Resources
Looking to build your first website?
We at Green Valley Designs are happy to walk you through the process of "getting" your first website. There are, however, a few things you can think about and prepare on your own before meeting with any designer that will greatly speed up the process. For a printable version of these considerations, click here.
First, think about why you want a website. Maybe your competitors have sites and you feel you need to keep up with them? Perhaps you want to set up an online store? Your reason for wanting a site is the number one factor that will drive the design and functionality of the site. Sit down and write 1 to 3 sentences explaining why you need this site and what it has to do for you and your business. Some examples:
I want to set up an online store for selling my homemade soaps. People need to be able to see what products I have to offer and be able to purchase them in a secure manner.
I just want people to be able to find information on my psychotherapy practice. I'll only need a few pages with contact information and some basic information about my practice.
The purpose of my website is to provide education and resources to builders and consumers on green building practices. I want visitors to be able to join as members and also sign up for an email newsletter.
Next, consider how much time you have to work on your website. Most of the content, photos and graphics must come from you! You are the person who knows your business best, and generally only you can write page content and select photographs or graphics that best represent it. It is much like building a house—the builder needs input from the homeowner at many stages during the process to ensure customer satisfaction. The amount of your time required will vary. You may need to write the text for several pages, take photographs, or browse and buy some graphics online. If you will be setting up an online store, you'll need to plan many hours of data entry.
Think about who will update the site and how often. A website can only be updated or changed by someone who has the appropriate software or knowledge of HTML and CSS. You may already have the knowledge or are planning on learning more so you can do the updates yourself. GVD provides education to its clients so they may continue the management of their sites. If you need to be managing the site every day, as in an online store, you may consider hiring a developer to create an administrative "backend" to your site, or you can purchase one of many shopping cart software programs that your designer can integrate seamlessly into your site. We are happy to assist you in making the decision that will work best for you.
Consider your target audience. As with any marketing piece, this is a critical. A site that features a message board for senior women will be designed quite differently from one for members of a Mustang car club. Think about, age, gender, nationality, interests, income level and any other factors that may come into play.
Start to locate materials that you already have, and determine what else you might need. You may have some pertinant articles you have written that would be great to post on a "resources" page. A good photo of you is a must if you are a therapist, doctor, chiropractor, daycare director, or any other professional that works with people.
Surf the web to find comparable websites that you like. Making a list of websites that you do not like may also be helpful. These lists will help GVD understand what sort of look and feel you want.