A new website can be a daunting task. A modern website not only has to be visually appealing, it has to work across a wide range of devices whilst engaging visitors and achieving the site’s desired goals. Here are a few key considerations for your new website:
GOAL!
The most important step of the website design process is to clearly define its purpose. Whether you’re trying to set up an eCommerce site and sell online, generate leads, showcase a portfolio or simply have a corporate presence, understanding the end goal helps to inform every step of the design process.
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Part of understanding your website’s goal is understanding your audience. Which demographic are you targeting? Are there any preferences or behaviour patterns to consider? A good website design should be sympathetic to your audience’s tastes and expectations.
WEB BUILDER
Once you’ve decided what you’re doing and who you’re doing it for, it’s time to decide which way to build it. There are a myriad of options available for creating a website, some with little to no coding language needed. However, these off-the-shelf products normally come with their own limitations and can tie you into costly subscriptions. We recommend using WordPress, a widely supported CMS system that’s frequently updated and offers plenty of flexibility.
PAGE STRUCTURE
How many pages will your site need? A homepage is the obvious starting point for any website, and an ‘about’ and ‘contact’ page are a good next step. But will you require anything further such as product and category pages? How about a blog or a page dedicated to case studies or testimonials?
DESIGN
Now the fun part! It’s time to think about how the site is going to look and function. A good starting point is to design the home page as it’s typically the first thing a user will see when visiting your site and a strong home page design will form the foundation for the rest of the site pages. There are a few key things to consider before you even begin to layout (or wireframe) your page design though:
Accessibility should always be at the forefront of modern web design. Are any of your target audience likely to struggle with certain colour combinations? Is the text easy to read? Is any imagery supported by descriptive alt-tags? Addressing accessibility issues early on in the design phase can save lots of time and work further down the line.
Keep it responsive. Consider which devices your website is going to work on. Research shows that over 50% of website traffic originates from mobile devices.
Your website should reflect your brand identity and use consistent colours, fonts, and imagery to reinforce brand recognition and trust. Create a design hierarchy and ensure visual consistency across the site. Text should have clear headings and subheadings and buttons and links should be the same style throughout.
Think of the user flow and add relevant calls to action. How are you going to direct the user to the pages of the site you want them to end up? Remember, content should be easy to read and navigate. Your goal is to create a frustration-free experience for your user. Lastly, make it memorable. Is there any way you can make your website distinctive whilst still appealing to your demographic?
CONTENT
We’ve all heard that content is key, but try to keep it relevant to your user base. Copy shouldn’t be overly complicated, and headers should clearly label what the content is about. A clear main heading (h1 tag) at the top of each page should let visitors (and search engines) know exactly what they’re about to view.
SEO & OPTIMISATION
Implement on-page SEO best practices to improve your website’s visibility in search engine results. Use relevant keywords, optimise meta tags, and create descriptive URLs to enhance your site’s organic search performance.
By considering these factors during the website design process, you can create a compelling, user-friendly, and impactful online presence that is engaging to your audience, reinforces your brand and achieves your objectives. if you need assistance on your web design then please feel free to call or email us for a chat!
