Five prerequisites before investing in a website
Let’s bust the common misconception that there isn’t too much to consider before making the investment in a website for your business. I wanted to simplify the process and ensure you know what to consider when wanting to create an online hub for your brand, it’s not only the cost of the website you have to consider, but there’s a few more unexpected requirements you may not have thought of. It doesn’t only require money, but time, thought and research! But not to worry, just because there’s additional things to consider, doesn’t mean it’s a difficult process! So let’s get into it with 5 prerequisites!
1. Branding
To create a website, you will require more than a logo. A comprehensive brand guide is absolutely essential before beginning a website design to ensure you brand’s online home simultaneously flows. Your branding requires colours, typography, photography look and feel and guidelines in which flows through to the remainder of you brand design which extends further than your website to printed collateral, social media, packaging, etc.
2. Copy-write
Copy-write is more than the words written on your website, it’s the language, expression and direction it provides to your target audience. Ideally every small business would love to have the funds to invest in a professional copy-writer (if you do that’s fantastic!) but if you don’t, I provide a guide for my clients to assist them in writing their own. This isn’t at an additional cost, but it is a factor of time in which you would need to consider before committing to a website design with a designer. For those that wish to work with a copywriter this would generally be an additional cost of anywhere from $1,000 - $3,000 AUD (from my own market research).
3. Photography
A website without photography is like a magazine without any pictures. You need to provide reference for your audience of who your business is visually. It provides context, character and adds to your copy-write and branding. Depending on your budget and industry, photography could look different for everyone and also have a different cost. If you’d like to know more about on what kind of photography would be required for your business, feel free to reach out.
4. Research
It’s important to know what others in your industry are currently doing. Research what they’re excelling at, what they could be doing better and where you can provide a point of difference visually for your target market. It’s so important to know what sets your business apart with your industry, find your niche and let’s highlight that to ensure you stand out!
Be prepared and know what web pages you require and be fully across your services, pricing and/or products.
5. Vision
This is what I like to think as the most important and FUN step! Having an idea of what you envision for your business visually. You don’t need to know the ins and outs, that’s what designers are for, but have your pinterest board looking elite with everything you love. Themes, colours, typography, photography - put it all in! Know what elements you like and dislike of your favourite websites regardless of the industry. Know what you do and don’t need for your business and we’ll work the rest out together!
I hope this has provided some clarity on what’s required before investing in a website, as always if you have any questions please feel free send me an email.
Happy Planning!