Over the years, 78Madison has built quite a few websites – big and small – and has routinely been asked how we go about building the perfect website. In other words what process do we go through if there were no barriers in the way.
First and foremost, designing and building a great website involves three things:
- Careful planning
- Attention to detail, and
- A focus on the target audience.
With that in mind, below is 78Madison’s step by step guide to success.
DEFINE YOUR GOALS
Start by clearly defining the purpose and goals of your website. Consider what you want to achieve with your online presence, such as generating leads, selling product, providing information, or building brand awareness.
IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
Understand your target audience’s needs, preferences, and behaviors. This knowledge will help you tailor your website design and content to attract and engage your ideal customers.
PLAN YOUR WEBSITE STRUCTURE
Create a site map or outline that defines the main pages and their hierarchy. Organize your content logically and consider user flow to ensure visitors can easily navigate and find what they’re looking for.
CHOOSE A SUITABLE PLATFORM
Select a website-building platform that suits your needs and technical abilities. Popular options include WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, or even Drupal or Joomla. Consider factors like ease of use, customization options, scalability, and e-commerce capabilities.
SELECT A PROFESSIONAL THEME or TEMPLATE
Choose a visually appealing and responsive theme or template that aligns with your brand identity and resonates with your target audience. Ensure it offers a clean and intuitive user experience across different devices.
CREATE COMPELLING CONTENT
Craft high-quality and engaging content for each page of your website. Clearly communicate your value proposition, highlight your products or services, and provide relevant information. Use concise and persuasive language, incorporating keywords for search engine optimization (SEO).
DESIGN AN ATTRACTIVE LAYOUT
Use a clean and modern design that enhances readability and showcases your content effectively. Pay attention to typography, color schemes, and visual elements such as images, videos, and graphics. Optimize your website for fast loading times.
INCORPORATE INTUITIEVE NAVIGATION
Make sure your website’s navigation is intuitive and user-friendly. Use clear and descriptive menu labels and include a search function if necessary. Keep the number of menu items manageable to avoid overwhelming visitors.
ADD ESSENTIAL PAGES and FEATURES
Include key pages like Home, About Us, Services or Products, Contact, and a blog (if applicable). Depending on your business, consider incorporating features such as testimonials, case studies, portfolio galleries, social media integration, and subscription forms.
OPTIMIZE FOR SEARCH ENGINES
Implement basic on-page SEO techniques to improve your website’s visibility in search engine results. Optimize page titles, meta descriptions, and headings with relevant keywords. Create descriptive and keyword-rich URLs. Ensure your website has a responsive design for mobile devices.
ENSURE MOBILE RESPONSIVENESS
test your website’s responsiveness across various devices, including smartphones and tablets. Most internet users access websites from mobile devices, so it’s crucial to provide a seamless mobile experience.
INTEGRATE ANALYTICS and TRACKING
Set up website analytics tools like Google Analytics to track visitor behavior, measure performance, and gain insights to make data-driven decisions for further optimization
TEST and OPTIMIZE
Regularly test your website for functionality, usability, and performance. Fix any broken links, optimize loading times, and fine-tune design elements based on user feedback and analytics data.
ENSURE SECURITY
Implement necessary security measures to protect your website and user data. Use SSL encryption, regularly update your website’s software and plugins, and back up your data regularly.
LAUNCH and PROMOTE YOUR WEBSITE
Once you’re satisfied with the design and functionality, launch your website. Promote it through various channels, such as social media, email marketing, search engine marketing, and offline marketing efforts.
Bottom line, building a successful website is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor and improve your website based on user feedback, industry trends, and changing business needs to ensure its always at optimum performance.
Joe Bouch, CEO
78Madison
Tell consumers what your business was born to do for them. There is a pure humanly relevant essence to every business. Look beyond the individual brands and line extensions and into the soul of your company. This is where the ignition point for business marketing lives. Let’s start a conversation – jbouch@78madison.com