Preliminaries to getting a website
Before you even start thinking about getting a website, there are crucial preliminary steps that lay the groundwork for a successful website. Skipping these can lead to wasted time, budget overruns, and a website that doesn’t meet your aspirations or objectives.
Here are the essential preliminaries to getting a website:
Define Your Website’s Purpose and Goals:
Why do you need a website? This is the most fundamental question. Is it to:
Generate leads (company, nonprofit or institution)?
Provide information and build credibility (call for leads or donations)?
Support existing beneficiaries or customers?
Sell products or services (e-commerce)?
Showcase a portfolio, projects or activities?
Establish thought leadership or know-how (blog)?
Who is your target audience? Understanding their demographics, interests, pain points, and what they’re looking for online will heavily influence your design and content.
Conduct Market and Competitor Research:
Analyse your competitors:
What do their websites look like? What features do they offer? What do they do well, and where are their weaknesses? This helps you identify opportunities for differentiation.
Plan Your Content Strategy:
Sitemap or Information Architecture:
Before writing a single word, map out the structure of your website. What main Web pages will you have (Home, About Us, Services, Products, Contact, Blog, etc.)? What sub-pages will fall under them? This creates a logical flow for users.
Key Messages:
What core messages do you want to convey on each Web page?
Content Types:
Will you need text, images, videos, infographics, testimonials, case studies, FAQs, etc.?
Content Creation Plan:
Who will write the copy? Who will create the visuals? Do you need professional photographers or videographers?
Budget Allocation:
Be realistic:
Website costs can vary wildly. Determine a realistic budget before you start considering:
Domain Name:
Annual registration fee (choose a memorable and relevant domain name: Ideally, it should reflect your company, organization or institution name or primary service)
Web Hosting:
Monthly or annual fee.
Design & Development:
This is often the largest cost.
Content Creation:
Copywriting, photography, videography.
Ongoing Maintenance:
Updates, security, backups.
This initial thought process will help guide your budget and resource allocation to the website you want to get.
By thoroughly addressing these preliminaries, you establish a solid foundation, clarify your vision, and significantly increase the chances of getting a website that truly supports your aspirations or objectives. To get a website, we are here for you..
