5 Things To Explore Before Creating A Website

Whether you are building a website yourself, or hiring a local web designer to do it for you, there are many things to consider for your site. In this blog we explore five of them. 

When building a website, one of the most important things to consider is your goals. Your website should be designed with your goals in mind, whether that's to increase sales, drive traffic, or simply inform your audience. Like anything, the more preparation you do in advance, the better the result will be. Believe us when we say, we can't create something out of nothing.  A web designer will ask you pertinent questions when starting your new website - and often many of the questions are asked prior to even quoting the site for you. Be prepared. Here are some steps to help you determine your goals and the features you'll need to achieve them:

1. Identify your target audience

The first step in determining your goals is to identify your target audience.

• Who is your website for?
• What do they need?
• What solution do you provide?

Understanding your audience will help you determine the features you need to include on your website.

2. Determine your website's purpose

Next, you'll need to determine the purpose of your website.

• Do you want to promote your business;
• sell products or services;
• or share information?

Often, it isn't just one, but a combination of the above. Your website's purpose will guide the features you need to include.

3. Determine the features you need

With your goals in mind, it's time to determine the features you'll need to achieve them. For example, if your goal is to increase sales, you'll need an e-commerce platform that allows you to sell your products online. Other features you might consider include a blog to drive traffic to your website, a contact form to capture leads, and social media integration to increase engagement. 

The above features are pretty standard - other items you may consider: 

• Appointment booking calendar
• Events Calendar
• Email Newsletter Sign Up Form
• Testimonials
• Explainer Videos  or Demo page
• Resources
• Call to action - this is a big one!!  Do you need the ability to have downloads, landing pages, course or webinar sign-ups
• CRM integration 
• Directory
• Membership area 
• Forms
• Photo Gallery
• Content Management System

This list can get extensive... 

4. Prioritize your features

Once you've identified the features you need, it's important to prioritize them. Some features will be essential, while others may be nice-to-have. Prioritizing your features will help you stay within your budget and ensure your website is effective in achieving your goals.

5. Consider scalability

Finally, it's important to consider scalability when determining your goals and the features you need. Your website should be able to grow with your business, so it's important to choose a platform (and there are many - at PRowl we build sites on a variety of platforms - ask us about our favourites) and features that can be easily scaled as your business expands.

Determining your goals and the features you need to achieve them is a critical step in building or having a successful website built. With these steps in mind, you'll be well on your way to the initial steps in creating a website that meets your needs and achieves your goals. Your web-designer will thank you if you go through this process yourself prior to asking for a quote. It will help the designer in knowing what is required from the start, and avoid unexpected delays or fees due to insufficient information, or adding to your requirements after the site has been quoted and started.  

The experts here at PRowl Communications know the questions to ask and chances are good know your industry to help guide you in the right direction.  Book a complimentary consultation today.