A successful website is much like a creative LEGO project. With a knowledgeable web developer, it can be an immersive and enjoyable process, but with a less competent one, it can become a drawn-out nightmare. By planning ahead, making thoughtful decisions, and collaborating with a truly skilled web designer, you can avoid unpleasant surprises and finally have an effective and attractive website.

That’s what this article is about.

Why is Planning Important?

Ever had a project flop because you didn’t fully consider the needs and possibilities? Building a website is similar. Without considering your ideal customers’ needs or defining your own goals, your site might fail to make a good first impression. If the layout is poorly thought out and visitors can’t find important information, they’ll leave quickly. We’ve all spent just a second on a website before leaving. I call these “Hi-Bye” or “Welcome! When do you leave?” sites. 

Did you know that billboards have about 2 seconds to grab attention? The same is true for websites. In today’s fast-paced world, new visitors decide in about two seconds whether to stay on your site. 

This is why a half-baked site put together by a friend or yourself won’t cut it. If you don’t capture their attention instantly, they’re gone. Just like you wouldn’t expect a cheap pair of shoes to last ten years, you can’t expect an unplanned website to effectively represent your business. The user experience and appealing, guiding visual solutions are crucial. If you already have a website, Google Analytics (you have it set up, right?) will show you how many visitors bounce immediately.

So, it’s crucial who you choose to build your website. 

Choosing the Right Web Designer

A good web designer ensures your site is attractive, secure, and easy to navigate, meeting the latest technical and design standards. 

How can you tell you’ve found a well-prepared web designer? Look for these signs:

• Live References:  Check out their working websites, not just screenshots.
• Detailed Quotation: A clear breakdown of costs. If you don’t get this, be cautious as costs might balloon with changing ideas.
• Diverse Designs: They use more than one template, creating personalized and creative designs.
• Target Audience Analysis: They thoroughly discuss your product/service’s target audience. If they’re only focused on technical details and don’t understand your business deeply, it’s hard to create a well-thought-out site.
• Good Communication: Web design is about visual (and verbal) communication. You need to communicate well with the developer. If communication is tough, the project will be too, even if they’re technically skilled.
• Client Reviews: Look for positive client reviews. These give insight into the designer’s strengths from past clients’ perspectives.
• Technical Support: There’s nothing worse than a designer disappearing after the project, leaving you with no support. Choose someone with years of experience who offers post-launch maintenance.

Planning ahead and working with the right professional ensures you get a website that’s both aesthetically pleasing and functionally perfect. A well-designed website increases visitor satisfaction, improves search engine rankings, and ultimately contributes to your business’s success.

Planning Ahead – Consider these points for effective planning:

1. Goals and Functionality

• Define clear goals: Mi a weboldal célja? Pl. információ megosztása, termékek/szolgáltatások értékesítése, közösség építése, stb.  Mi az az elsődleges cselekvés, amit vársz a látogatóktól? Pl. töltsön le egy ingyenes anyagot, kérjen időpontot hozzád, iratkozzon fel hírlevélre, stb.
• Target Audience: Who are your current visitors? Who do you want to reach? Who are your ideal customers? What are their needs?
• Functions: What features do you need? Blog, e-commerce, contact form, booking system, membership management, event management, etc.

2. Content and Design

• Content: What type and amount of content do you need? Texts, images, videos.
  Central message – What’s the key message you want to convey?
• Design: What visual style do you envision? Gather examples from other websites you like.
• Responsiveness: Your website must be mobile-friendly and look good on all devices.

3. Technical Aspects

• Domain and Hosting: You need a suitable domain name and reliable hosting service.
• SEO: Search engine optimization is crucial for increasing organic traffic. Understand your competitors.
• Security: Security measures like SSL certificates, firewalls, and regular backups.

Maintenance and Updates

• Content Updates: How will content be updated? Will you do it or someone else?
• Technical Updates: How will technical maintenance and updates be ensured?

By planning carefully and working with a professional web designer, you can ensure your website effectively represents your business online. Don’t let your website be your business’s weak point—take the necessary steps to achieve real results!

I’ve created a guide to help you work through these topics, which you can download for free by clicking here!

Want a Well-Functioning Online Presence?

Contact me for afree online consultation! a free online consultation! During this session, we’ll discuss your needs, goals, and possibilities. The free consultation will give you a comprehensive picture of how we can collaborate, and I will prepare a personalized quote for you.

Wishing (and creating) an outstanding online presence for you!