21 Tips for Planning a Website for Your Creative Business

In order to create a website that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, it’s important to plan your web design. However, while there are many different ways to go about designing a site, not all of them are as effective as others. So how do you plan a website design that will be successful?

1) What is the Goal of the Your Website?

Before you can start planning your website, you need to determine its goal. Is the goal to generate more leads, or is it to simply provide information? Or are you selling products or services?

Your website's goal will determine the type of website you create as well as the design, content, and functionality of your website.

Some common goals for websites include:

• Generating leads
• Selling products or services
• Providing information
• Building a brand
• Creating a community

2) Who is Your Target Audience?

Knowing your target audience is necessary when planning a website design. This means that the website’s layout, colors, and content should all be geared towards appealing to your target audience.

To determine some basic information on your audience, you can start by using Google Analytics to see the demographics of those who are already interested in your products or services. You can also use Google AdWords Keyword Planner to look up popular keywords in your industry.

Once you have a basic idea of who is your target audience, you can decide what your target audience likes. You can do this in a variety of ways.

First, you can look to your competitor's websites and blogs to see their website designs.

Second, you can also take a look at your competitor's social media following.

Third, you can create a customer persona that outlines the basic demographics and interests of your target customer.

Fourth, you can run a survey on social media platforms or forums related to your industry to ask people what type of design they prefer.

You want to try and find out what colors, layouts, and content style gets the most engagement from your target market. Once you have this information, you will have a better sense of what your potential customers want to see on your website.

3) What is Your Budget?

Your budget will be a primary factor in determining how you create and design your website. The cost of your website will depend on a number of factors, including the type of website you are planning to create.

Creating a website can be costly, but it does not have to be expensive. When it comes to planning your website budget, there are a few things you need to take into account.

First, you need to determine the overall cost of creating and launching your website. This includes the cost of web hosting, domain name registration, and website design. You need to decide if you will use a website template or hire a professional web designer.

Second, you need to determine how much you want to spend on marketing your website. This includes advertising, search engine optimization, and social media marketing.

Finally, you need to set aside money for ongoing website maintenance and updates. This includes the cost of web hosting, domain name registration, and website design.

How you allocate your budget will depend on your specific needs and goals. However, by considering these three factors, you can create a website design that is both affordable and effective.

4) What Type of Website Do You Want?

When planning your website, you need to decide what type of website you want.

There are different types of websites, each with its own set of features and benefits. There are four types of websites: static websites, dynamic websites, ecommerce websites, and blog websites.

Static websites are the simplest type of website. They are made up of a series of web pages that are connected to one another. They are typically used for presenting information, such as a company's products or services. Static websites are easy to create and usually do not require a lot of maintenance.

Dynamic websites are more complex than static websites. They use a database to store information and allow users to interact with the website. This type of website is best for businesses that want to create a web presence and allow customers to interact with the company.

Ecommerce websites are the most complex type of website. They allow businesses to sell products and services online. Ecommerce websites require a lot of maintenance and updates, as well as a secure payment system.

Blogs are used to share information with a target audience. They are typically used to share blog posts, which are articles that are written on a regular basis. Blogs are a great way to connect with your target audience and build a relationship with them.

5) What Features Do You Need?

After you know the type of website, you need to decide if you want a simple website with a few pages, or do you want a complex website with multiple pages and features? If you are not sure, you can always start with a simple website and add features as you go.

You will also need to decide on the features you need and want. Some common website features include contact forms, maps, search functions, and social media integration.

Another important consideration is the type of functionality. Functionality means the ability for a user to interact with a website.

• Do you need a shopping cart on your website so customers can buy your products online?  
• Do you need a content management system for your blog?
• Do you need an online payment system for your website?
• Do you want to add a forum to your website?

6) What are the Technical Requirements of Your Website?

With any website, there are certain technical requirements that need to be met.

When planning your website, make sure that your website hosting company can provide the necessary technical support for your website.

You also need to decide on the type of web hosting you need. Shared web hosting is ideal for small business websites, while VPS and dedicated hosting are better options for larger businesses.

You also need to decide on the type of domain name you want for your website. The most common types of domain names are .com, .net, and .org. Depending on the type of website you are creating will determine your domain, but you should aim for a .com domain as it is the one most widely used for creative businesses in the United States.

7) What is the Design of Your Website?

Your website design is one of the most important factors in how your website is perceived by your customers.

When planning your website, you need to decide on the overall design of your website.

• Do you want a simple design with limited colors and graphics?
• Do you want a complex design with multiple colors and graphics?
• Do you want to use a website template, or do you want to hire a professional web designer?
• How will you ensure your website will be a responsive website (a responsive website is one that looks good on all device)?

Your website design will also be determined by the type of website you are creating. For example, if you are creating a website for a business, you will want to use a professional design. However, if you are creating a personal website, you can use a more simplistic design.

8) What Navigation Do You Need?

Your website will need a navigation menu. The type of navigation menu you use will depend on the overall design of your website.

• Do you want a Horizontal Menu or a Vertical Menu?
• Do you want a Fixed Menu or a Scrollable Menu?
• Do you want a drop-down menu?
• Your navigation menu should be easy to use and understand. It should be intuitive and logical.

Your website navigation should be easy to use and understand. It should be intuitive and logical to allow users to find the information they are looking for quickly. It should be able to guide your users to the information they are looking for without any trouble.

9) What Content Will You Include on Your Website?

The content of your creative website is one of the most important aspects of your website. The content you include on your website will depend on the type of website, but there are some general content tips you can follow.

Some content tips are to keep your content updated, use keyword-rich content, and include social media sharing buttons.

If you are selling products on your website, some tips for product content are to use high-quality images, provide detailed product descriptions, and include customer reviews.

If you are running a blog, some content tips are to use catchy headlines, write interesting blog posts, and include multimedia content.

No matter what type of website you are creating, always remember to proofread your content and have someone else check it for errors before you publish it.

10) What Pages Do You Need?

You need to determine what pages you need on your website. At minimum, you will need a home page, an about page, a contact page.

If you are including a blog on your website, you will also need a blog page. When you have a blog, you need to make sure to update it regularly with fresh content.

If you are selling products on your website, you will also need a product page. Your product page must include high-quality product images and descriptions.

11) What Colors Do You Want?

When planning your website, you need to decide on the colors you want to use. The colors you choose for your website need to reflect your audience's preferences.

Do you want a color scheme that is bright and vibrant? You may want to use bright and vibrant color palette, which could be used for websites that are targeting a younger audience, while a color scheme that is more subdued and professional may be used for websites targeting a more mature audience.

Your color palette should also be consistent with your brand. Your brand colors should be used throughout your website so that your website is easily recognizable. Find out how to create a timeless color palette in this post.

12) What Graphics Do You Want?

Your website will also need graphics. The graphics you use on your website need to be high quality and relevant to your website.

Some websites use simple graphics, while others use complex graphics. You need to decide if you will pay for images or will you use free images from the internet.

• Do you want to use product images?
• Do you want to use graphics that reflect your brand?
• Do you want to use graphics that are relevant to your website content?

You will also want your website images to match your color scheme so that you can ensure your brand is consistent and recognizable.

13) What Fonts will you use?

Another important consideration is determining what fonts you will use on your website. The fonts you use need to be readable and should reflect your brand.

Your website's font should also be consistent with your color scheme. You should use the same font throughout your website so that it is easily recognizable.

The fonts your choose should be easy to read and are the correct size, no matter the device that your website is being viewed on. Need more help on choosing the best fonts for your website and in advertising, check out this post that explains how to choose the best fonts and typefaces.

14) Set Up a Mood Board

To help you plan, you may want to set up a mood board with colors, fonts, images, etc., that represent your brand and style. A mood board is a great way to see everything in one place and to get inspired.

When you have everything on your mood board, you can start to see what works together and what doesn't. This will help you narrow down your choices and make decisions about your website.

15) Create a Style Guide

Create a style guide for the site's fonts, colors, and other design elements is a helpful tool while you plan and create your website.

A style guide will help you maintain consistency throughout your website. It is a reference document that you can refer to when making decisions about your website.

A good style guide will allow you to test different design elements to see what looks best for your website. You can create different styles for your headers, paragraphs, lists, bullets, and links. This can help you ensure that your website is visually appealing.

16) How Often Will You Update Your Website?

Updating your website is important to ensure that your website content is fresh and up-to-date. You also need to update your website to reflect any changes in your business.

Your website should be updated on a regular basis. Depending on your website, you may need to update your website at least once a week, especially if you have a blog. If you are selling products on your website, you will need to update your product pages regularly with new images and descriptions.

17) How Will You Promote Your Website?

After your website is created, you need to promote it. Many business owners make the mistake that creating a website is enough to generate traffic. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

You need to take a proactive approach to promoting your website. There are many ways to promote your website, including search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, and social media marketing. When promoting your website, you need to ensure that you are reaching your target audience.

Creating a website is just the first step in creating an online presence for your business. You need to ensure that you are taking the necessary steps to promote your website so that you can generate traffic and leads.

18) Simplicity is Key

When it comes to web design, simplicity is key. A website that is too cluttered or difficult to navigate will only frustrate users and cause them to leave without performing the actions you want them to take.

A website that is clean and simple will be easy for users to navigate and will keep them on your website longer. When planning your website, you need to make sure that the layout is simple and easy to understand. This not only includes the overall design, but to your product descriptions.

Once you have a simple and well organized website, you can then focus on adding more content and features.

19) Have a Clear Call to Action

Your website should have a clear call to action. A call to action is a statement or instruction that tells users what you want them to do. This could be as simple as asking users to sign up for your email list or download your brochure.

When planning your website, you need to determine what you want users to do when they visit your website.

• Do you want them to buy your products?
• Do you want them to sign up for your newsletter?
• Do you want them to download your white paper?
• Do you want them to shop on your marketplace?

Your call to action should be prominently displayed on your website so that users can easily find it and take action. If you do not use calls to action, you may be losing potential customers. For more information on how to create effective CTAs, check out this article on calls to action. You will learn just what to takes to make a great CTA that actually works.

20) Create a Template

You may want to use a template or design a template before you begin. A template is a pre-made website design that you can use as a starting point for your own website. Creating a template can help you save time and money while you plan and create your website.

If you use a template, make sure that it is designed for your specific website purpose. You want to create a consistent look and feel for your website. You also want to make sure that the template is easy to use and navigate.

There are many different templates available, so you should be able to find one that meets your needs. You can find reasonably priced templates or even free templates online.

If you create a template, make sure that it is easy to use and can be easily edited. You may want to create multiple templates for different pages on your website. This will allow you to easily change the look and feel of your website without having to start from scratch.

21) Have a Plan and Stick to It!

The best way to ensure your website is successful is to have a plan and stick to it. Creating a website can be overwhelming, but if you take the time to plan your website and create a budget, you will be able to create a website that meets your needs and fits within your budget.

Having a web designer is usually not in the budget, but there are website builders that can help you design a website for a great deal less. Here are two of the best:

BlueHost

If you would like more information, check out our BlueHost review where we explain the pros and cons so you can make sure it is right for you.

Webflow

When creating your website, you need to make sure that you are including all of the necessary components, such as a home page, an about page, a contact page, and product pages. You also need to make sure that your website is designed in a way that is easy to navigate.

Once your website is created, you need to promote it and update your content regularly. This will help you to keep your website fresh and relevant to your users. If you can stick to a plan, you will be able to create a successful website that meets your customers needs and your business goals.

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