Launching a new website is exciting and you may feel impatient to see it go live, but it's crucial not to rush the process. As the face of your business online, your website has a large influence on the way your brand is perceived and you only get one chance to make a good first impression. With the right groundwork, you’ll ensure your website has a solid strategy, makes the right impression, and meets your business goals.
From our experience building and launching strategic websites, here’s what you need to do before diving into the design process:
1. Define Your Brand and Target Audience
You’ll need to identify your target audience early in your branding process so that you can tailor your website's content and design to resonate with their specific needs and preferences. A deep understanding of your audience is necessary in order to make a deep connection. It allows you to communicate your value clearly as a brand or product that aligns with their values and offers a solution for their unique need.
2. Develop a Strong Brand Identity
Branding is more than just your business visuals. While it’s true that a visual identity that includes your logo, typography, and color palette are part of your branding, a clear and identifiable brand voice and messaging are also crucial parts of a brand identity.
Your website is just one of many touch-points your target audience will have with your brand and business. A consistent brand identity is crucial for building trust and recognition at every touch-point.
3. Set Clear Goals for Your Website
Set specific, quantifiable objectives for your website. Do you want to increase brand awareness? Generate leads? Increase sales? Clear goals will guide your website's structure, content, and functionality. They will be addressed in the design to work as tools that help meet your business goals.
4. Conduct Thorough Market Research
Analyze competitor websites to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to differentiate your business. Pay attention to their design, content, and user experience. What are they doing well? What could you do better than them? How can you stand out? Place yourself in the shoes of a potential customer contemplating a purchase.
5. Allocate Sufficient Budget
Working with professionals brings expertise, experience, and a fresh perspective to your project. They will ensure your website is optimized for performance, user experience, and provide ongoing support. When planning your website budget, it's important to consider not only the initial design and development costs, but also ongoing expenses such as hosting, maintenance, and updates.
By investing in a well-designed website, you'll create a valuable asset that supports your business strategy and drives meaningful results.