Starting From Experience: Starting a website or graphic design project with Weave
Starting a website or graphic design project with Weave
The decorations are down, the left over turkey curry is almost finished, and some resolutions haven’t been broken yet – 2022 has arrived and we are all thinking of our goals and ambitions in the year ahead.
Whether you are looking to launch your business online, refresh your online presence, or design a new graphic, there is no better time than the new year to start your online project. The world is truly an online place nowadays, so your online presence will leave an impression on potential customers and within your particular market – and credibility, clearness, and visual appeal are key to online success.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself at the start of your new project – and how Weave can help you every step of the way.
What is your goal for your website or graphic design?
This may seem like an obvious question, but it is one of the most important questions to ask yourself before starting. Do you need a website that is a portfolio of your freelance work? Does your website need to be an accessible online shop? Or do you need a website to broadcast your company’s message and contact details?
When it comes to graphic designs, you may want to ask what type of graphic you need designing (such as a logo), what message you want it to send to potential customers, and what you want it to look like.
Once you have a clear goal for your website or graphic design project, this will make other questions regarding your project much easier to answer; as well as lead to other questions to consider, such as what type of pages you need to include on your website.
A good rule of thumb for key website pages is to include a homepage or landing page that has clear messaging about your business and its USP, is visually appealing, and has easy navigation to other areas of the website. Other pages to consider including are an ‘About Us’ page detailing your company, its objectives, and key people in the business; and a ‘Contact’ page with up to date contact details and company social media links. Depending on the nature of your website, you may also want to include pages detailing offers; FAQs, and reviews or testimonials.
What is your market and what are competitors doing?
Once you have pinned down what goals you want for your website or graphic design project, the next step is to think about your market, potential customers, and competitors.
This question is related more to the type of content your future website will have, or how your graphic project is designed. For instance, what is your particular market and what will potential customers be interested in? After all, there is no point having a beautifully designed website if there is nothing of interest or substance for future customers. Market relevant blog posts and video posts are tried and tested ways of engaging website viewers, as well as boosting your website’s SEO and visibility on the web. Therefore, research on topics and content types that grab your market’s attention is a good start towards relevant and engaging content that will keep customers coming back.
A part of your research should include looking at your competitors’ website and social media accounts, and seeing how they are drawing in customers. What type of content are they using (such as blog posts or videos), and what topics are they focusing on? Your competitor’s content style can help define not only the type of content you make, but the tone, length and look of your content. In addition, it will also spark brand new ways for your website to engage your customers that your competitors have not thought of yet.
What do you want your project to look like?
This question links back to your project goals, and how you want your finished project to look like. You should consider what type of graphics or images you want to use, such as stock images, royalty free images, or graphics designed specifically for your requirements. In addition, deciding on a colour palette and specific typography for your project will make the end result more cohesive and professional, and help reflect your business online.
Another important consideration is how your finished project will look like on mobile devices. As mobile devices continue to be an integral part of the public’s online lives, many customer’s first interactions with your website will be through their mobile phones. If your website is not mobile friendly, potential customers may find your website visually disjointed, slow to load, and unclear – leaving the door wide open for your competitors.
What other tools do you need for your project?
Another important factor to think about is the more technical requirements for your project. For instance, does your graphic project need to have animation as part of the design? Or does your website need a live chat function, email marketing, or adverts? These requirements will need to be built into the project plan from the start so that the end result is cohesive with the rest of the project design – so make a list of anything you may need once your project is launched.
If all the above seems a bit overwhelming, don’t worry! Weave Studios is here to help every step of the way.
Weave Studios are a friendly, experienced team that can help you realise your website, graphic design, and SEO goals. Our team create clean, modern websites, built to industry standards that are fast to load, hosted by Weave Studios, and mobile friendly. Need help with copywriting, images selection, and layout? We’ve got you covered there too!
We also offer assistance with graphic and branding design and have worked with many different businesses and organisations to build consumer awareness and loyalty. Eye-catching, consistent, and beautiful branding is part of our bread and butter – whether it is a branding refresh or a completely new venture, we’re here to make your ideas a reality.
Get in touch today and let’s get your dream project started!!