Today, I want to let you in on a few secrets regarding what you should do before you build a website. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you are considering building a website, or having one built for you. Therefore, we need to chat!

Before You Build a Website: What’s the Big Deal?

Building a website is serious business, especially when that website is going to represent your company. You see, in the online world, it doesn’t matter how unique or amazing your product or service is. When it comes to advertising and selling online, what matters most is the quality of your website. Here are a few things you should know before you build a website:

• First, how your website is designed determines how long a visitor will stick around.
• Second, converting visitors into buyers is dependent on how your website functions.
• Third, if your website isn’t user-friendly, you may as well not have a website.

Before You Build a Website: All Websites Aren’t the Same

You see, designing a website for a business is nothing like designing a personal website that will mostly be seen by friends and family. People visiting your company website are hopefully going to be paying you money at some point (unlike your friends and family). Therefore, your website must be appealing. It must tell people you are worthy of their money.

Before You Build a Website: What Do You Want People to Think?

To be exact, before you build a website, you should decide what exactly you want people to think of your company. Putting forth a professional image and showing the value of your brand is key. If you don’t send the right message, you are pretty much handing business over to your competition. I’m sorry to say this, but it’s true. Even of your product or service is better, a bad website will repel customers.

Are You an Amateur?

Before you build a website, ask yourself what your qualifications are in your industry. Are you an amateur or a professional? Right! You’re a pro! Then let me give you a tip. Pros don’t have substandard websites!

A subpar website will shine a bad light on your brand. What visitors see in your website is what they will assume you are as well. Therefore, an amateur website could only belong to an industry amateur. Sadly, that could be a poor assumption, but it is a harsh fact. People feel more comfortable with a company that has a professional image, and that includes its website.

Before You Build a Website: See for Yourself 

Okay, just for fun, go visit at some websites. First, go visit some of your favorites. While you’re there, jot down a few notes about why you enjoy them. Good websites are visually appealing and easy to navigate. They follow common elements of website design. Next, think of websites you don’t like going to. Again, take notes; this time, jot down what you don’t like. Now, be sure to keep your notes handy and use them as a reference for your own website.

Before You Build a Website: Think About Your Visitors

Before you build a website, start thinking the way a customer might. What would encourage you to stay on a website? If you decided to stay a while, what would convince you to make contact? To purchase? Now, let’s flip to the other side of the coin. What would drive you straight back to Google to search for another company?

When you have a website, your goal is to grow your business. First, you need traffic. Then, you need your visitors to subscribe to your newsletter, or use your contact form. At some point, you need your visitors to convert to sales. Most likely, the sooner the better!

Therefore, your goal is not only to get people to your website, but to keep them there as long as possible. Why? You see, it can take several exposures to your product or service before a lead converts to a sale. This is especially true with unique, luxury, and high-ticket items. But, the longer you keep a prospect on your site, the more exposure and curiosity (s)he has. So, even if nothing happens on the first visit, a good experience will bring people back.

Before You Build a Website: The Internet IS Called the Information Superhighway

Do you mind if I share another secret before you build a website? Great! People visit websites because they are looking for information! That being said, here is how you take advantage of their thirst for information.

• First, don’t be afraid to get into the deep details of your product or service.
• Second, arrange all the information in an easily used format.
• Third, strategically place all your best information so it is highly accessible to visitors.

Consumers’ thirst for information is why establishing a flowing hierarchy of your content is crucial. A well-designed website ensures visitors will have no trouble finding what they need. Oh! I almost forgot to mention this: you have a split second to retain a visitor, so take advantage of that moment!

Before You Build a Website: Focus on Driving the Point Home

Before you build a website, determine how you will “get to the point” on your home page. Where will you place pertinent info? How will you make it stand out on the Home Page? What will your call to action (CTA) be? You need to know how you will capture a visitor’s attention and gently force his or her attention to the right information and CTA.

Also, while I’m giving you juicy tips about your Home Page, here’s another good one: skip the crazy Flash! To be sure, Flash can look nice—mostly to you—but it annoys many people. Flash will cause many visitors to click away before they can see what you have to offer. Furthermore, Flash is not your friend when it comes to the search engines, so just…well…don’t!

Before You Build a Website: Be Aware of Connectivity Concerns

I know this may be hard to believe, but not everyone has high-speed, broadband,  cable-connected Internet. As such, before you build a website, you must consider those with painfully slow Internet speed and connectivity issues. Additionally, if your business is global, these concerns are further complicated in foreign countries where not only is connectivity an issue, but so is lack of data on phone plans.

Listen, a good website is available to anyone, anywhere. If possible, keep graphics lightweight and keep your special effects to a bare minimum. To be honest, overloading a page with a bunch of extra effects makes it look amateurish. Finally, all the extra weight makes your website load slowly, which will only defeat you in the end.

Before You Build a Website: K.I.S.S.

What a great band! Okay, seriously though. Before you build a website, remind yourself to keep it super simple. Your website truly can make or break your business. Focus on creating an appealing website that is quickly and easily navigated. Trust me, your visitors will be thrilled they found it, continue to come back, and they will likely recommend it to others.

ADRA Media is here to support all your online growth needs. Contact us now, let’s get your website going today!