Do this before you build a website...

I love building websites. I enjoy the creativity of the design process, however before you dive into the fun of building your website, there are a few elements to decide on first to ensure you don’t waste your time designing a website that won’t fit your business.

The first step is figuring out what your website needs to do for you, that is, what is its purpose? It is very helpful to consider the following so you have a clear path to follow when designing your website:

Who is your target market and what is your business about? Do you provide services, sell products or both? Who you are selling to and what product type you are selling will influence the design of your website.

What is your business name? Do you have a catchy business name or does your business name revolve more around your business type or product? Or are you building a personal brand where the business name is your name and therefore you want the website to be a reflection of you?

Note: if you haven’t decided on a business name yet, this needs to come first. Have a brainstorming session and write down every name that pops into your head, even the not so good ones. Once you have a list you can start to shortlist. Firstly, remove any names that don’t really resonate with you as being a name that you would be proud of using for your business. Next check which business names are available for registration with ASIC as this will potentially eliminate a large proportion of your names as they will already be taken and therefore unavailable to you. If the business name is available, the next step is to ensure that you can get a domain name for that business name.

What feel represents your business? For example, is it a toy website that would be a colourful and fun design, or do you provide a serious product that requires a more subdued website design?

What are your brand colours? It is advisable to replicate your brand colours in all marketing, including your website, so customers associate the colours with your business.

Do you want to include a blog? Do your customers have questions that you could use your expertise to answer?

Do you require an online shop? If your business is providing professional services you may not require an online shop.

Don’t forget that even if your website looks amazing, it will still take time for people to find you. Getting started is the key, don’t hold off waiting for the perfect design to be accomplished before you get going. Start your business, put your name out there, and your business website will evolve over time.