Good web design needs good foundations

This is the perfect time for you to cut your losses and start a new web design.

When starting new, the hardest thing to let go of is the ideas and memories that you had from your old site. Just because your old site did XYZ, doesn’t mean it needed to, or that your new web design should.

Sure, there are times when features need to be there. But when starting new, remember that web design and development (as well as your site’s visitors’ expectations) have evolved significantly since your old site went live.

Starting new is your golden opportunity to redefine all aspects of your site. Before getting bogged down in making sure that your site’s blue is actually sky blue and not cerulean, take it back to the basics. At the end of your day, your website needs to help drive you new business, so how can this be done?

These are our three steps to building a solid foundation for your site.

1. Set your goals

Your website is built for your business – but what are you wanting to achieve? Maybe you want more online (or offline) sales and traffic? Perhaps build brand awareness, or grow your customer database.

There’s no right and wrong answer here, and it varies for every site, but you need to know what your site’s key purpose is to be able to successfully build it.

2. Know your ideal client

Who are your ideal clients? Are they web-savvy, and need instant access to your product or service? Or are they a more cautious shopper and need information online before visiting you in store?

Your new site should be structured around the needs of your ideal clients, presenting them with information and functionality that connects with them in the delivery method they expect.

With younger audiences glued to mobile devices and tablets, making sure your website is responsive and optimised for mobile devices can have a massive impact on converting a visitor in to a customer.

3. Define your point of difference

Competition can bring out the best in your business. But what makes you different? We all think our own business is the best thing since sliced bread, but be succinct in defining why someone should come to you.

If you’re selling online, perhaps offer free or fixed price shipping. Maybe you have a wide range of products in your showroom, with qualified staff on-hand for assistance. Maybe it’s something as simple as longer trading hours to help make it easier for customers to visit you.

Whatever makes your business unique and different, use it in your site. Be proud of your point of difference.

A good website designer, like the team at Mity Digital (well, duh, of course), will be asking you all of these questions right at the start. A successful website sometimes does need to be started fresh – and planning to succeed is the very first step.

Actually, I lied. The first step is contact an awesome web designer like Mity Digital. Do it today, go on.