Guide To Planning A New Website
When setting up a brand new website it helps to have some solid ideas established prior to starting the design process. Naturally, many questions arise once the job gets underway, but if you follow the guidelines listed below and get some information together, you'll be off to a good start.
Section 1: Start with the basic content ~
What is your domain name, or what would you like it to be? It helps to have a few backups in case your first choice is unavailable.
Do you have a hosting service already, or do you need one? Decide what you are willing to spend on a monthly basis if you are looking for a new hosting provider.
Make a list of your pertinent business information including the following:
- Business address
- Hours of operation
- Telephone and e-mail information
- Individual employee contact information (if desired)
Do you want post an owner/operator bio? If so, jot down some notes about your experience, background, and if you want to include it, personal information.
Devise a company “mission statement” focusing on the strengths of your business. What are the qualities of your business that you are the most proud of? What's the overall purpose you hope your business is serving for your customers?
Section 2: Establish your goals ~
What type of clientele you are trying to attract?
Most companies initially establish their web site hoping to gain new customers, but consider the following options and decide which of them might fit into your web marketing plan.
- Provide useful content for your current customers to encourage repeat business
- Advertise sales and special promotions
- Establish an e-mail subscription list
- Publish articles to receive publicity and draw advertising revenue
- Sell products
Section 3: Decide on a look and feel for the site ~
Your website should convey an accurate image of your company. What style suits your establishment the best? Most likely it will fall into one of the following categories.
- Artistic
- Contemporary
- Elegant
- High Tech
- Minimalist
Color schemes are largely a matter of taste, but colors should be an appropriate fit for the business that you are in. Chances are you will want to choose colors that are already in use in your logo and any printed materials you are currently using.
If customers will be visiting your establishment (like a restaurant) it may be wise to choose a color scheme that matches your interior decor. If you are starting from scratch the basic choices are listed below:
- Cool (blue, green, violet) or Warm (red, orange, yellow)
- Vibrant bright shades of either the cool or warm colors
- Muted – toned down shades of either the cool or warm colors
- Monochromatic – light to dark range of one color
Section 4: Decide on some graphic elements ~
Graphics are important elements on just about any web page. They provide additional visual interest to your site and make that ever important first impression on potential customers.
For starters, you will need a copy of your logo for your top banner. A good quality digital file, or a clean print for quality scanning is best. If you don't yet have a logo, be sure to work with a designer that has some logo creation experience.
You will also need some photos to provide additional visual interest to your pages. Good quality photography is crucial to your image. If possible, hire a professional photographer to be sure that your photos are correctly lit and angled in order to show off your establishment at its best.
We hope these guidelines help you plan your website in a more effective manner and consquently aid you in achieving the maximum marketing results for your investment. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or to receive a quote on your project.