Engaging people to create and build or update your website
so that it brings real results can seem daunting; we hear how difficult some people have found it, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Creating a website
that reflects your brand and vision
whilst accomplishing its main purpose whether that be generating sales, marketing your service, or providing advertising can be just a few steps away.
Here we have pulled together important points to consider when thinking about your own website, and briefing a specialist to build it for you.
A Goal
Before you can get stuck into the creative side of building a website
it is important to really take some time to consider what the primary purpose of your website is? What is it you’d like to achieve? Is it a product or service that you are delivering to your audience?
To ensure your website reflects your vision and brand
you have to start here, and be 100% committed and clear on your overall goal. The day will come when you want to advertise your website on the web, (using Adwords and other pay per click
opportunities) and you will need to decide what constitutes a specific goal.
Research
Never underestimate the power of research. Get out there and see what your competitors are doing. What is it they are doing right? What is it they are doing wrong and could do better? Whose website really speaks to you - competitor or just another site you’ve seen - and what elements of it would you like to incorporate into your own? You need to get a feel for what is already out there and understand how you can stand out in the crowd.
Brand and key messages
Your brand
is important and encompasses elements that collectively make up your brand identity. If you don’t already have an identity, what will your organisation be called, and what will it look like? Your brand logo will be in prime position and is where visitors to your website will be taken back to the landing page with just one click of a button. Make it memorable and that goes for your business name too.
As well as what sounds good you, you also need to make sure that the .co.uk and .com domains are available for your organisation. You don’t want to put all that effort in to find that the name you have chosen has been taken, and even derivations of it might mean you unintentionally drive traffic to another site as well as your own.
Consistency is key, and taking time to ensure that your brand is coherent and in line with other assets of your business such as social media, business cards, flyers and so on will help to establish your website.
We are sure you have experienced a situation where you click on an ad or a promo email, or respond to an ad offline, only to wonder if you have landed in the right place, because everything looks and sounds different when you get onto the website.
Content
Content, content, content. This is where you can really showcase what you have to offer. You can have a lot of impact on how long visitors stay tuned in to your website by way of delivering information in different forms such as videos, images, taglines and call to actions to name a few.
However, always keep in mind that it is quality over quantity. Prioritize the content you’d like your audience to reach first. Consider where images and infographics could best be utilised and ensure your content drives the customer behaviour you set out in your goal.
Design
It is not just the content and call to actions that drive behaviours but the colours you choose to incorporate into your website. When you look at your brand, make sure you have accent colours which enable you to evoke particular emotions as well as impacting on behaviours, so it is important to spend some time here.
The layout of your website is paramount in ensuring it is easy to navigate and user friendly. Font choice is as important as colour choice and you need to ensure that it is legible and links with your brand. Your website needs to be eye-catching, deliver information clearly and work effectively on both a computer and mobile device.
How can LCM help?
Sound complicated? It doesn’t have to be. We can give you all this and more and ensure you have the right tools at your disposal to measure your website's success.
Each website we build is tailored to your needs to fit in with your brand vision and values - no templates here. And they are SO easy for you to use. Whether you need a ‘brochure’ site, an e-commerce or something more complex, just let us know.
Telephone 01489 891 870 or email info@lcm.co.uk
