Prep for your new Website

Updated: Jul 9

Embarking on an exciting journey of launching a new website for your small business can feel a little overwhelming. So many questions … where to start … what do I actually need …

Here are some snippets to help with you prep for your new website!

01 FIRSTLY SIT DOWN WITH A NOTEPAD AND PENCIL AND DEFINE YOUR GOALS!

Step back and think what you want your website to achieve … are you selling a product … providing information … wanting to up your game and attract more of your dream clients? This all needs to come before design and content!

02 WHO ARE YOUR AUDIENCE AND WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM?

Once you’ve identified who you ideal customers and clients are and what they like and need. Your website can be designed and tailored to your audience and shouldn’t be designed for what you want! If you are an artisan selling products your website should be as unique as your products. If you are a professional service then sleek, refined and easy to use …

03 DOMAIN NAME / BUSINESS NAME

If you have already decided/or have a business name, have you secured your domain name for your website address? Is it memorable and aligned with your business?

04 CHOOSING YOUR WEB DESIGNER?

Your going to be working closely and for several weeks with your designer, and possibly the lifetime of your website. It’s important to find a designer that understands your vision and that you feel a connection with.

Have a chat with the designers before making a choice

Understand their design processes

Budget - be clear on what you can afford

The right designer will create your stunning website, they will make sure it is functional and easy to use and navigate by your visitors and customers

05 THE QUEEN BEE 'WEBSITE CONTENT' THE REASON YOU CUSTOMERS CHOSE YOU!

What content do you need for your website…. start with the essentials

Home Page - who are you and what do you do

About - what is your story

Products and/or services - what is it you are selling, details + pricing

Contact Info - make it super easy for visitors, customers to contact you

WRITTEN CONTENT

The style, word and expressions you use should reflect your brand personality. If you are an artisan brand your words need to reflect your uniqueness, if you are a children’s brand then fun, brightness needs to shine through. If you’re a professional services then polished and simple…

Writing content may come easy to you, but if you are struggling to put your word and sentences together, then consider investing in working with a content writer.

IMAGES

What images to use across your website page, header, backgrounds. You may have a gallery or blog

VIDEO

You may have or want video to showcase what you do as a service or sell as a product.

BLOGS & NEWS LETTERS

Delivery your content in additional ways ...

06 SEO - SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION

This is all about getting your website found on search engines such as Google. Your content needs to include keywords relevant to your business, and descriptive titles.

If you decide to work with a copywriter they would help you with this, alternatively there’s lots of resources on-line to guide you, There are also SEO pro’s out there too.

06 LAUNCH PLANNING

It might feel a bit early to think about your launch before you even have the basics, but creating a plan for you launch will keep you on track and focused.

When you website is ready, you have do all the fun stuff and start sending our emails and posting on socials….get everyone exited!

07 FINAL THOUGHTS

Creating a website will feel like a big task… and it is … to quote Desmond Tutu who once wisely said that “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.”

Have fun this is an exciting opportunity you are going to showcase how fantastic your small business is, your platform to express your businesses uniqueness and why you customers chose you!

Celebrate your magic…