5 THINGS YOUR WEBSITE NEEDS, AND YOUR ROLE IN ITS SUCCESS

So, you’ve decided to build a new website or update your current one. Congratulations! 

Now the question is: what does your website need? And what does your website designer need from you? Let’s break it down…

Websites are an important communication, marketing, and outreach tool for any business or nonprofit organization. Think of your website as your first impression with your community. It’s pretty important. Website users are looking for a site that is easy to navigate, offers clear and concise information, is updated regularly, and loads quickly. Even if a website is not your home base, it provides a place to grow your platform. 

So, here are five things that every website should include:

1. A clear description of who you are and what you do. Visitors to your site shouldn’t have to do any investigative work to find out what you do. You want to attract the attention of your viewer within 2-3 seconds of them entering your site so that they stay to learn more! By simply stating your organization name and summing up your offerings on the homepage, you can save time, maintain attention, and prevent confusion. 

2. A contact page. Do not make it difficult for a customer to get in touch with you! Make sure your contact information is easy to find on the website, and provide several ways to get in touch. These could include a clickable email and phone number, business hours, or even a physical address which can be added through a Google maps link.

3. Custom mobile navigation. Mobile device traffic accounts for 51% of global online traffic and 53% of online shopping traffic comes from mobile phones. It is critical to make sure your site is optimized for mobile use.  

4. Great photography. You don’t need a ton of photos on your website, but the ones you do use should be attention-grabbing, high-quality, and amplify your brand. Invest in some professional shots if appropriate. 

5. Reviews and testimonials. Testimonials give you credibility. People are much more likely to buy a product or use a service that has been positively reviewed by their peers. Include some of those awesome five-star reviews on your site. And if you don’t have any yet, start asking your clients for them! Many will happily send one over.

Of course, designing a website involves much more than just putting up a couple of photos, a “contact us” link, and some testimonials online. You will likely want to hire a professional (hint, hint) who specializes in website design and development. When you’re ready to get started, you’ll want to provide a complete picture of your business, along with your goals and preferences, to help your developer do the best job possible.

RB Collaborative’s favorite first step is the discovery process. As part of the onboarding process, we’ll a checklist and thorough questionnaire to gather all the necessary information and assets to make your website design project a success. To give you a head start, here are our top five things to have ready when working with a website designer:

1. Branding guide. This includes your logo, fonts, and brand colors. Where possible, provide the original vector file of your logo (usually an Illustrator or .ai file) alongside any .jpegs and .pngs. It is helpful to have the HEX code, CMYK mix, or specific Pantone to match your brand colors.

2. Business summary. You’ll be asked for the usual suspects: business name, domain name, address, social media handles, etc. But in addition to the basics, provide your website designer with your mission and vision statements, a description of your services and offerings, a description of your target audience, and some information on what makes your business unique.

3. Goals. Let your designer know what you want your site to accomplish, how visitors should use your website, and how you envision the site being structured. We also encourage you to compile a list of examples of websites you admire and why.

4. Assets + copy. This is where the process often gets hung up. Your designer can’t do their job without this. So get a head start compiling high-quality photos and videos, employee photos and bios, website-ready descriptions of your services and offerings, organization history, and any other important information you want to include.

5. Technical stuff. Be ready with your domain name(s), hosting information, external account information, and any inventory or payment processor information if there is an e-commerce element to your site. You’ll also want to start thinking about how you plan to maintain the site after launch.

While redesigning your website or building one from scratch can seem daunting, it’s an investment that will pay off in the long run. And with a pro by your side, we think this collaborative process can be a rewarding experience.

From concept to completion, RB Collaborative designs optimized websites that quickly yet effectively tell an organization’s story while maintaining audience interest. By creating an engaging platform for members and visitors, and utilizing current best practices, websites are built on a user-friendly, all-in-one platform to ensure an attractive, informative, and engaging online presence. RB Collaborative is a Squarespace Circle Member, and designs websites on the North Fork, Hamptons, and far beyond.