The formula for the perfect website is not as elusive as you may think. Creating a digital representation of your brand is so important, that taking the time to curate the perfect online space is worth every painstaking hour spent fiddling with code and rewriting your about page.
1. A killer opening line. First impressions are everything, and that opening line will have a big impact on whether or not your visitors roam past the homepage of your site. Keep things short snappy, and interesting – instead of;
‘Lucy is a professional photographer with three years experience at wedding and couple photography.’
Try;
‘Lucy Smith photography wants to help capture your once-in-a-lifetime day.’
2. A clear statement of intention. Your reader doesn’t need to scour your whole site to find out who you are, what you do, and what you stand for. Make it clear in a brief opening paragraph on your homepage, and within the first line of your about me.
3. Obvious social media links. In an unmissable location. Make it clear and easy for visitors to your site to find you elsewhere.
4. A rocking About page. Everything your readers or prospective customers could ever wish to know, laid out as a compelling read. Check out our guide to creating the perfect about me page here.
5. Easy to find contact info. Got a question, an inquiry, or a message? Have a contact page or email in your main navigation bar.
6. Strong, consistent branding. Branding is everything for a business or blog. Having a strong visual identity across all your platforms and content will help your readers and customers not only understand who you are as a brand, but also find you on other platforms. Think about who you are, what your brand stands for, and how you want your prospective readers, customers and clients to see you, and feed all of this into your visual identity.
7. Well organised content. Got a blog or a news feed? Divide the content you’re sharing into categories that are easy to explore.
8. A personalised email address. No more @gmail or @hotmail, get yourself and your brand a professional email address. They’re incredibly cheap and worth every penny, to make your business look more credible and professional.
9. A clear and easy to navigate layout. Make it as easy as possible for your visitors to find the information they want. Create clear navigation bars, add a search bar, and categorise your content!
10. A disclaimer/terms and conditions. To cover your own back, and to let your audience know what to expect from you.
