8 Steps to Having a Website that COMMUNICATES What You Want
Your website is usually the first place future clients will go to find out more about you. For that reason, it's important to clearly communicate your company's purpose on your website. There are many questions to ask yourself about your website's messaging, but here are a few for example:
What does your website say about you?
Is your website up to date?
Do you have a website "just to have it?"
Do you even use your website?
Should redo your website?
Should you hire someone to help you with your website?
A lot of people end up with more questions than answers when they are thinking through their web presence. The questions truly are endless. The first step is to take a step back, and answer a few simple questions to get started. We've also provided KAdesign examples:
1. What does your company do?
This should be an easy question to answer, but often people spend far too long explaining what their business is - can you simplify it? Do you have an elevator pitch? If not, write one. Write one paragraph description of what your company does, make sure you have an answer when someone asks, and make sure it takes you less than 30 seconds. Here's ours:
KAdesign - boutique marketing agency, we work with small to medium size companies and become their outsourced marketing department. We also offer one-off projects like branding, websites and marketing strategy.
2. Who is your target Audience?
Your website should be designed for the people/clients you want to attract. This may take some work on your end to discover who these people are, but knowing your target audience will prove extremely useful in the long run, and will inform many marketing decisions.
KAdesign - Our target audience is small-medium sized business owners who believe in the power of marketing.
3. Who are your competitors?
Do you know who you're competing with? If not, do some research here. Identify what you do differently - what would make someone choose YOU over someone else?
KAdesign - Our competitors are other small local firms. Large SEO/Marketing firms with set plans are not our competitors, we can't compete with them. The thing that sets us apart is that we join your team and are invested in YOUR company's long term goals - we don't just put you in our system and churn out the same thing for each client.
4. Products or Services Offered?
Write down the services and/or products you offer. Be sure each of these is listed on your website with a description.
KAdesign
marketing partner: become part of your team as your outsourced marketing department
branding package: logo - style guide - website
custom projects
5. What do you want your site to accomplish for your business?
Identifying what you want from your website will help inform what tone you'll use when you write. Do you want to sell something? Just communicate ideas? Drive a specific action? Showcase your work?
KAdesign - Our website seeks to communicate, show expertise and work, and provide an easy way to contact us.
6. Does your website need specific features?
Think about the functionality you'd like to have on your website. Examples:
Scheduling
Portfolio
New client intake forms
Videos
Blog
KAdesign - We specifically wanted to have an in-depth portfolio
7. Website Feel and Tone
Your brand has a specific feel, or at least it should. Did you think about this when you considered your website? Remember: your website is where people see your company for the first time so make sure it is communicating your brand in an accurate tone.
KAdesign - We have a simple brand because our clients are the ones we want to shine!
8. Pick 3 examples of websites you like - what do you like about them? What do you dislike?
Discovering other websites you like (and don't like) can be one of the most helpful exercises when building a new website. Here are some helpful guides as you browse:
Navigation - Is it on the top? The side? Where's the logo?
Color Scheme - Bright/dark
Branding - How often is the logo used? Are there any repeating visual elements?
Target Audience - How do these websites target their audience? Can you figure out their target audience from just looking at the website?
A little lost? Contact us today and we can help guide you.
