You’ve decided you need to refresh your website, or build a whole new one? Great! I really look forward to working with you! Before we can get started, there are some things I’ll need to know about you, your business, and your goals.
What is your brand?
More specifically, what is your logo? What colors do you use? Do you have a list of specific fonts? What is your slogan or tagline? Are there any recurring patterns or textures in your marketing materials? Is this something that is well established or does it need some refining?
Included in my web design packages is a free “Brand Guide.” This is a one-page cheat sheet with your logo designs, font choices, color choices, and any other relevant visual elements that make up your brand identity. This step is mostly for me so I have a quick reference for styling, but I will give you a copy also to make your other marketing decisions a little bit easier.
What are the 3 most important things you want visitors to know about you and your business?
To start with this, you need to know your ideal customer. Who are they? Where do they live? What problems can you solve for them? What are their dreams and desires? The more specific you can get the better.
Let’s say you run a brick-and-mortar shop and you want more visitors to your store. You will want them to know your location, hours, specials, and products. If you’re trying to appeal to a local niche, why not offer an online-only coupon to redeem in-store?
If you offer a membership, your visitors will need to know what is included, how to sign up, and what your pricing plans are. Nonprofits will need to clearly state the work they do and how to volunteer.
Visitors to your website can’t read your mind! Make it clear what you do, who you serve, and what your goals are.
What actions do you want visitors to take when they come to your website?
When a potential customer or client comes across your website, what do you want them to do? Do you want them to schedule a consultation or place an order? Do you want donations or volunteers? Just putting your information up there isn’t enough – you need a call to action, whether it be to subscribe, schedule an appointment, or buy something.
If you already have a website, what do you like about it? What do you hate about it?
If you’re reaching out to me for a redesign, I can only assume it’s because you’re frustrated or overwhelmed with your existing website. It might be too hard for you to update on your own, or just take too much time out of your day, or it hasn’t been updated in years. Maybe you can’t figure out how to make it work on mobile devices or sync to your Facebook page. I can help with all of that!
Now, you don’t have to have perfect answers to all of these questions, but I’m sure much of it you do know already just from running your business. Remember, done is better than perfect. We can always refine it as we go!