3 Key stages of building a successful website
In today’s digital world, having an online presence is essential for every business. A strong website serves as the cornerstone of this online presence, attracting customers and building reputation.
- Global: Approximately 2 billion new websites are created worldwide every year.
- Greece: In our country, approximately 500,000 new websites are created every year.
However, creating a successful website is not a simple task. It requires strategy, careful planning, implementation, and optimization.
In this article, we will explore the 3 key stages that lead to the creation of a successful website:
Content Strategy
The first and most critical stage in building a successful website. It essentially involves the communication strategy of the business. It is crucial for every business to have the right content on its website. They greatly assist in online sales.
A prerequisite for an effective content strategy is a good understanding of the target audience, emphasizing their qualitative characteristics (needs, problems, aspirations, etc.).
Appealing to emotion is a necessary condition in communicating with the consumer!
» Buyers do not buy based on logic but on emotion. Logic simply follows to justify the decision made based on emotion.
A good understanding of the emotional status of the ideal buyer – target is necessary for the successful application of storytelling communication techniques.
- Content organization into pages (home page, master pages, and other internal pages) + sitemap (menu and submenu) of the website.
- Proper use of texts, images, illustrations, call-to-action buttons, and other visual communication methods.
- Emphasis on the home page, as the average visitor decides in just 5 seconds whether they are interested in further navigation or will leave.
Graphic Design
The second stage concerns graphic design, i.e., the visual presentation of the content. The aforementioned results of the content strategy form the basis for graphic design.
The responsible graphic design department here will deal with the aesthetic issues of the website.
Graphic design is completed by producing files in pdf or jpg format, which present the pages of the site exactly as they will appear on screens (desktops, tablets, mobiles).
Thus, each entrepreneur will know exactly how their website will look and will be able to make changes or improvements before the developer starts building it.
- Content structure creation: How will the information be presented on the website? Which pages will be needed?
- Design of an attractive visual identity: The website should match the brand and provide a consistent and positive user experience.
- Selecting a graphic designer with experience in website graphic design, not just general experience as a graphic designer.
*Website graphic design requires additional specialized knowledge related to the functionality elements of modern websites and the optimal user experience (UX) on both desktop and mobile devices.
Website Development
Once the entrepreneur approves the graphic design, the third stage begins, which is none other than the web development of the website – in other words, the developer starts writing code to make the website appear on screens in full accordance with the graphic design.
- Selection of a suitable platform: There are various available (WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, etc.). Each platform has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Ensuring smooth functionality: The website should function flawlessly on all devices.
- Testing and optimization: Checking the website for any errors and bugs. Feedback from users here is important.
+++ 1 bonus
↳ Optimization
SEO: Optimizing the website for search engines (SEO).
Conclusion
By following the above basic stages of a successful website, an entrepreneur can create a strong online presence.
Kind reminder
- User experience is paramount. The website must be user-friendly, fast, and enjoyable to navigate.
- Content is king. Create unique, informative, and useful content that will keep visitors interested and coming back for more.
- Keep track of trends, experiment with new things, and adapt the website according to user needs.
If you already have a website and want to improve its content, ask us for a free content check.
If you don’t have a website and want to create a successful website with content strategy and aesthetics, contact us.
