Looking to build a new website? Having a strong, accessible website that reflects your brand or business is key to successful marketing and conversions, no matter the industry. When we talk to clients about building or rebuilding their websites, we have a list of key points we like to take them through to understand what it is they’re looking for.
Whether you’re starting from scratch, or refreshing a site in need of a desperate facelift, having the fundamentals locked down will ensure your website is firing on all cylinders.
1. What do you like and dislike about your current website?
When updating your website, there’s no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater (or so to speak). After hosting a site for a while, you can typically tell what is or isn’t working for your business. We recommend creating a list of likes and dislikes about your current website, so that the elements you like can be incorporated into the new build and continue performing, and the things you don’t love can be replaced and updated.
Whether it’s design-based, functionality-based, or simply a little bit of copy you love, keeping what works for you is important to a new website you’ll want to use.
2. What is the main purpose of your website?
Are you using your website to sell a product or service? Is it to encourage potential customers to contact you? Or simply to showcase your work? Regardless of what you’re using your website to achieve, having a clear Call to Action to ensure your website will be built to meet your needs is super important!
A Call to Action is the content that is going to encourage your customers, clients, or audience to engage with the site to achieve your desired outcome. Whether that’s for them to book an appointment, buy a product, or submit content, having a clear understanding of the purpose of your site will help it perform to your benefit.
3. Are there any specific functions you need from your website?
Depending on the purpose of your website, having the correct functionality or built-in additions to your website will allow users to “correctly” use the site. For example, if you’re a company that collects contact information for email marketing, you’d need a tool to collect, store, and access that database. If you’re selling products, you need to ensure store functionality is built-in to the site, from product selection to shipping information, otherwise, those products might get pretty dusty on your shelves.
4. Do you have a branding guide or examples of your brand's visual identity?
When building your website, it only makes sense to continue the themes and designs used throughout your business's branding. Rolling out your brand across social media, print media, websites, etc. is more successful using a key consistent visual identity.
Or, is it time to consider a rebrand? Whether it’s a logo, slogan, or specific colourways, customers will be able to quickly connect your brand to the visuals. You know your brand better than anyone else, so communicating any style must-haves, colourways, or design components to your website builder is a must for a successful build.
Check out our blog that discusses branding and why it’s important to have your branding down before making changes to your site: Branding: It’s Not Just a Logo
5. Are there any key words, colours, emotions or actions you DON’T want to be used in your website?
In the same vein as our last point, having a hard list of no’s for your website is a great tool in ensuring you achieve the build you want.
Depending on your industry, this could include a list of keywords that you don’t want to be used, such as terminology that is perhaps frowned upon within the industry. This point could also include specific colours, words, or design styles used by competitors or brands you don’t want your website to be associated with. Having this hard no list will make it simple for a designer to bring your vision to life as accurately as possible.
Websites come in all shapes and sizes, and with a seemingly never-ending scroll of things to look at we don’t want you to get lost in the void. Our team of marketing experts aims to narrow down our client's vision with these points so that we can help you build effective, successful websites for your business. From copy to design, photography, or technical SEO, let us help you build your dream site.
Would you like to see the checklist we send to our clients when it’s time to start building a new site or refreshing their current one? Hit us up and we would be happy to share! info@poppyseedmedia.com.au
6. Where is your current website being hosted? And do you have your logins and passwords available for your existing domain and hosting site?
Whether you are building or rebuilding a website, if you’re doing it yourself or hiring an expert to take the reins, you will need to be able to have access to your domain and hosting sites. Typically on sites such as WordPress or Squarespace, you can set up multiple logins for your team to access the backend of the website, but this won’t help when it comes time to launch a new site. The backend logins help with being able to update site changes, set up back-end and on-page SEO, and test the website before it launches.
Domain and hosting access are essential components when it comes to updating or moving a website. The domain represents the web address or URL that users type in to access your site (e.g., www.example.com) while hosting refers to the server where all your website's files and data are stored. To make changes or move your website, you need access to both.
Having access to these logins will save you time and a lot of stress when it comes time to make changes. We also know that all this terminology can become pretty confusing, so please don’t hesitate to reach out and chat with our team about how we can help you make sense of it all!
Author Bio
Michelle Trimble is a degree qualified marketing specialist who is passionate about breaking down the barriers business owners face when it comes to digital marketing!
After nearly 10 years working in the industry, Michelle decided to start Poppy Seed Media with the mission to provide more accessible marketing services.
Every business has the right to incredible marketing!
Michelle has provided marketing training to hundreds of individuals, working with businesses around the world to improve their overall strategies. Outside of the working world, Michelle is a mum to three young boys and loves any opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
If you would like to book a free discover session with Michelle, please reach out.
