5 Things You Need to Know Before Building a Site

1. What’s the plan, Stan?  Before you begin your site, it is crucial to know exactly what you want to achieve. Answering these questions will help you develop that plan.
   • What is the ultimate goal that you want your visitor to do? (e.g., book a discovery call, buy your product)
   • What flow do you want the visitor to go through? What is the path you want them to take through your site? Make sure the path is clear. Don’t leave them guessing where they should go next.
   • What is the point of your site? (e.g., sell products and services, generate leads, establish credentials)
   • What is your project budget?
   • What are the tasks you need to do as part of your plan? (e.g., selecting a domain name, choosing a host, constructing a site map, creating your site design, and building pages.)
2. Stick to the brand. Make sure you use the correct branding words to attract your ideal client. Not sure what they are? Here’s a great idea—tap into your clients! Ask a few existing clients these questions to figure out what words got their attention, what they were feeling before hiring you and use those for your branding.
3. Get the picture? Use only high-quality photos on your website. Low resolution or fuzzy photos look unprofessional. If you don’t have the budget to hire a professional, it is important that you follow tips like these to get professional results:
   • Use natural (and bright) light
   • You may want to invest in a tripod
   • Make sure your subject is in focus
   • Make sure you have the proper resolution
   • Find and use some basic editing tools
4. Content is king. Your content is all of the information you will be providing your visitors once they arrive at your site. It is the reason they are visiting. If it does not grab their attention and offer them what they need, they will quickly move on.
   Some content tips to remember:
   1. WIIFM is huge. Your visitor will subconsciously ask themselves. “What’s In It For Me?” Your content needs to answer this question repeatedly and in various ways.
   2. Review your current website and other marketing. What has worked so far? What hasn’t?
   3. Review competitors’ websites. Find 5 or more of your competitors’ sites that are similar to what you are trying to create. Put yourself in your ideal audience’s shoes. What would appeal to them? What wouldn’t?
   4. For best results, work with professionals. There are professionals like copywriters that specialize in web copy that is concise and persuasive. Graphic designers and website builders understand how to use images and video effectively in your framework.
5. Color me beautiful.  If your brand guideline has colors and fonts, be sure to use those. It makes a statement and is a way for your brand to stand out from the crowd. Color attracts attention, expresses meaning, creates desire, drives conversions, and can even earn a customer’s loyalty.  

Need help at any stage of building your website? Contact Waterfront today!