When it comes to launching a new website, there’s a lot more that goes into it than slapping up a few pages. A well-designed site can make or break your business, influencing how customers perceive your brand and how easily they can find you online. Whether you take on your website as a DIY project or decide to hire a pro, before you dive into designing, you need to do some prep work. This guide will walk you through everything you need to consider—from platforms and pages to design elements and keywords.
Choosing the Right Platform To Build Your New Website On
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is which platform to use for your new website. If you’re building from an existing website, you might want to keep using the same platform, but if you’re starting from scratch these are some popular options. Each one has its own pros and cons, so here’s a quick breakdown:
- WordPress: Extremely versatile and great for SEO, but it has a steeper learning curve. You’ll likely need plugins or a developer to get the most out of it.
- Squarespace: User-friendly with beautiful design templates, but it can be less customizable, especially when it comes to SEO.
- Wix: Drag-and-drop simplicity makes it ideal for beginners, but it can become limiting as your website grows.
- Showit: Best for creative, visually-driven websites with its drag-and-drop features, but it lacks some e-commerce capabilities without integrations.
- GoDaddy Builder: Simple and cost-effective for basic websites, but it doesn’t offer the flexibility or advanced features of other platforms.
What Pages You Will Need On Your New Website
Now that you’ve picked your platform, the next step is mapping out the pages your new website will need. Your choice may depend on the platform you’ve chosen and your level of subscription – the more pages that you want to add, the more robust your website template will have to be. These are the basic, and most essential, ones to form the foundation of a successful website:
- Home page (your main landing page): This is the first impression your visitors will have when they click on your website link. Make it visually engaging with a clear call-to-action that invites visitors to explore further.
- About page: This is the place to tell your story. Share who you are, your values, and why customers should trust you to help build credibility and connection.
- Services/Products: It’s pretty obvious what’s included on this page, your different service offerings or product groups. Although you can lump them all together as one page, it’s best to create individual pages for each service or product group. This helps with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and makes it easier to highlight specific offerings in your advertising.
- Our Work: Showcase your portfolio, past projects, or testimonials. This visual proof can be the deciding factor for customers looking to hire you and takes them to the next step in the sales funnel.
- Request a Quote/Book A Consultation: Make it easy for potential customers to reach out with a dedicated form. A page with a clear “Request a Quote” or “Book A Consultation” button that makes it easy for people to take the next step helps generate leads.
Put Thought Into The Kind of Design And Features You Want On Your New Website
When working with a designer or building the site yourself, think about what design elements appeal to you. Do you like clean, minimal layouts or something more vibrant and bold? Do you have any existing advertising material or branding that you want to build from?
This may involve some homework (don’t worry, it’s not too painful). Look around the internet and find websites that appeal to you and you feel would be the right fit for your business. Take inspiration from your top competitors’ websites to guide you in the kind of features and messaging you want to offer. At the same time, consider what you don’t like. Maybe you want to avoid cluttered layouts, pop-ups, or over-the-top animations that slow down load times.
Certain design elements will make your website stand out and take visitors to the results you want. Image sliders or galleries can highlight your work and offer insight into the day-to-day workings of your company. Each page and service should include a call-to-action button to make it easy for potential customers to find the specific information they’re looking for and offer them a way to complete their transaction with your business. It’s also important to have a responsive design for your website to ensure it looks great on all mobile devices.
Choose The Keywords That Define Your Business
The keywords you choose for your website are critical for search engine optimization (SEO). Keywords should be worked into your headlines, page copy, and even image descriptions strategically to help you rank higher on search engines. How do you figure out which ones are the best for your company?
- Make a list of the most relevant keywords related to your business. Think about the words or phrases your customers would use when searching for your services.
- Use keyword tools like Google Keyword Planner to see which terms have high search volume and low competition.
- Focus on long-tail keywords, which are longer, more specific phrases like “custom website design in Barrie” instead of just “website design.”
- Take a look at your competition – which keywords are they using to draw traffic to their website? Are they playing up their experience, their attributes or even their location?
What Do You Look For When Visiting A Website? That’s What Your Customers Are Looking For, Too
When building your site, put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Ask yourself: “What would make me hire this company?” Think about websites you’ve visited and what made you choose, or not choose, that company. Generally, visitors want to see examples of your past work or case studies, testimonials or reviews from previous clients, and clear descriptions of your services or products. They also want to be able to easily contact your company or request more information. These elements make it easier for visitors to make a buying decision and build trust for your business.
The Big Question – Do You DIY or Hire a Professional?
If you’re on the fence about whether to build your site yourself or hire a professional team, like 3SIXTY Marketing Solutions, consider this: while a DIY approach might save you money upfront, it could take months to complete. Sure, there are a lot of do-it-yourself website builders today that make it easier for you to put together a basic site, but will you get the results you want?
Without the experienced oversight of a website designer, you could end up with a site that doesn’t show up in search results or convert visitors into customers. Hiring a professional team means you get a polished, optimized site in as little as eight weeks, saving you time and boosting your brand’s online presence much faster.
Are You Ready To Get Started On That Slick New Website? Book A Consultation With Us Today!
Prepping for your new website launch involves a lot of moving parts, from choosing the right platform to optimizing your content for search engines. But with careful planning and the right team behind you, you can have a beautiful, high-performing website that impresses your visitors and grows your business.
At 3SIXTY Marketing Solutions, we’re here to set you up for success with a professionally designed website that’s optimized to bring customers to your business. Call us today 705-252-4180, or book a free consultation, and let’s get started!
