“A bad website is like a grumpy salesperson.”
Welcome to Episode 96: 7 Ugly Truths A Pretty Website Can't Hide
Websites can have many functions and are typically designed around a particular topic or purpose. Website design is also a collaborative effort with the main goal being a finished product that will effectively communicate a specific message and create productive interactions with the intended target audience. Think of things this way … your website is the center of your digital eco-system, like a brick-and-mortar location, the experience matters once a customer enters, just as much as the perception they have of you before they walk through the door.
To have a better understanding of all the parts and puzzles pieces that go along with having one -- and one that’s done right here's what we will be untangling in this episode ...
Are you ready?
Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!
“A bad website is like a grumpy salesperson.”
Welcome to Episode 96: 7 Ugly Truths A Pretty Website Can't Hide
Websites can have many functions and are typically designed around a particular topic or purpose. Website design is also a collaborative effort with the main goal being a finished product that will effectively communicate a specific message and create productive interactions with the intended target audience. Think of things this way … your website is the center of your digital eco-system, like a brick-and-mortar location, the experience matters once a customer enters, just as much as the perception they have of you before they walk through the door.
To have a better understanding of all the parts and puzzles pieces that go along with having one -- and one that’s done right here's what we will be untangling in this episode ...
Are you ready?
Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!
Let’s start simple!
Websites can have many functions and are typically designed around a particular topic or purpose. Website design is also a collaborative effort with the main goal being a finished product that will effectively communicate a specific message and create productive interactions with the intended target audience.
To have a better understanding, let’s break down some of the key concepts and elements you should be considering, whether building a site for the first time, or a refreshing, rebranded one …
So, now that we’ve covered the basics, here’s the low-down of 6 Signs Your Website Needs Work …
Over the last who knows how many years, you’ve probably spent a heck of a lot of time and money on your website. You’re feel it is starting to look a little rusty …
You tweaked a bit of copy, updated a few images, and added a few new plug-ins and widgets to spruce things up hoping it would solve the problem. But it still doesn’t look like all those awesome websites out there. So, you then took some time to rewrite some of your content and upgraded almost every image throughout your site. Perhaps even added some freshly original social media icons and feeds -- but something is still not right. So, once again you dive in and increased some font sizes to accommodate individuals with larger screens, but you now have all this extra white space on the sides and when viewing on a mobile device, things are just not functioning properly …
Your readership is down by a long shot and your website is feeling like a tank! You just want to propel your website into the modern mobile age, but things aren’t panning out that way. You think to yourself … what could be the problem?
But the question you should be asking is … Have you considered a redesign?
The problem is more than likely that you’re not forcing your true authentic self and style into your site. And that it may also be that you are hanging onto your old, out-of-date website like it’s your favourite worn out pair of shoes.
Well, it’s time to throw out those shoes and upgrade to a new pair!
Here are a small handful of tell-tale signs that your website needs work … some of which are repetitive to things we share earlier on in this episode.
Okay, so we’ve mustered through a heck of a lot of imperative information today (#SorryNotSorry), so let’s switch gears to … the first 5 things folks see when they first land on your site.
Ignoring your site visitors’ needs and wants is dangerous for your website (and your business). It can destroy your reputation quickly. But don't fret, here is a list of the top 5 things your visitor sees when they land on your website. This short list will help you sort through what I like to call "next steps".
#1. LOGO AND BRANDING.
From a design standpoint, the “perfect” logo is simple in form but enough detail to convey the owner’s intended message. It is practical and appropriate yet distinctive. Truthfully, it really boils down to two things: an amazing concept and phenomenal execution! This also includes your branding. Both need to become a part of every single person’s day-to-day life because everything we as consumers touch and see is a brand. That is why it is so very important that your brand stands out and needs to be memorable in every way possible. And not hidden in some back corner!
#2. SOCIAL MEDIA CLICKABLES.
Increasing your social following will help increase the number of eyes (and ears) on your website which means visitors will more likely clock back on a regular basis. You want people to engage in both areas so make sure your buttons are in a consistent, conventional place where visitors can easily find them. And, in more than one place.
#3. CLEAR INTUITIVE NAVIGATION.
If you want your website to be successful, your navigation is very important as this is what enables your visitors to move around your website to find what they’re looking for. Hassle free is the key here!
You want to prevent your visitors from visiting your competitors’ sites and have them always coming back to yours for more. So, please, keep your website’s navigation simple, consistent, and easy to use.
And don’t overload with extra unnecessary pages.
#4. ACCESSIBLE SUPPORTS.
Your visitors should be able to find how to get in touch with you easily and in more than one place on your site. Which we feel should be located in a common spot besides your actual “contact” page – which could be in the footer of your site or as call-to-actions on an array of pages. At bare minimum, you should include your email address, phone number and socials.
And last on this list …
#5. IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS.
You want to encourage your visitors to hit up certain areas of your website depending on what you’re looking to have them engage in. For example, you may have an important lead magnet, or your blog may be the heart of your marketing and content strategy. You will want to encourage your visitors to view these, download them or even subscribe to it so depending on whatever your “highlight” area is, you will want it showcased on your main page.
And well, there you have it … now onto Bad Websites = Bad Business!
If your website is looking like it just popped out of the 90s with the music that plays and it’s not at all mobile-friendly, please know you are not alone. We here at VU rescue these types of websites regularly and quite frankly give them facelifts on a monthly basis, but keep in mind that your “bad website” equals bad business.
A bad website, in my eyes, lacks functionality and has a poor user experience.
As user’s visit your website, you miss out on the opportunity to build a trustworthy experience for them as they interact with your site. Especially if you’re solely a virtual business -- your website is the front door. And if not done properly, you are driving dream customers away and leaving money on the table.
Think of things this way … your website is the center of your digital eco-system, like a brick-and-mortar location, the experience matters once a customer enters, just as much as the perception they have of you before they walk through the door.
So, to help with the planning or re-planning stages of your website, with also keeping EVERYTHING else we talked about today top of mind, this next section is what we like to consider the Ultimate Website Launch Checklist …
Having a pre-launch checklist will help you get things done quicker and more efficiently all the while delivering the results you’re wanting and needing.
In reality, this list is all about the little things. But that’s what website design is truly all about. Quality which is in the details. This checklist will cover the main hub of items you need to check off your to-do list before launching (or re-launching) your site into the virtual world.
So, stop worrying about the what ifs as this last section is your guide from start to launch and making your website project more stress-free than you could have ever imagined! Because launch day should be a day of celebration …!
My suggestion would be to print the transcript of this episode off to use as a guide as you go through each item and striking each one off as you complete it – and of course giving yourself a pat on the back in preparation for your launch happy dance.
With the first section being …
CONTENT:
SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (SEO):
ANALYTICS:
BRANDING AND DESIGN:
FUNCTIONALITY:
Quick side note before we move onto the next section of this checklist …
Don’t let all this functionality testing get you down. Sometimes things just plainly don’t work, and plug-ins and platforms don’t play nicely with one another. And sometimes it’s just a bad tech day! Check back in later, or even on another day, and if everything works fine then it’s a tech ghost that just can’t be explained. This isn’t a joke – it’s a real thing. Sometimes technology is unreliable, and it usually happens when we need it most (especially if time is of the essence). So, don’t beat yourself up … This too shall pass. Just breathe and work on another portion of this checklist!
ORGANIZATION:
This as you know is one of my absolute favourite topics in the whole wide world. Now it’s time to put together some documentation with the following particulars:
And last but most certainly not least -- and a super short list …
MARKETING:
If you’ve checked every item off this checklist so far then you’re set for a successful launch. My only last note before your final countdown is to be sure to NOT launch on a Monday or a Friday.
And with all that said inside of a longer than usual “untangling” episode …
Congratulations!
Your happy dance moment has finally arrived as you just had a low-stress, high-confidence website launch. You’re now LIVE right across the globe!
Well done! High-five!
It’s time to celebrate!
Truthfully, and I know it doesn’t always feel this way, but web design does not have to be complicated. In fact, it is quite simple when you make the functionality and user experience as your first priority. Ditching your non-mobile friendly 90s design would be the first step to accomplishing this.
If this is not something you want to do or are ready to take on, then be sure to check out our “Digital Glue” package options as they’re created with you in mind and perfect for those looking to start from scratch or wanting to upgrade their existing site! You can learn more about partnering with us at VirtuallyUntangled.com/Digital-Glue.