5 questions to ask yourself before starting a new website project
Launching a new website can seem like a daunting prospect, but it doesn’t need to be. A little preparation and forethought can go a long way in simplifying the process. To that end, we’ve created this list of five questions that will help make launching your website as seamless and efficient as possible.
1. Why do you need a new website?
This may seem like an obvious question, but one you really need to ask. Just because your competitors have a website in a particular style or format is not reason enough. You need to know the actual reason your company needs a website – and what you want that website to achieve.
If this is your first time embarking on a website project the answer should be simple, as for most businesses a web presence is now essential.
However, if you have an existing web presence launching a new website requires some deeper consideration.
There may be an obvious reason to redesign and relaunch your website (e.g. your company has undergone a rebrand or a merger), but one of the most common reason companies decide to launch a new website is that their existing site has become dated or has fallen into disrepair due to lack of proper maintenance.
To start, a thorough existing website audit is recommended as it will guide you in the right direction.
2. What are you willing to invest?
Companies will often consider the initial monetary cost as the main form of investment when launching a website, however thought should also be given to all of the other resources that are required to run a functioning and efficient website.
Content is the main resource for an engaging and effective website and this should be your first port of call. There’s no point in investing budget and hours of work into building and designing a website if you don’t have anything to say. Content comes in many forms, from the basics summarising what your business does and your contact details, to more engaging storytelling in the form of blogs, videos and podcasts.
Rich content require considerable investment in terms of time and effort, but it is vital for websites that aim to see longer dwell times and frequent returns. Content should be timely, considered and up to date. It should also align with your social media channels, and managing a detailed content calendar is crucial to ensuring your company’s online communications are efficiently coordinated.
Maintenance is another key area of investment. You need to determine from the off who will be handling the day to day running, hosting and upkeep of the site, including regular software security updates. Who is responsible for creating, approving and uploading content? Will this be handled internally, by a third-party or a mixture of the two? Website maintenance is not the most glamorous aspect to a web project, but there’s no point in creating a beautiful looking site without these processes in place first.
3. Who is your target audience?
Or in other words, who do you want your website to reach and what do you want them to do with the website? Whether it’s driving sales, engaging with and informing customers or generating leads, the design, content and functionality of your website should tick all the boxes you need, and nothing more.
4. What should your website look like?
A common mistake is being too focused on the visual design of the website from the beginning, without giving clearer thought to structure and functionality. When it comes to web design, form should always follow function; “User Experience (UX)” is how a person feels when they are interacting with your website and it needs to front of mind throughout the process. A website should be tested, monitored and tweaked to get the best results, particularly for mobile use.
5. Do you have a life after launch strategy?
So you’ve launched your website, congratulations! Now it’s time to sit back, relax and wait for those orders to come rolling in… right? If only it were that simple.
Getting your website live is just the first step in an ongoing process. As mentioned above, maintenance is essential and your content needs to be kept up to date. But there are other elements to consider now that your website is online, such as search engine optimisation (SEO), social media activity, eZines, monitoring of analytics and paid advertising that will drive new and repeat customers to your website. An ongoing marketing strategy of your website is essential to make sure you are getting the most out of your investment.
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