A web strategy 5 point plan for success

Web design is definitely not just about having a site that looks good. More than anything, good web design should strike a balance between design appeal and a fusion of web essentials to make sure your site delivers results. As a professional web design company, we have tested many strategies, but have found these to be the most effective.

1. Set goals

Websites have different goals. Some are designed to advertise, to sell online, promote a brand, to entertain or to deliver news and current information. For a particular web design to be effective it has to serve a purpose; there has to be a strategy behind the design. Well-established goals can set the direction when coming up with an effective website.

2. Know your target audience

Knowing your audience’s demographic factors (eg. age, educational background, technical competency, occupation) can provide insight into what kind of design strategy will most likely appeal to them and want they possibly want to see on your website. For example, if your web design is intended for children, a colourful and vibrant interface with easy interactive elements would be ideal. It is also important to know that regardless of the demographics, website users in general do not read page content; they simply scan them.

3. Make the important info stand out

Websites are platforms for communication. Instead of an overwhelming web design with long paragraphs and large images that are slow to load (which is a sure fire way of driving your audience away), make sure that the vital info that you definitely want site visitors to see, is written to the point, and easy to find on your site. As a professional web design company, we would sit down with you and brainstorm what your audience will most likely want to do on your site, and what information they will be after. We can then make sure your site structure and information is layed out with their needs in mind.

4. Make website navigation easy

Website navigation can make or break your website's performance and usability. Websites with easy navigation can hook audiences for a longer period of time, and it can also help search engines view and index your content easily. Sort out your content and images into pages and subpages. Make sure that all links in your content and other heading elements are clickable. Also, keep navigation titles accurate so your audience knows what they are being linked to.

5. SEO

Along with an aesthetically-pleasing web design, it is essential to know what keywords your target audience would be searching for to find your services online. These keywords need to be included strategically through your website content so that your site appears on the first page of Google. Work with a professional web design company to conduct keyword research and search engine optimisation – doing this will identify the keywords that you should focus on.

In summary…

Striking a balance between a site that looks good, is designed to appeal to your target audience, is user friendly, and is backed by a keyword strategy to make sure it is found online are the web design foundational essentials you’ll need to get right to get yourself a killer website that works.