By Jim Clanin
We’ve all been there. A client comes to you with the need for a new web site design, or you’ve been able to prove the case to your employer that the company needs invest in a new website or web design. In both scenario’s, your client or boss will have similar expectations and needs when it comes to website design, and they may or may not have any design background or experience. To help the web design process to go smoothly and to keep your client or boss happy, here are some things they likely want to know about their web site design that you should keep in mind and be prepared to communicate.
1. Peer and Competitor Analysis
All industries and businesses have design elements that are often industry specific. For example, an accounting or law firm will have a simple, very professional and clean design, which would differ from a web design for a beauty salon or daycare that would likely have more playful design elements and functions. Knowing that competitors as well as clients will be looking at their site, the design should be consistent with the industry, the type of clientele the industry serves, and what they feel a site should look like and how it would represent the company and industry.
2. Website Load Time
Nothing deters clients from staying on a website faster than a website that loads slowly. The slow load time may be one of the reasons you were able to convince your employer or client that a new design is needed. Images, pages, video and all website elements should load quickly and seamlessly to retain visitors.
3. Quality Content
More than likely, a website visitor will not read all the content on a site. However, they will read what applies to them. The content should be easy and quick to read, and should not be filled with industry jargon. Web site content should be applicable and interesting, and also positive in tone. Conversational language is helpful, as well as complete descriptions of items or services. Also, sentences should be short as long sentences can bore a web site visitor. People scan titles and content quickly to find the answers they want, so contents need to be short, simple, and to the point.
4. Proper Fonts and Formatting
Believe it or not, one of the first things non-designers notice is if they like the look and feel of the font and if it reflects how they feel about their company and industry. Some playful fonts are applicable for fun and joyful businesses, whereas more traditional simple fonts better apply to professional services businesses like banks, lawyers or attorneys. Use a font that is consistent with the business and industry type. Also, by using no more than 2-3 fonts or typefaces on a site, the simplicity ads professionalism and weight to a site. Think about the last time you visited a website with a font that was hard to read, uninviting or didn’t match the business or industry type. You probably didn’t stay on the site very long.
5. Simplicity
Like they want their clients and customers to be able to do, your boss or client wants to be able to navigate their website easily and find what they want or are looking for quickly and without effort. The web site navigation should be simple, easy to understand, and attractive. If your client or employer can’t find what they are looking for easily, you may want to go back to the drawing board and think about the web visitor and their online behaviors and what they would be looking for on a website.
6. Responsive Web Design
One of the main things we hear from clients on new web design projects is, “I want to be able to see my website easily on my smartphone, tablet and computer”. When a website can adjust to fit mobile devices as well as desktop devices, we in the industry call this responsive design. Mobile device website usage is predicted to trump desktop usage in 2015, creating a great opportunity for businesses to gain exposure from users on the go. However, if a website is not responsive to all mobile and desktop devices, a business can lose visitors and business quickly due to website visitors losing patience on a mobile device if they can’t use your site easily.
7. Budget and Cost
Other than responsive design, clients and employers traditionally are most concerned with the expense of a new web design, and that the investment is worth the expense and their effort. Even though they may ‘order’ a new web design, they will still need to be involved in the process. They want to know that the use of their time and financial expense for a new web design will meet or exceed their expectations and needs. Itemize the costs and clearly layout a benchmark of needs and a timeline so that they know exactly what to expect and so they don’t have any surprises.
8. Internal Ideas & Feedback
Even though they aren’t designers themselves, clients and employers want to be a part of the design and creative process. They want their opinion to matter and heard, if in a large way or with a few suggestions or pieces of input. They know their brand better than anyone and allowing them to participate in the process however they feel appropriate will create a better design process and ultimately give them a design they have envisioned.
These are not the only things a boss or employer may want or be concerned about when they agree to a web design. However, they are some of the top things we hear from our clients at DoubleDome Web Technologies. If you’re in need of a new web design, or would like your web design analyzed by a professional, call DoubleDome for a complimentary web design consultation.
