The 3 things you need to prepare before your website redesign.
Are you thinking about having your website redesigned, but the thought of the process overwhelms you? Well friend, you’ve made it to the right place. In this blog post we will cover the three things you should prepare before your project begins.
Website Copy
(If you are like, “Katie, WTH is copy?”, it just means the words on the pages.)
In order to make a compelling website you need compelling words. The ultimate goal of your website is to convert visitors to customers, and in order to do that we need to lead them on a journey. Good copy is about your prospects, not about you. Heck, even your about page isn’t REALLY about you.
When we make an investment in something we want to know: What’s in it for me? What value will I get out of it? Is it worth the cost? And so much more…
There are a few ways to go about preparing your website copy. Let’s go through some pros and cons of each.
Hire a website copywriter.
This is an amazing option for you if you have the budget. It will be worth the investment if you can swing it!
Pros:
Website copywriters are experts in using words to convert prospects to clients
They carry the load of coming up with the content
You get time back by not having to write the content
You will have great copy to go with your great design
Cons:
It can be expensive, but the range is pretty massive so I won’t put amounts here
You won’t have direct control on the creative process
DIY your copy.
There are so many great DIY copy courses and templates, I’ve invested in a few myself! If you want recommendations for a few, comment below or send me an email and I’d be happy to share!
Pros:
You have full control over the content that goes on your site
You will save money
Cons:
You aren’t an expert in conversion copy
You will spend a lot of time writing
You have to come up with alllll the content
Either way you go, a new website with a great design and copy will bring so much value to your business.
Design Inspo & Research
Start pinning, friend.
Pinterest is a great way to collect inspo and to see what you like and don't like. Here’s a quick list of thing you could pin for inspiration (some of these are if you are still unsure of your overall branding):
Website screenshots, type in “website design inspiration”
Logos
Colors
Graphic elements
Font pairings
Textures
Even if you aren’t ready to redesign your website just yet, this is a great thing to start doing. When it comes time to meet with a designer you have something to show them. This will help bring clarity to what you are looking for and speed up the creative process.
Scope out websites in your niche
And dare I say, competitors? Think of the people in your industry that are CRUSHING it, go to their websites.
A few ideas on things to take note of:
Likes & dislikes
What imagery are they using
What types of pages do they have (i.e. about, services, scheduling, etc.)
Try to describe the design with words (i.e. calm, bold, organic, etc)
It’s a great idea to write this down. Start a Google Doc and pop in the link and answers to the questions above as well as any other things you notice. You can also pass this information along to your designer again bringing clarity to what you want!
Pictures & Video
High-quality images and video are important when building a website. If you have outdated images, it might be time for a brand photoshoot!
Brand photoshoots are a GREAT idea before your website design process. If you are a solopreneur or a small team putting a real face to your business will help build the like and trust factor. AKA CREDIBILITY!
A bonus of brand photoshoots is you can repurpose the images for social media. Say goodbye to the days of balancing your tripod on three books on top of a chair.
Your website impacts the credibility of your business, which means you can build trust with customers before you meet them and the real value is you can stand out in your niche. Did you know that 55% of people search online for reviews and recommendations before buying a product or service? Standing out in your niche is what you want isn’t it?
If you made it this far, you must be considering a new website and I would love to help you! Click the button below to check out my services.
