This is a great exercise for those of you that are planning a new website. Put aside some quiet time to read through our FIVE steps to website success.
Here at cre8 we’ll work with you to create the right website for your business, school or charity. We offer no-obligation consultations to discuss what’s outlined below. If you’d like to do this please get in touch.
1. What’s your objective?
For website success you should set clear objectives now – what’s the purpose of your proposed website? Why do you want a website?
Example of websites:
- Sales – generate enquiries and new business
- Marketing – adding landing pages and offers as part of your existing marketing material
- Brochure – so clients and prospects can understand your business and what you do
- Support – offer technical information as downloads
If you have an existing website why are you looking to change? Identifying past problems will help the new website to be more effective:
- Did visitors land on your website but fail to bite, or couldn’t they find you at all?
- Did you have enough information to encourage visitors to buy/act?
- Are there any issues relating to the services you offer?
- What was the perception of your brand?
- Was your website regularly updated, keeping the design and content fresh?
2. Website research
What are prospects looking for when searching for a business like yours? Do your rivals have a competitive edge?
When a visitor lands on your website what are they looking for, what information do they expect to see, and what reassurance can you give them?
Spend quality time researching your marketplace.
3. Planning content and structure
Once we know what kind of website you’ll need, we can start to plan content, positioning and structure. Before we/you concern ourselves with pretty stuff (like logos, colours and images etc.) we design a wireframe guide.
A wireframe guide is essentially a formatted ‘sketch’ of the website and content pages, and shows what content will be included and how it will be positioned.
When we send it, it’s really important that you study your wireframe. Skipping this important step can cost you time and money as you’re unlikely to end up with the website your business, school or charity deserves.
4. Website Testing
Testing your website is an important step to make sure everything’s working just right. Check all the content that you’ve supplied to us for accuracy.
Before we put your website live we’ll check all the technical elements to make sure your website appears how it should.
We’ll check your website on desktop PC’s, laptops, tablets and smartphones to make sure your new website renders perfectly, regardless of the device used.
5. Onwards and upwards
Your website is an investment of your time and money. Just like any other investment it needs to be monitored and maintained regularly.
When your website goes live think about how it will be maintained and developed. Your new website will probably be your most important marketing tool, so don’t neglect it!
How often should you update your website? Well, it depends on the type of products or services you offer. If it helps, we offer Maintenance Plans to make budgeting easier. Our Solo and QuickStarter Plans include CMS (Content Management Systems), so you can update content yourself (if you have the time, of course)!
Here at cre8 we genuinely help our clients to grow and prosper. All of our clients are different, and so are their needs. So we can understand yours please arrange a free marketing audit at our studio here in Leigh. It’s at our expense, so it won’t cost you a penny – and the brews are free, too!