Your business needs a website. No question. But what’s the best way to build that website?
There are plenty of options – many of them great in their own rights. So, how do you know which one is the best for you?
Before you start selecting your method, you need to lay a little groundwork for the approach.
Here are six must-ask questions that will help you plan your website:
WHAT is the purpose of the site? A brochure site has very different needs from a standard ecomm, a complex marketplace, a community cultivator (etc, etc…you get it!). So, first, be clear on what you want your website to do for users.
WHO is the primary user of the website, on the front and back end? Identify the ideal consumer of your website experience and understand their ideal use cases for websites like yours. Think of this in terms of their goals, not yours. You and your team will be the other key users of your site to be mindful of. Evaluate the time and skill capacity of your time and identify who will own your regular updates to the site. Maybe you’ve got an internal roster that can run with this effectively, or perhaps it’s better suited to an external team. Identifying the owner will help you identify the right solution.
WHERE will users be accessing your site? If yours is primarily an on-the-go audience, prioritize a mobile-driven experience. If your audience uses your website as an in-depth resource, prioritize content and navigation. Step into the shoes of your ideal user, accessing your website when they need to, when they can, or when the impulse strikes them, and plan for this.
WHEN do you need your new website? Building a website can generally take anywhere from one to six-plus months, depending on the factors we’re exploring here today. Identify a deadline and work back from there to identify the complexity and requirements of your website. Remember, you don’t want to have to invest in a brand-new website every year, so schedule the build to your deadline, but plan for the future scaleability of your site.
HOW much do you have to invest in a site that helps you meet your goals? This is a consideration of finance, resources and time. A large, complex website build will have a large budget and may have complex maintenance requirements. A more simple site may have a simpler budget and requirements. Perhaps you have a large budget but a small in-house team, so you are willing to invest in outsourcing the build and ongoing maintenance of the website. Or, you have a healthy budget with some internal resources to support the creation and maintenance of the site. Evaluating your resource capacity for the build (and beyond!) is essential as you explore your options.
WHY are we doing this? We know your business needs a website. We know that you have goals for your website experience and everyday operations. But why are those your goals? Capture the driving force behind what you are building with your business so that your website can clearly and effectively demonstrate this to your market. Your why is your secret sauce – we want to make sure your website showcases it accordingly!
While there is a lot to consider when it comes to creating or revising your website, it can (and should!) be a fun process. If you need help figuring out where or how to get started, connect with our team. We have helped create websites of all sizes for brands across sectors, nationwide. We love this stuff and are always happy to help!
