How often have you heard someone say they want to build their website? The idea sounds great, but building a website from scratch is no easy task. There are many things to consider before starting. However, Web Design Toronto services are there to help those in need of professional web design. Building a website is a complex undertaking. If you do not plan, you might spend hours or even days working on something that will not get finished. This is why it is important to take some time to research and prepare before launching into the project. weGetting the Perfect Website DesignThere are several aspects to consider when designing a website. These include the hosting service you choose, the design elements you incorporate, and the functionality you implement. Here are five key points to remember when designing a website. 1. Hosting ServiceThe first step in any web development process is choosing a hosting service. You can find many different options for hosting services, so you must do your homework before signing up with any particular provider. The most common hosting services are shared hosting and dedicated hosting. Shared hosting allows the hosting of multiple websites on one server. Dedicated hosting provides space on a single server for each site. Both types of hosting offer various benefits and drawbacks. For instance, shared hosting offers lower costs than dedicated hosting. However, it limits how much storage space you have available. On the other hand, dedicated hosting gives you more control over the resources allocated to each site. 2. Design ElementsOnce you select a hosting service, you need to decide what kind of website you want to create. Will it be a simple informational page? or will it feature an ecommerce store? What about social media sites like Facebook and Twitter? You should also think about the layout of the pages that you want to create. Do you prefer clean layouts that focus on content? Alternatively, do you prefer visually stimulating designs that highlight graphics and photos? 3. FunctionalityWhen you start thinking about the features you want to add to your website, you need to consider how users interact with them. Do you want visitors to be able to search through your site using keywords? Alternatively, would you rather let people browse through categories and pages by clicking links? 4. Content Management System (CMS)A CMS is software that enables you to update and manage all of the content on your website without having to log in as administrator. Some popular CMS platforms include WordPress, Drupal, Joomla! and Magneto. 5. Search engine optimization (SEO)Search engine optimization (SEO) refers to techniques used to help improve the visibility of a website within search engines. It involves ensuring your site has relevant information and includes keywords that match those searched by potential customers. What make a good website?Web designers often talk about the importance of “design†when discussing their work. However, what does this mean? Is there such thing as a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ website design? Well, good website design is not just about aesthetics – although that is certainly part of it. In essence, it is about the following:
Website Design for Increased TrafficNow that we know what makes a good website, here are some tips for designing a website that will get more traffic:
Final Advice!ÂÂThere you have it. These tips and guidelines will help you design the perfect website for your use. Get the help of a professional for great website design and development! There are two ways to design a website. You could trudge through the storm of attempting to build your own website, trying to figure out what goes where and how to create the look you are going for. Or, you could hire someone to do it for you, through having consultations and working with someone to build your baby. Whether you decide to DIY or have it done, big budget or small, you need to pay attention to these 4 website design considerations. It's easy to get caught up in what needs to be shown and done on the website. You want to have this list of products featured, all your services placed prominently, and other information for all to see. But is all of that info necessary? Is the website really about you? Or is it about your target audience? Don't fall into the trap of designing your website for you and not the people that really matter---the client. 1. User Experience.Fondly called UX by many, user experience is about what type of experience your customers and perspective clients have on your site. Your website is your online brand ambassador, so you need to make sure it represents you in a good light. You've been to plenty of sites where you just can't find a thing and left, right? This could be because of clutter, confusing verbage and labeling, or even lack of or too much information. Those websites were thinking about themselves more than their target audience. When designing a website, it's all too easy to get caught up in what you want to see on the site and forget about the people actually using your site. How do you create a better user experience?
2. Consider the Personas.Why are you building this website? To get phone calls or leads? To get brand recognition or to promote your services? Ultimately, the point of a business or organization is to sell a product, service, or idea. To move the needle. The whole point of a website is to communicate who you are and what you can do for clients and prospects. So, why shouldn't you be building your website for that audience? You change your product for your buyers' needs, why shouldn't you do the same for your website? So, when building a website, know who your personas are. Who are your current customer segments and who do you want to target? Understand how they think and what makes them want to buy. Are they more visual people or are they influenced by statistics? Who are the purchasers? Why do they want your product/service? Are they millennials, which are more tech savvy, or an older generation that wants more personal contact? Basically, when you're designing your website, keep in mind what will matter to the target audience. Think about how they will find you. How they want to stay connected. What information they want. Don't get overwhelmed and start hyperventilating. However, getting to know your target audience is not just imperative for your website, but also your company, so it's never a waste of time to develop personas on your own or through a marketing company. Just knowing all this will help you get into the mind of your target audience to get higher conversions, as well as often leads to greater customer relationships and business practice. Once you know your personas, you can apply what you know to your website. This can dictate what type of content and info are on there that your users are looking for, what syntax to use (Example: a more formal or casual tone/wording), and even the type of engagement. This can tell you what to focus on. Do you need more forms and content on your site? Need a high social media presence? Or just the "typical info" like phone number, email, and address? It'll even say what needs to go in which areas and frequency of use for the site. If you get nothing else for this blog, knowing your target audience is the main nugget of info. 3. Easy to Contact.Never make it difficult for a prospect to contact you. If they can't get ahold of you, why should they even bother? The point is to sell your idea, product, or service, so sell it. You always make sure your phone number, email, and address are all there; those are the basics. However, what about the others? What about your social media? You put all that effort and time into those posts and building up an audience, have those linked as well (which even helps SEO a bit). Other ways for people to contact you are CTAs (Call to Actions). They are a great way to get leads. You can have CTAs be a downloadable checklist or white-paper, a quiz, a free assessment, or even a free product demo. All of these are ways to showcase you and your product while seeming like you are helping the client... because you are. You are offering something that interests and helps them, while still showing that you are a leader in the field or demonstrating what you offer. Which is a main goal, right? Getting a prospect to seek out your info or to have a one-on-one meeting with them that they invited you to - that's what this is all about. So, don't waste huge paragraphs of text on something that could just be a CTA and could lead further down the funnel. 4. Delight Them.If a friend you've been expecting comes over with your favorite food, then you're surprised, but thrilled; making them even more endearing to you, right? Why can't a company? Make your website have a fun or helpful "wow factor." This could be interactive product screen shots, a video, or even quirky copy. Let your personality shine. If you have a funky flair or above and beyond customer service, show it with unique ways to tell the audience who you are. A client is more likely to work with someone that makes them happy and comfortable. Just remember, when you're designing a website, that it's not about you and what you want, but what the customer wants and needs. So, keep these considerations in mind when you start the perilous journey of website building, or come talk to us and we can help get you started. |