Even before choosing a web designer, it can be a real challenge figuring out where to start. That’s why we want to share three pointers that will help you visualize what kind of website you want and what features to best showcase your business.
1. Target Audience
Your first easy step is to writing down who your target audience is. Ask yourself what age groups would be attracted to your site? Think about their general social structures, how they interact with one another, and how they might use your site. Start thinking of how you want your site to be perceived and what type of color theme you want.
2. Visit Similar Sites
Visit similar sites within your industry. List all the web addresses you visited. Make a sub-list of all your likes and dislikes. Pay attention to the features they have within… Do they have a photo gallery or video? Do they participate in social networks such as Twitter or Facebook? Ask yourself what you’d do differently and how it could work better by having a different navigation structure or color theme. Lastly, Ask yourself if you got frustrated with their site, and what made it so frustrating?
3. Keywords and Location
While visiting these similar sites, what keywords did you type in to find them? Write down all the keywords you anticipate your visitors typing in to find you products or services. Is your business a local company or a national business?
By following these steps, you’ll not only be well on your way to the brainstorming stage of your new website, but you’ll also have notes that will aid your chosen web designer in estimating you envisioned web project.