Setting up a website may seem like a simple project but there are a lot of elements that go into creating a site.
If you jump into this task without the proper knowledge, you will run the risk of falling into traps that can significantly affect and delay your project.
Delays do not just cause unnecessary headaches, they can also cost your business precious money.
To avoid these pitfalls, make sure that you are prepared with the right tools before you start. Here are some tips to help you out:
1. Establish your team’s role.
If your website has many team players, it is essential that everyone knows their role at the onset of site construction.
When everyone on your team has a clear understanding of what they have to contribute, the building process will run much smoother.
Communication is key to getting your team to perform their roles efficiently.
Set a meeting time to update everyone on the current state of the site.
Why?
This will also be a good time to collaborate on ideas for design and content.
A cohesive unit will function better than a team that’s not up to date on the company’s status.
2. Design an efficient sitemap.
An effective sitemap should be able to arrange the flow of your pages and make your users’ experience are more positive.
Why?
This will be the blueprint of the path of your website, defining the basic structure and navigation on how your site will function for its users.
To be able to make this as efficient as possible, you must have clear business goals and website objectives.
Aside from the visual model, having verbal and written blueprints can also greatly help.
3. Invest on good design.
Your website’s UX design is the one of its most important elements and it is just right that you invest time and money to build it.
Hire an experienced web designer with a proven track record of building top rank websites.
To create a positive UX design, remember that:
- You must know who your audience is.
- Have an understanding of your customer’s needs.
- Have a vision of what you want your buyer’s journey to be.
- Focus on creating design that would lead to conversion.
An effective UX design does not just rely on visual aspects. While the aesthetic appeal of your pages must also be attractive and reflective of your brand, there are other factors to take into account.
Looking at your overall objectives will help you figure out the essential design elements your website needs.
4. Plan website content early.
Some make the mistake of focusing too much on the technicalities and overlooking content, which can cause major delays.
The content, after all, is what the audience is after.
Having a clear plan about what kind of content you will be putting out will make the process a lot easier.
While filling the site with quality content might take awhile, it will help to have a couple of blog posts and articles already published during your website launch.
Keep in mind that great content should be:
- optimized for both users and search engines
- original and informative to readers
- include images and sidebars
