design so they can create the impact and income they desire.