So you want to launch a website. A commendable decision … but how do you get started? The most important question is “What do you want it to communicate?” What is your website’s mission? What are its goals? What would you most like visitors to know?
These questions will help you determine what pages your site requires. Most sites have pages such as Home, Services or Offerings, About us, and Contact. Additional pages are also common, depending on each site’s specific needs.
Thinking about what you want your site to communicate also helps determine the site’s overall style and image. Do you want it elegant, dignified, efficient, trustworthy, fun, creative? Choosing the right templates, colors, and fonts can produce just the right effect.
These additional questions can help you get started:
- What photos or graphics will give your visitors the best impression?
- What services, features, products, or works of art do you want to highlight?
- Do you have different sets of potential visitors with different needs and wants?
- What actions do you want visitors to take when they come to your site? Contact you? Send you information? Purchase an item?
- How often do you want to update your website?
- Do you want to publish a blog? Blogs can be useful and fun, but they require a lot of commitment.
- Do you want to include videos? Demos? Reference articles? Links?
In finding answers to your initial questions, some of the following resources can be helpful:
- The 8 Different Types of Website and How to Design Them
- Do You Really Need a Website?
- 5 Reasons Why Every Business Needs a Website
- 2020 Website Costs
Any time you would like to learn more about getting started with your own website, I can help you out with a free consultation. Just send me an email or give me a call.
