Prepping for your new website.
So you’re finally building your website.
Exciting? Yes. Overwhelming? Also yes.
Let’s get you set up for success… here’s how we make the process simple, strategic, and, I’ll say it… fun.
Is it ok if we get right into it?
Step 1: We figure out who you are…
Brand Foundations
You wouldn’t build a house without a foundation, right?
Brand foundation is clarity around who you (or your company or brand) are, who your clients are, what you offer, and what you look and sound like.
Branding is a big, beautiful world in and of itself. Getting clear here at the beginning will serve as a compass for many decisions - not just your website! It’s defining the things that make you “you.”
And, side note, I feel like it’s more important than ever to let your individuality shine through.
Is that too abstract? Here are some tangible brand foundation items you’ll want to have in place:
your brand-voice guidelines
your “ideal client” identifiers
a mission statement or an elevator pitch
your logo(s)
Don’t have these yet? No need to panic, sometimes this brand work can be included by the web design studio. As a long-time graphic designer, I offer this as an add-on to a website package. Yes, it adds time to the project, but it also adds depth and results that feel like you.
Step 2: We gather the ingredients…
Content Collection
With brand foundations locked in, we move to website content. Part of my client process includes a content collection worksheet that will help you move through this in an organized way.
We just eat the elephant one bite at a time.
And the elephant is a website.
And it’s going to be gorg.
There are two directions we can go: you can share your words and voice by just filling out the worksheet and I take it from there or you can craft the copy for each page yourself. I can provide some guidelines for that, too.
And, another little note; we don’t want walls of text on websites so here, less is more.
Here’s what I’m going to ask you for and I need to share that sometimes this is what trips people up. Let’s talk about it.
Company overview - who you are, what you do and why you do it
Services - what you’re selling and how do you describe it
Portfolio/work examples - photos, case studies, proof, testimonials
Team - faces, bios - the human(s) behind the brand
Photography - pictures really do say 1,000 words. You’ll send me your professional images or let me know if we need to acquire photography via stock photo sites or with local photographers
Contact info - I know. Seems obvious but let’s just get it all on one page
Likes and dislikes - Website design can go in 20 million different directions. When you send me a few websites that you like and a few that you dislike, it’s a service to both of us and leads me more quickly to designing a website that makes you proud! If you’re so inclined, you can also create a Pinterest Board (or two) to show me websites, styles, colors, and typography you like and dislike.
Step 3: Exhale. You did the prep work…
Hand it off, and go grab dinner!
If we're working together, once you ‘content collect’, it’s time for you to relax. I'll be in touch on our designated day with your website draft for revisions. Feels like yes, right?
Ready to get started? Tell me what you’re dreaming up.
I’d love to hear about it and I’d love to help.
