There are so many things to consider when designing a new website, that often the prospect of getting started can be too daunting. Not only do you need to consider the cost implication of the design of the website but also your time requirements.
It is often this fear that prevents businesses from updating their website and to keep living in the past.
At Entyce we have a clear process which is tried and tested and makes the website process as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
STAGE 1 – LISTEN
Why do you need a website and what do you want visitors to your website to do? This may sound obvious but until you understand your offering and how a website can enhance that there is no point going any further.
We spend time at the outset to really understand your business and in these first meeting it is often us asking all the questions.
We have the advantage of analysing your business without being too emotionally attached to see what is working for you and what isn’t.
STAGE 2 – CONTENT
Once we have established what you do and what your services / products are, we are able to assist with creating the content for your website. We will work closely with one of our talented copywriters to get the tone and the message just right.
We view your company through the eyes of your customers, and consider why they need your services or products. We think about what they might have in mind when they are searching for your services.
For example, in relation to Entyce, people are more likely to find our site by searching:
- Website design that generates sales leads
than,
- Eye-catching bespoke website design
People often complicate there copy with jargon and industry terminology which may make you sound very clever but it’s not helpful if no one is finding your site and therefore not reading what you have to say.
Everyone is impressed by a great looking site and there is nothing worse than poor photography, so we suggest in most cases that a professional photographer is employed to capture the right shots. This doesn’t have to cost the earth and it is often more cost effective than buying lots of stock images, which no doubt are being by all your competitors.
STAGE 3 – STRUCTURE
This is crucial stage in which we will gather all the information to generate a navigation and sitemap. This basically means we will decide what the web pages should be titled and where they should be located.
We always compare this stage to a jigsaw puzzle, we have all the pieces but we need to make sure that everything fits in place and that all information is clearly displayed and easy to find.
STAGE 4 – CREATE
This is where the magic starts to happen and the website design begins. We will work within your brand guidelines so your online presence is consistent to all aspects of your marketing.
Every page will be presented to you before anything goes to the build stage. This is an opportunity for us to work together to ensure that every page is maximised to the best of its ability.
Often when people find your website they will not land on the home page but instead the page with the most relevant content so it is important that your contact details and branding is clear on all pages.
STAGE 5 – BUILD
Once all the web pages have been designed and approved our designers will work closely with our web developers to transfer the designs into html. We feel that it is crucial to keep the design of the website in the hands of our creative and build with our developers. They of course work closely together on all projects but the design is never compromised and the build is taken care of by the most technically adapt minds. Ultimately the end result is a website that looks fantastic but is also built and optimised so that it stands the best chance of success when launched.
STAGE 6 – LAUNCH
All the hard work is now done, the copy is completed, the designs perfected and the build is ready to go. However this is where the testing begins. Each web browser displays the HTML code in a slightly different way, so we check websites on all the latest browsers to make sure everyone is seeing the website in the way it was intended to look. With the dramatic increase in popularity of web browsing on iPads and smart phones websites are tested and perfected for compatibility at this stage.
STAGE 7 – REVIEW AND UPDATE
A website is never a finished product and can always be improved and updated. Search engines are constantly becoming more sophisticated in their quest to display the most relevant websites at the top, so it really is important to keep on top of things.
A blog or news page requires constant attention to keep the content fresh and relevant.
This again is where Entyce can help, we update websites regularly for our clients and often prompt, suggest and lead the articles on their website.
If you are in need of a new website, then we really should be talking – 01244 310140