Do you have an idea or product that you are just dying to get out to the web surfing public? Perhaps you are a brand new web designer and have your first paying gig. Before you slap together a bunch of bric-a-brac and launch it out into cyberspace, it might be wise to sit down and write out a website game plan. A good web designer always takes time to plan his approach before beginning any new project.
The first mistake made by many new people in the website design world is not establishing the objective of their website. You have to have a goal in mind. What it is that you want to express? Is this website going to be used for educational or informational purposes? Are you just promoting your services, or are you selling something over the Internet?
Another point to decide before you begin is what colour combinations you want on your website. Different colours can have different effects on people. Calming shades like blue and purple will help your web audience relax, whereas brighter colours like red and orange are known for producing excitement. Knowing your targeted audience is key here, because you can decide what mood you want to convey using various colour combinations.
The next thing you will want to do is figure out what important pages need to be on your website. A homepage is required and things such as a “contact us” page and a “privacy policy” are important. An “about us” and “testimonials” page are pages that benefit most websites. If you are selling products through your website, then having features like pricing, refunds, product reviews, guarantees and “frequently asked questions” are all important. You want to include these features to make a customer feel safe when making purchases.
You also need to learn how to become friends with major search engines. Keywords and phrases throughout your website that have to do with your mission or product will help search engines pick up your website and display it in search results. Some research into the key phrases that are being used might help you in optimizing your placement on a search list. You also have to give careful consideration to images, video content and other multimedia features. Complement the journey, do not distract from the goal.
Follow these basic tips before you begin your website designing, and your site is sure to beat out the other upstart competition.
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