Your website is your company’s nucleus, home base, heartbeat. When serviced well, it piques customer curiosity and fuels your brand as the most efficient and effective system to funnel business.
We live in a digital age, meaning your website is the brick and mortar of your company. Style, content, and functionality must flourish in tandem to best serve your online presence and thus — everybody’s favorite buzz word — search engine optimization (SEO).
But before you dive into developing a new site or launching a redesign, you’ll want to think clearly about the role your website plays as part of your company’s overall strategic plan. Here at Hype, we don’t set foot out the door without having a plan to best serve you and your team. Bring us the concept, and we’ll flesh out the ideas.
But captivating web design isn’t just about getting you noticed, and it’s definitely not about taking the cookie-cutter route. At Hype, we believe in building a site tailored to the specific needs of your business: one that directs traffic, offers a clear and compelling message, and promises customers an enjoyable user experience.
Today it’s not enough to just have a website —you need an online presence with a serious “wow” factor. Here’s a basic checklist we keep handy when working with clients, whether they’re building a site from scratch or upgrading their existing one to work harder and generate more business:
√ Know your website goals, i.e. increase traffic to the site, generate online sales, improve functionality, grow your email list, rebrand, etc.
√ Make sure your website is mobile-responsive. It should render well on all mobile devices.
√ Understand that function comes first and while eye-catching design is important, it must align with the goals for your site.
√ Invest in remarkable content that tells your unique brand story.
√ Consider a smart SEO strategy and let keyword research guide your copywriting.
√ Maintain ongoing and engaging content such as a blog, gallery, or social media pages.
√ Differentiate your site’s copy with graphics — let word and image share the spotlight.
√ Create conversion opportunities by having smart web pages and links that drive leads.
√ Measure the impact of your site with Google Analytics.
Spring has sprung, so now’s the chance to let your website bloom! Take some time to consider (or reconsider) your big-picture strategy. If you already have a site, evaluate what is and isn’t working. Determine your priorities and map out a plan using this checklist as your guide. Most importantly, create something that excites you.
What would you seek in a website?
We might be hopeless romantics, but we’re betting the result will be love at first “site.” I'm happy to chat with any BCPWN member anytime.
