Things to Consider When Designing Your Website

In this digital age, having a website is essential for corporations. Not only does it leave your audience with the first impression, but it also assures them that you’re a real company. Whether you’re a big or a small firm doing the profit-first method, it won’t matter when people base the legitimacy of a business on how good and functional a website is.

In light of this, you have to make great efforts and consider several things when designing a website. Luckily for you, this article will cover all of them, so you can make this seemingly daunting task more manageable.

1. Target Audience 

Similar to marketing, when designing a website, it is a no-brainer that you first need to know your target audience. You have to ask yourself who you are doing it for, as these people are the ones who will drive how the entirety of how your website should be. 

But how will you do that? Doing a proper user profile analysis is the answer. This strategy can help you delve deeper into your target audience, know their needs, and how you can encourage them to keep on visiting your website.

2. Branding

Once you know your target audience, you begin to think about your branding. It is a crucial factor for any business since it is the first thing people notice when visiting a website. You also must consider that some companies only exist as a website, so having a great visual representation is vital.

Here’s the thing, though, you should take your time when creating a website. Instead, you should carefully analyze any pre-existing branding or, in the absence of any, think of a brand identity that makes you unique from scratch. To do it properly, you should have an answer to these questions.

Have you got a logo to use?

Your logo is where you should start because you can use some elements of the logo to organize the brand image.

What font will you choose to use?

Sometimes it is not the content that captures the eye of your readers; it’s how it’s presented. That’s where fonts come in because they significantly affect readability. You can find several fonts online and pick one that will make your website user-friendly and readable. 

What color should you use?

This is where you should think about color theory. For instance, a website for an eco-friendly housing company should use green to represent the brand’s commitment to sustainability.

Are there any design components?

Currently, icons are popular because they serve as quick visual clues your audience can absorb. And through your design, they can play a significant role in the brand’s image.

3. Website Structure and Layout

After knowing your target audience and your brand image, the next step is planning the structure of your website. You will design the sitemap at this stage, starting with the homepage. From there, you must develop a map of all the other pages on the site. 

Every page must link back to the homepage, but consider where else your viewers can go, such as the about us pages, blogs, and others. It would help if you also thought about the size of your website, the content you plan to display, and the layout.

In the layout, you must think of something that will represent the entire structure best—the color scheme of your website, the images to include, and other things that can impact visual aesthetics.

4. Content 

Once you already have a web structure and layout, content is the next thing you should consider. While the design catches your viewers’ attention, the contents keep them on the site — a website is not enough without it. 

Contents will provide your audience with an overview of your business. You should include things based on the first two we discussed: the needs of your target audience and your brand’s image. 

5. Usability and Responsiveness 

Another factor that makes people stay on a website is its usability and responsiveness. 

Usability is a simple notion to grasp. Making your website easy to use includes making it simple for readers to contact you, buy things from you (optional), join your email list, or navigate the site. Avoid making customers go through unnecessary hoops and solve puzzles for them to stay.

Meanwhile, responsiveness ensures a better experience on the site without buffers and lags. And to have a responsive site, hiring a top-notch Java architect and other IT professionals is best. They are the ones who know how to make the structures behind what you see on a website functional and responsive. 

Adding to these two, making your website mobile-friendly is encouraged. Since most people are now using their phones to search for information, shop for products, and more, it is also an excellent opportunity to optimize your website for mobile devices.

6. Budget

Establishing your budget is necessary before finalizing your plans for a website design since all the processes involved require money. Of course, you would want to do something other than settle on a cheap and responsive website. So, it is best to allocate a budget for web design alone. Please consider this an investment that will give you its worth in the long run as more people visit your website and cause traffic.

Final Words

Designing a website is easier than you think. The web design process will be much easier with everything we have discussed. However, it doesn’t end with creating a website; consistency is key to success. So, make your content relevant, do site maintenance, and keep the entire website on-trend.

Are you ready to begin your website design and development process? Contact us today to be in the best hands!