Building a website from scratch is a complex and multifaceted challenge. A successful website should align with your brand, be appealing to both you and, more importantly, your clientele, seamlessly blending beautiful visuals with optimal functionality.
For many, attempting to create a website on their own isn't a practical choice. Doing it yourself requires a significant learning curve and a considerable time investment. Unfortunately, as we've observed, the overall outcome often falls short of expectations.
To create a great website, three key competencies are essential, skills that specialists hone over years:
Design
The role of design cannot be underestimated—it's what users see and experience, significantly shaping their opinion. If a site is unappealing, it fails to instill trust in your business, making it all too easy for a customer to navigate to a competitor's site.
User Experience Design
What good is a website if the user can't understand it or find crucial information? When a visitor lands on a page without a clear value proposition and struggles to navigate to what they seek, there's a high likelihood they'll opt for the path of least resistance—leaving your website.
Technical Expertise
Website development involves various facets—back-end and front-end must be in sync, communication between them must be swift, your server needs to be secure and adequately powered, DNS configurations must include all redirects and domains, and considerations for SEO and social media integration are crucial. Additionally, there are myriad solutions for each of these points, each with its pros and cons. Haphazardly developing without a clear understanding can easily lead to finding oneself in a deep pit of challenges.
Sure, it's hard to create a website..
What other options are there? The simplest solution is to hire someone, but before diving into that process, you should be prepared for a few things and do some groundwork. The following tips are compiled from observations at Arter, highlighting common gaps in preparation:
Think about your main goal
Define the purpose of your website clearly, whether it's to showcase your brand or to facilitate direct sales. Think about your target audience, understand the issues they associate with your industry, and strategize on how to address these concerns effectively.
Pick a suitable service provider
There's a myriad of service providers out there, each with different values, styles, and specific platform expertise. While a simple website can be handled by a close acquaintance, if the site holds any significance for you, it's advisable to hire a professional who knows their craft and can keep you on the right track.
Be sure to explore the provider's portfolio. This provides a good overview of their style and whether it aligns with you and your company.
Examine their website closely. Delve into what they offer, how their process works, what their values are, and whether they align with your needs.
Do they have client feedback? It's always prudent to secure your position by checking how satisfied the provider's previous clients have been. If possible, look for feedback from third parties or directly ask their clients.
Select several service providers, as having more options is always better.
Set a realistic budget
Different providers come with different price tags, and in the realm of website creation, the cost often reflects the quality. Generally, for websites, the price quite clearly indicates the level of quality, and it's advisable to be cautious with anything under 1000€, as you can't expect a Mercedes at the price of a Volkswagen. Be realistic—the more functionality you want, the higher the cost. Implementing each feature is a task in itself and requires more effort than it may initially seem.
Make sure to mention your budget to the service provider. Any reasonable provider should be able to assist you and help you get the most out of your budget. It's a collaborative effort to ensure you get the best value for your investment.
Write down what you see in your minds eye
Consider what you need to satisfy your visitors. Think about your style preferences, who your customers are, and so on. The more specific you can be, the better. This way, the agency can tell you if the budget and functionality align, preventing any disappointments down the road. Clear communication about your expectations and requirements is key to ensuring a successful collaboration.
Are you in a hurry?
In general, the less time you have, the more resources the service provider needs to allocate to get everything done. In such cases, you can expect a crispier invoice. Perhaps it's possible to develop the website in multiple phases? In this scenario, prioritize what is immediately essential and what can wait. Communicate this clearly to the service provider so that they can be prepared and make the right decisions from the outset. This approach can help manage both time constraints and budget considerations effectively.
Domain and web server
Do you already have these in place? Great, but be ready to share access— the sooner this is done, the quicker the service provider can get to work. Don't have them yet? Registering a domain is something anyone can do. A quick Google search reveals several vendors. It's simpler and safer to buy a domain from local providers, but in the global market, you might save a few euros. Keep in mind that you'll need to renew the domain periodically and pay a sort of "rent" for it. The price depends on the domain and the provider but shouldn't be overwhelming.
For the server service, aim to be as close to your audience as possible. In Estonia, it's straightforward due to our small size, and location doesn't play such a significant role. However, if you plan to target a global audience, it might be worth considering global providers. Also, think about server disk space, cache, and processor speed—these should align with your website's functionality. If you're unsure about your needs, consult with your website provider. They can undoubtedly help you with that, and choosing the right components for you will likely be quicker for them than for you.
Content and Images
Projects often come to a standstill because of these two aspects, and it's entirely understandable. Creating quality content for an entire website, possibly in multiple languages, is a significant undertaking. If you plan to do it yourself, be sure to discuss this with your service provider because there are certain guidelines to follow in web content creation. However, if the content is the responsibility of your chosen agency, communicate the tone and all necessary guidelines they should adhere to. The key, as always, lies in communication and close collaboration.
As for images, nowadays, you can get them from free and paid stock photo sites (with potential brand mismatch), hire a photographer (high quality but expensive), or generate them using AI (lower detail precision). You can also take pictures with a smartphone, but considering the power of images in capturing attention on a website, this solution might not do justice to the end result. If you lack the skills or capability to take pictures, discuss this with your chosen agency. Good images make a night-and-day difference, bringing a lot of life to your website.
Testing and Quality Control
Investigate how the agency ensures quality and functionality across different platforms. It's crucial for the website to perform well on all devices; otherwise, you risk losing potential customers. If the agency can't provide a satisfactory answer to this question, it could be a significant red flag. Quality testing ensures that your website is not only visually appealing but also functions seamlessly across various devices, providing a positive user experience for all visitors.
Maintenance after Launch
Inquire with the agency about the conditions for website maintenance after it goes live. Technology evolves, and inevitably, websites require periodic maintenance. Ask about the cost of maintenance and what happens if you discover that something is no longer functioning as it should. Knowing the terms and costs associated with post-launch maintenance is crucial for the long-term health and performance of your website.
Instructions and content management
While simple and small websites may not need frequent updates, continuous content production is strongly recommended in today's competitive landscape. It's rare that a website doesn't require additions or changes over time. Investigate how the website can be managed in the future and whether your team will receive a training session or if a manual will be provided for ongoing administration. Understanding how to handle updates, additions, and general maintenance is essential for keeping your website relevant and effective in the long run.
What happens when there's a need for further development
Companies grow and are in a constant state of change, and so should their websites. Find out on which platform the website is built and how costly (or in some cases how possible) it is to further develop it. In a similar vein, discuss your future plans with your agency, allowing them to provide valuable recommendations on how to align your website with those plans. This proactive approach ensures that your website can evolve along with your business and remain a valuable asset in the long term.
Seems overwhelming?
Don't worry, once you start, it's entirely manageable – especially when you've found a reliable partner who cares and supports you.
Have questions or thoughts? Be sure to let us know!