Websites: A Good to Great Guide

The entire web-building process can be simple in theory, but the thought process that happens behind the scenes is where websites are just okay or great at meeting objectives!

The Purpose

It’s easy to overlook asking simple questions like, “what is the purpose of this website,” or “what are we trying to achieve or reach with this website.” If these questions are ignored, you can easily lose focus when building your website and can make confuse for your viewers and consumers. Having a clear focus will result in better outcomes, such as more quality leads and sales.

Content

Of course, content on your website is important. But what’s even more crucial is the way you structure the content. Having a plan for your website beforehand will allow you to design a homepage for the best user experience. Always keep in mind your audience is looking for info, fast. A well-planned out content will allow the users to quickly find what they are looking for.

Appearance

To get started, here are a few things you don’t want to forget when it comes to the appearance of your website.

  • Your site must be visually appealing which will help you look more professional to your audience.
  • You want to make sure you stick to your brand colors or keep the color selection minimal. This will help your website feel more cohesive to the users.
  • High-quality images and graphics are super important to your website’s success. If you have low quality images it can give off the impression that your business is not being professional. I know not everyone has access to a professional photographer, but I would say most people have access to a DLSR or a camera that can shoot some high-resolution photos. If you have a good eye you could possibly get away with taking your own photos and having them be decent. Last resort would be to find some stock photos that don’t feel staged or faked; obviously these would have to be more general-styled photos.

Speed

Speed is something you might have less control with. If you are using CMS platforms like WordPress, your site can be very script heavy due to the number of plugins used. Cheaper shared hosting options could really affect the loading times for your users. You will want to make sure to have a high-quality server when running a WordPress CMS.

Conclusion

It is easy to become overwhelmed during this process. These are just some things you should consider while creating your website. A good starting point is to find some websites that you like and see what they do well and how you can apply that to your site. These are only a few things we consider while creating a website. Our goal is to create a professional and easy-to-use website to help our clients reach their goals.

BRANDON OCEGUEDA, Web Developer