A Quick and Easy Guide To Getting it Done Right!
Building or upgrading a website can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with the process. As web developers, we understand that our clients may need guidance and assistance throughout the project to ensure everything is done properly and at the right time. That’s why we’ve created this onboarding tutorial – a helpful guide to walk you through the important points of a building or upgrading your website with us.
In this tutorial, we’ll cover everything you need to know to complete your website project on time and within budget. We’ll go through each step of the process methodically, ensuring that you have a clear understanding of what’s expected of you and what you can expect from us.
From setting project goals and defining your target audience, to designing and developing your website, we’ll provide guidance and support with every step of the way. We understand that every client is unique, so we’ll work with you to customize the process to meet your specific needs and goals.
By following this tutorial, you’ll be able to ensure that your website project runs smoothly and that you get the results you’re looking for. So, let’s get started!
New Projects
As a new website owner, setting project goals is a crucial first step in creating a successful website. Here are some typical targets that you should consider:
Define your target audience:
You need to identify your target audience. Understand their needs, interests, and online behaviour. This will help you tailor your website content and design to meet their expectations and improve results.
Determine your website’s purpose:
Your website should have a clear purpose and goal, whether it’s to promote a product or service, share information, or provide support. You need to define your website’s purpose and ensure that every aspect of your website, from the design to the content, supports that purpose.
Set measurable objectives:
It’s important to set specific, measurable objectives for your website. Is it increasing traffic, generating leads, or improving conversion rates? This will help you track your progress and adjust your strategy as needed.
Develop a content strategy:
Your website’s content is critical to its success. You need to develop a content strategy that aligns with your goals and target audience, and that provides value to your visitors.
Getting Copy
The words for the website
Good copy is essential for the success of a website.
It not only helps to convey the message of the website but also influences user engagement and search engine rankings.
As a newbie website owner, it’s important to understand the importance of good content and how it can contribute to your website’s success.
Here are some reasons why good copy is important for your website:
- Attracts and engages visitors:
Good copy attracts visitors to your website and engages them with your message, encouraging them to stay longer and explore further. - Enhances user experience:
Well-written copy is easy to read and understand, enhancing the user experience and encouraging visitors to return. - Improves search engine rankings:
Search engines value high-quality, relevant content and rank websites with good copy higher in search results. - Builds trust and credibility:
Good copy communicates your message effectively and builds trust with your audience, establishing your business as a credible authority in your industry.
Include this: [Check List]
Here’s a comprehensive list of what a client should provide to the agency to ensure good copy for their website:
- Description of product or service:
Provide a detailed description of your product or service, including its features and benefits. - Existing marketing materials:
Share any existing marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, or advertisements that you have used to promote your business. - Target audience:
Define your target audience and their needs, interests, and preferences. - Branding guidelines:
Share any branding guidelines that you have, including your logo, colour scheme, and tone of voice. - Mission statement:
Provide a clear and concise mission statement that communicates your business’s purpose. - Associations and certifications:
Share any associations and certifications that your business is a part of, as well as any compliance requirements. - Terms and conditions:
Provide any relevant terms and conditions that apply to your product or service. - Privacy policy:
Share your privacy policy to ensure that your website complies with privacy regulations. - Contact details: [9]
Include your business’s contact details, including your address, phone number, and email address.
N.A.P.
A Cautionary note:
Concerning No 9, a short cautionary note about the importance of N.A.P. as it pertains to your overall digital presence on the web.
When providing contact details to the agency, it’s important to ensure that the information is consistent and accurate across all online platforms. This is known as N.A.P. – Name, Address, and Phone Number.
Consistent N.A.P. information is critical for your business’s overall digital presence because it helps search engines understand your business and its location. If the N.A.P. information is inconsistent across different platforms, it can confuse search engines and negatively impact your search engine rankings.
Inaccurate N.A.P. information can also lead to missed business opportunities, as potential customers may be unable to contact you or may contact the wrong location.
Therefore, it’s important to regularly review and update your N.A.P. information across all online platforms, including your website, social media profiles, and directories. This will help to ensure that your business is visible and easily accessible to potential customers.
IMAGES for the website
Get Pictures for the website
Labelling images when sending them to a website developer is an important task to ensure that the images are used in the right places on the website. Here’s a simple guide to help you do it effectively:
Use Original and Authentic Images:
Using original and authentic images for websites is preferred because it adds credibility and uniqueness to the website.
Original images help to differentiate your website from others and establish your brand identity. Additionally, using authentic images enhances the overall user experience by providing relevant and accurate visuals that support the content on the website.
Authentic images can also create an emotional connection with the audience and increase engagement on the website.
Therefore, you should strive to use original and authentic images to ensure your website stands out and provides a high-quality user experience.
And let’s be honest, we can all see a generic knock-off a mile away.
Name your images descriptively:
Rename your image files to something that accurately describes what’s in the image. This will help the developer easily identify what each image is when they are working on the website.
Use clear and consistent labelling:
Use a consistent naming convention for all of your images. For example, if you’re sending product photos, use a naming convention like “product1.jpg,” “product2.jpg,” etc.
Include image dimensions:
Make sure to include the dimensions of each image in the file name or in the accompanying information. This will help the developer know what size the images should be displayed on the website.
Here’s an example of good image labelling:
product1_red_800x600.jpg
product2_blue_800x600.jpg
product3_green_800x600.jpg
In this example, the images are labelled with a descriptive name, a colour identifier, and their dimensions.
And here’s an example of bad image labelling:
IMG_1234.jpg
Screenshot_5678.png
Photo_91011.jpg
In this example, the images are labelled with generic names that don’t provide any useful information about their content or purpose.
Images – Note this:
When it comes to images for a website, some types are preferred and some are not as good.
Here’s a short guide to help you understand which types to use and which to avoid:
Preferred Image Types:
JPEG/JPG:
This is the most commonly used image format on the web. It’s a compressed format that can retain a high level of image quality while still keeping the file size small.
PNG:
This format is ideal for images with transparent backgrounds. It’s also great for images with sharp lines or text, as it can retain a high level of detail.
SVG:
Scalable Vector Graphics are great for logos and icons, as they can be scaled to any size without losing quality.
Image Types to Avoid:
TIFF:
TIFF files are very large and can take a long time to load. They’re also not supported by all web browsers.
BMP:
This format is very large and not compressed, which can lead to slow loading times.
GIF:
While GIFs can be used for small animations or simple graphics, they have limited colour depth and are not suitable for high-quality images.
In general, it’s best to use images that are optimized for the web, which means they have a small file size while still maintaining a high level of quality.
Large image files can slow down the loading time of your website, which can lead to a poor user experience. It’s also important to choose the right format for each type of image to ensure that it looks good and loads quickly.
WARNING!!
Take Note Of This..
As a website owner, it is crucial to ensure that all images used on your website are authentic and properly credited to their original sources. Failing to do so can result in severe consequences, including damage to your website’s reputation, legal action, and financial penalties.
Using images without permission or proper attribution can lead to copyright infringement, which is a serious offence. Copyright holders can take legal action against website owners who use their images without permission, resulting in costly legal fees, fines, and even the shutdown of the website.
Additionally, using fake or doctored images can damage the credibility of your website and the information it presents. If your website is found to be using misleading or fake images, it can lead to a loss of trust and credibility among your audience.
As a responsible website owner, it is essential to take the necessary steps to avoid plagiarism and copyright strikes. This can include using only licensed images, obtaining permission from copyright holders, properly crediting the original sources, and ensuring that all images used on the website are legal and authentic. By taking these steps, website owners can protect their website’s reputation and avoid legal trouble.
HOME Page
When building a business website, the home page is one of the most important pages. It is the first thing visitors see when they come to your site, and it needs to make a great first impression. The key components for the home page, excluding the header and footer, are:
Hero section:
This is the first thing visitors see when they arrive on your home page. It typically includes a large image or video.
Value proposition:
This is a brief statement that explains what your business does and why it’s unique. It should be easy to understand and communicate the benefits of your product or service.
CTA
A clear call to action that encourages visitors to take action.
Features/Benefits:
This section highlights the key features and benefits of your product or service. It can be presented as a list or through visual aids like icons or graphics.
Testimonials:
Adding testimonials from satisfied customers can help build trust and credibility. It’s a great way to showcase the positive impact your product or service has had on others.
Call-to-action [Repeated]:
Every page on your website should have a clear call to action. On the home page, it could be a button that encourages visitors to sign up for a free trial, schedule a demo, or contact you for more information.
Social proof:
Displaying logos of recognizable brands. People that have used your product or service. This wil help establish credibility and trust with visitors.
Note – Caution
When it comes to featuring your product or service’s features and benefits on your website homepage, it is important to keep it brief and to the point. Visitors to your website are likely to have a short attention span, and too much information can overwhelm them and cause them to leave your site without taking any action.
It is important to consider creating a separate page for each product or service you offer. This allows you to provide more in-depth information about each offering and helps to avoid cluttering your homepage with too much information. By having dedicated pages for each product or service, you can provide more detailed descriptions, images, and customer reviews. This allows visitors to learn more about what you offer and makes it easier for them to decide to purchase.
STATS
Here are some noteworthy statistics about visitors’ time spent on web pages:
According to a study by Chartbeat, 55% of visitors spend less than 15 seconds on a website.
The same study found that visitors tend to scroll quickly down the page and spend more time reading content that is located higher up on the page.
A study by Microsoft found that the average attention span of a human being decreased from 12 seconds in 2000 to just 8 seconds in 2015.
A study by Google found that the average time a visitor spends on a website is just 15 seconds.
Another study by HubSpot found that the optimal length for a blog post is around 2,100 words, which takes the average reader about 7 minutes to read.
Links and Citations
The study I referenced for statistic number 4 is called “How People View and Engage with Search Results” by Google. You can find more information about the study and its findings on the Think with Google website:
The specific section of the report that discusses the average time visitors spend on a website is on page 2 under the “Key Takeaways” section.
PRODUCT Page
The content is aimed at clients who are building their first website. It is intended to be a guide and resource for our website clients
Product title:
The name of the product should be clear and descriptive.
Product image:
High-quality images of the product from different angles should be used.
Product Description:
The description should be clear, and concise and include key features and benefits.
Technical specifications:
List of technical specifications of the product.
Reviews and ratings: Customer reviews and ratings should be displayed.
Focus on Benefits:
When creating product descriptions, focus on the benefits that your product can offer to your customers. Instead of just listing features, explain how your product can solve their problems and make their lives easier.
Use High-Quality Images:
Visuals play a crucial role in your product page. Use high-quality images that showcase your products from different angles and in various settings. This helps customers visualize how the product will look in their life.
Include Social Proof:
Customer reviews and testimonials can help build trust and credibility with potential customers. Display customer reviews on your products page to showcase positive feedback from happy customers.
Getting together the Content for your website is often a challenge.
A helpful way to think of this content is to break it down;
WHO – who is this for?
WHY – Why do they need it?
WHAT – What can it do for them?
HOW – How do they get it?
And for added inspiration, look to your own sales emails to past customers.
And, have faith, this is your territory and domain. No one knows your products better than you.
SERVICES Page
Creating a Services page is a crucial part of establishing an online presence for your business.
This page is specifically designed to showcase the services your company offers to potential clients. A well-crafted Services page can help your website visitors understand your offerings and inspire them to take action
Here’s what you need to know about creating a successful Services page
Key Components of a Services Page:
Service Descriptions:
The most important aspect of a Services page is the description of the services offered. Your descriptions should be clear and concise and should highlight the unique features and benefits of each service. Use language that resonates with your target audience, and be sure to include relevant keywords to help with search engine optimization (SEO).
Visuals:
Including images, videos, or infographics can help to visually convey your services and grab the attention of your website visitors. Visuals can help to break up text-heavy pages and make your content more engaging.
Testimonials:
Including testimonials from satisfied clients can help to build trust with potential customers. Positive reviews and recommendations from previous clients can be a powerful tool in converting website visitors into paying customers.
Call to Action:
Every Services page should include a clear call to action (CTA) that encourages visitors to take the next step. This could be a button that leads to a contact form, a phone number to call, or an option to schedule a consultation.
Pricing:
While not always necessary, including pricing information can be helpful for potential customers who are looking to compare services and make informed decisions.
If you choose to include pricing, be sure to clearly outline what is included in each package or service.
Services Page: the Benefits
Increased conversion rates:
By clearly showcasing your services and making it easy for potential customers to take action, you can increase the likelihood of converting website visitors into paying customers.
Improved SEO:
By including relevant keywords and descriptions on your Services page, you can improve your search engine rankings and increase your visibility to potential customers.
Establishing credibility: By including testimonials and case studies, you can demonstrate your expertise and build trust with potential customers.
STATS
According to a survey by HubSpot, 72% of consumers who did a local search visited a store within five miles. This underscores the importance of having a strong online presence, including a well-crafted Services page. (Source: HubSpot)
Businesses with customer reviews on their website generate 74% more leads than those without. Including testimonials and reviews on your Services page can help to build trust with potential customers and increase your lead generation. (Source: SEO Tribunal)
Notable Quotes
“Your Services page is your chance to tell your story and demonstrate your value to potential customers.”
– Neil Patel, digital marketing expert.
“Your Services page should be focused on the benefits of your services, not just the features. Highlight how your services can solve your customers’ pain points.”
– Brian Clark, founder of Copyblogger
FAQ’s
This can be a valuable addition to your page. It depends on the type of service and the amount of content. No hard and fast rules about this one. pages. It is the first thing visitors see when they come to your site, and it needs to make a great first impression. The key components for the home page, ex
ABOUT Page
When building a business website, the home page is one of the most important pages. It is the first thing visitors see when they come to your site, and it needs to make a great first impression. The key components for the home page, excluding the header and footer, are:
Hero section:
This is the first thing visitors see when they arrive on your home page. It typically includes a large image or video.
Value proposition:
This is a brief statement that explains what your business does and why it’s unique. It should be easy to understand and communicate the benefits of your product or service.
CTA
A clear call to action that encourages visitors to take action.
portant pages. It is the first thing visitors see when they come to your site, and it needs to make a great first impression. The key components for the home page, ex
Caution
portant pages. It is the first thing visitors see when they come to your site, and it needs to make a great first impression. The key components for the home page, ex
STATS
portant pages. It is the first thing visitors see when they come to your site, and it needs to make a great first impression. The key components for the home page, ex
Links and Citations
portant pages. It is the first thing visitors see when they come to your site, and it needs to make a great first impression. The key components for the home page, ex
