When you are working on a web design for your company, there is no cookie-cutter solution that will work for all projects. There are some general guidelines to follow that should help you through the process and ensure it is successful. Focusing on the intent of your brand, your company’s purpose, and quality UX alone will not ensure a successful website. Below are 7 simple steps that will ensure you have a site that stands out from the crowd:
1. Goal identification
This is, without a doubt, the most critical step to the process. Each project needs a goal. You need to identify your main short-term and long-term goals for the site before moving forward. Below are some tips that can help you out:
· Know what makes a good goal: This may seem like a no-brainer, but you should know by now why your web design is important. Understand what a good goal is, and then come up with practical ones for your site.
· Your goal should have a time span: Your goals should either be short or long-term. Short-term goals can be achieved in days or months, while long-term ones take years! It is important to know how much effort you will need to put into your site so that you can achieve your goals on time.
· Do your homework: Research what has worked for others in the past, and implement a similar approach in your own work.
· Involve others in your goal-setting mission: If you have a team, try to get them involved in your goal-setting process. You will be surprised at how much a team can accomplish if they work together.
2. Scope Definition
Once you have set your goals, you need to define your scope. Your web design can be small, medium-sized, or large in scale depending on the number of pages required and the features that will be included. Below is a list of some things you should consider when defining your site’s scope:
· Know what elements will be needed for success: Define all components (features) necessary for full functionality before moving forward with development.
· Make sure there is no overlap between projects: Keep in mind that each component of the site must be unique. Therefore, the scope of one site should not overlap with another site (if you are building multiple sites). Complete every site at its own time for utmost success.
· Don’t forget to include time constraints: Set realistic deadlines for your web design project. Remember, it is better to complete a small project on time than an overly ambitious one late!
· Prioritize based on goals & requirements: If you have a list of everything that needs to be done for your web design, it’s time to prioritize. Look at what is necessary and important before moving on with the project.
3. Design Creation
Now that you have set your goals and defined the scope, it is time to create a design. You can choose a design from many different templates available in the market or build one from scratch depending on what best fits your company’s needs.
Don't forget to create a logo that represents your brand in this step. Your logo is the face of your company. It establishes an emotional connection with customers and should be designed in a way that reflects what you are about as a business. You can choose to use a free logo creator or engage a graphic designer but make sure it is on brand.
Keep the design minimalistic & clean. The design of your website needs to pass on its message clearly, but do not overload it with elements or features unless necessary for functionality reasons. Simplicity creates elegance!
1. Code Implementation
After creating your design, it’s time to implement the code. Your web development team should understand how you want things done before starting off with implementation so that there are no surprises later on in the process.
2. Content Creation
This is the most important step in designing a website. Content is what drives your site forward and provides visitors with an experience they will want to share. Therefore, it needs to be done right!
Create compelling written content that engages users while reflecting your brand’s voice. Good content should include keywords (key phrases) related to the topic of interest. Don't forget to integrate images/videos into your content. This is because visual elements play a big role in how users interact with your web design project. When you give your users the quality they yearn for, you will ultimately enjoy more traffic, which will later translate to more leads, conversions, and sales.
3. Prototype Testing
After you have completed the implementation of your code, it’s time to test! You will want a team from outside your organization to review and give opinions about how everything is working. This step ensures that there won't be any major issues with the site once it goes live.
There are many testing methods available, including click test, A/B testing, and five-second test.
4. Launch & Monetization
Now that all components of your project are complete, it’s time for the world to see what you've been up to behind closed doors. After going public with your web design, try out some monetization techniques such as affiliate marketing or advertisements in order to maximize profits while also giving back or providing value at no cost to users who visit your website.
By following this process, there is no way you will go wrong with your web design. Use this article as a guide, and you will be on your way to creating a site that will ultimately drive traffic and revenue. Good luck!
Author Bio:
As digital content expert Anna Knowles likes to spread her knowledge and love for the digital media. Her aim is to partner with small businesses and startups, and help them grow their enterprise with dynamite content.