Starting a website project can be exciting, but ensuring it’s completed professionally, within budget, and on time is essential. You want your website to look great, attract visitors, and perform well in search engines. Working with a web developer might seem challenging if you need to become more familiar with the process. To help you navigate this, here are some tips to ensure you get the desired results.
A Guide for Your Website Project
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Prepare Your Website Design
If you already have website designs ready, share them with your developer for review. This will allow them to provide feedback and better understand your vision.
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List Important Keywords
Identify the key phrases and keywords relevant to your business. These will be used for setting up page titles and basic search engine optimization (SEO).
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Decide on Website Functionality
Determine whether your website will be used to sell products or simply generate leads. This decision will guide the development process.
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Secure Your Domain Name
If you still need to purchase your domain name, now is the time. Having the right domain is crucial for your brand’s online identity.
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Choose a Hosting Service
Selecting a reliable hosting service is essential for your website’s performance. At AR Webcrafts, we partner with top hosting providers to offer our clients the best rates and services.
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Plan Your Website Content
Think about the content you’ll need on your website. This includes text, images, product descriptions, customer reviews, and other important information. At a minimum, ensure you have a homepage, product/service pages, an “About Us” page, and a “Contact Us” page.
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Prepare Marketing Copy
Remember, a website’s primary goal is to market your business. Web developers typically handle the technical side of things, so it’s crucial that you prepare the marketing copy for your website.
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Be Clear About Your Vision
Do not hand over vague ideas to your developer. Be specific about your goals and how you want your website to function and appear. A well-defined vision leads to better results.
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Decide on Graphics
Determine what images or graphics will be needed for your website. Clarify whether you’ll provide these or if the developer needs to create or source them. Standard graphics include staff photos, product images, and other visual elements.
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Plan for Content Updates
Consider whether you or someone on your team will be responsible for updating website content after it’s launched. Let your developer know if you’ll handle updates, which can affect the design and functionality.
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Set Up Payment Solutions
If you plan to sell products on your website, ensure you have an online payment solution, such as a merchant account or PayPal. Verify that your existing offline merchant account can be used online or set up a new one if needed.
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Plan for E-Commerce Functionality
If your site will include a shopping cart or other database-driven applications, plan out the customer journey and how you want these features to work. Small changes after setup can lead to significant programming challenges and added costs.
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Consider SEO Support
Ask your developer if they can assist with SEO and how experienced they are. If they are building your site in WordPress, they can add plugins like Yoast to help with SEO optimization.
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Define the Scope of Work
Document the scope of work, including all details discussed with the developer. This ensures everyone is on the same page and helps avoid misunderstandings.
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Review Work Promptly
When your developer sends work for review, provide feedback quickly. Delays on your part can slow down the project and lead to scheduling conflicts if your developer starts working on other clients’ projects.
AR Webcrafts developers are dedicated to helping you succeed. With experience in a wide range of web development projects, we’re ready to bring your website vision to life. Whether you need a simple site or a complex e-commerce platform, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
