Does the thought of your website give you a FRIGHT? Are you nowhere to be found on the world wide WEB? Before you get started on website improvements, dusting away the COBWEBS of a bad design, here’s a little advice.
(What do you expect from SpyderGirl when it’s Halloween?)
Last year, I developed a quick “top 10” list for what every website should include. That list hasn’t changed much and you can view it here, but it is missing the bigger picture. So here are SpyderGirl’s top three strategies that should inform every website build.
1. Being Found.
What good is investing in an awesome marketing tool like a website if it doesn’t help people find you for what you do? You want to make sure that the content on the site, the structure of the site, and the programming create an environment that is highly likely to bring your website up (hopefully at the top) in the most important searches.
“SEO” done right is a really great long-term investment that will reap rewards for years to come (opposed to short-term ads that only reward you while you pay for them). Every website we make begins with “what do you want to be found for?”
2. Providing an Awesome User Experience.
If you bring more people to your site, you don’t want them to be frustrated or SCARED off (sorry, couldn’t resist). That’s like throwing a party and then hiding the guacamole.
Think carefully about navigation (menu), front page elements, and brand (design). We start website development with something called a wire frame …which maps the site out. This is informed by something called a use case (or multiple use cases) which simply means thinking about why each type of customer might come to your site and where they will want to go once they get there. Thinking strategically about these things can really help you get the most out of your website.
3. Mobile.
It’s not enough to have a website that responds well to mobile devices. It’s best to look at the mobile experience and modify that mobile version of the site for the best possible experience. Why? Because at least 50%, if not more, of your users are likely looking you up on their phone. For some websites, that number is closer to 90%, and these figures are rising all the time! Also, FYI, Google began docking your site for not having a mobile-friendly website. That’s FRIGHTENING.
OK, Happy Halloween, everyone! I’ll be back soon with more advice.
Blessings,
Deanna