How To: Prepare to build your website

It almost goes without saying that a website is one of the most important tools a business can invest in. Whether you're launching your first website, improving your existing site, or going for a total overhaul, there are a few things every site needs:

• Logo

• Artist bio/company information

• Images

• Contact information

• Social media accounts to follow

• Email signup

• Keywords

Bellevue Lock and Key's logo is regionally relevant, recognizable, and easy to read

Logo

Your logo is important as an identifier for your brand. It can be simple text or an elaborate design, but it needs to be legible and consistent across your website, social media, and emails.

Artist biography/company information

One of the most effective ways to connect with your audience is with your story. It's also important to remember that writing for the web is significantly different from traditional writing. Keep it concise: short sentences, simplified vocabulary, and keep paragraphs to 2-3 sentences.

Images

Regardless of what business you're in, having beautiful photography will make a huge impact on your website. While I'm always going to recommend professional photographs, the cameras on smartphones keep getting better. Make sure your images are in focus, well-composed, and bright. Dark or muddy photos don't show up well, especially on tablets and smartphones.

Contact Information

I'm embarrassed to say that my contact info on my website was buried for years. Make sure the easiest way to reach you is easy to find on every page of your site.

Instantly recognizable icons encourage your website visitors to follow you on your social media platforms

Social media accounts

There are so many different social media outlets, and it can be overwhelming to keep up with them all. Choose the three that will benefit your business the most. A few that have had staying power and exponential growth: Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter. If you're a musician, YouTube and Soundcloud are also great to add.

Email signup

As important as your social media presence is, nothing beats email marketing. Unlike your audience on social media, you own your email list, so make sure visitors to your website have an easy way to sign up on every page.

A simple popup form is a great way to collect email addresses on your website

Keywords

Keywords are specific words or phrases that describe the contents of a web page. This is how search engines find and rank your website. Come up with 5-6 keywords to add to your images and individual page information.

No matter what industry you're in, your website is your business's online home. By preparing the content beforehand, you can streamline the design process for yourself or your web designer.

If you need website advice, a website update, or a full build, contact me for a consultation: melanie@maw-studio.com