As the experts, you might think that web designers know everything and whilst they’re pretty good, they aren’t mind readers. To get the best from your web designer you need to give them as much detail as possible. Things that you might think are obvious to your designer may have been lost in translation, so it’s vital to make sure everything is clear before you start. This article should give you an idea of the things to remember when briefing your web designer.
Site map/ navigation
The pages and sub sections of your website greatly influence the design and having more than 3 levels makes your site hard to navigate and users may give up entirely so don’t be afraid to ask for some advice.
Websites you like / dislike
Give your designer examples of other websites and tell them exactly what you like or dislike. This will make sure you’re on the same page and have the same vision for the end product.
Colours
Usually your websites colour scheme will match and flow with your logo or products colours, but if you have a particular colour in mind tell your designer. The same applies if you have a colour you definitely don’t want used.
Imagery
Ideally you’ll have your own images to use, but if you’re a small to medium sized business this isn’t always possible. Use a site such as http://www.istockphoto.com/ and give your designer a few images to play with. Most designers won’t purchase images until you’re completely satisfied so if something isn’t right, say so!
Content
At the very least you need to provide draft content so that the designer can begin. You need to consider the sections, key messages and ‘call to action’ for the homepage as the site layout will be designed according to what is on your homepage. Your designer will be able to give you pointers on what to include, but if you don’t feel confident writing the content yourself you should consider employing a professional copywriter to do it for you. You might want to provide examples of content for other pages to help your designer get an idea of the overall look.
Functionality
This might be obvious to you but your designer may not know what functionality you want behind your ‘login’ page. Make sure you are clear and have a detailed proposal before you start to avoid any surprises when your website is finished.
Just remember, your web designer will be able to give you a nudge in the right direction but ultimately it’s your project. You need to have a clear idea of what you want before you even contact a designer. The more details you can give you designer the better.
If you know what you want and are eager to get started give us a call today on 01256 845815 or email at [email protected] to find out how we can help you realise your vision.
