Getting the best from your web designer
You want a new website. So you call a web design company and tell them to create one for you. Simple. Unless you want a worthwhile, customer-focused website that gets results. In that case, read on.
The first thing to understand is that your website is not for you. It is for your prospective customers. Their needs, their pain and the solutions they seek provide the foundation on which an effective site can be built. So ask yourself: Who are your customers? What are they looking for? Why would they come to you?
The actual appearance of the website is a subjective matter. You may have visions of a particular style that you would like your site to reflect, and so may the web designer. But, as before, it is your target market that dictates the final decision. Use everything you know about your customers to create a look and feel that is wholly in tune with their likes and needs.
One thing missing from many new website briefs is, believe it or not, content. A website without high quality, strategically written text and worthwhile images is like a large store with an impressive architectural facade but nothing on the inside. Not surprisingly, customers don’t hang around long if there is nothing of substance to interest them. So you need words and images that will attract and engage your visitor. A good web design company will be able to help you with both of these.
Of course, there are quite a few websites out there already (644 million at the last count), so you can always browse around for similar businesses and learn lessons from their sites. Presuming your customers will be comparing you to these competitors, it is a good way to ensure you stand out from the crowd.
One way to advance your project from conception to successful completion is to exploit the expert know-how of an experienced account manager. Choosing a company that provides a dedicated account manager ensures you will be guided through each step and everyone involved will be focused on what matters to you and, ultimately, your customers.
Briefing a web designer is a skill in itself. A well-crafted brief provides all the raw materials they need to maximise your business’s online presence. Get it right and you will harness the full force of the designer’s technical expertise and creative talents.