As we approach the end of 2016 and head into 2017, most business owners take time to reflect on their work, their wins and their opportunities for improvement. You may be thinking about giving your business a boost, and one of the best ways to do this is to improve the content of your website.
I know that this usually fills people with panic for a few reasons: they don’t know where to start, they don’t know who to talk to or what to ask for, they don’t know what their website should look like, and they may not even know what they like in a website. I know it’s overwhelming if you’re starting a new website, or even if you’re giving an existing website an overhaul. I can help.
I have put together a mini series of posts to help you through the planning stage of your new site. This guide will help you to understand the basic structure, and the importance of the content on each page. The aim is to help you plan your website in its entirety, then drill down to each page. This guide will not cover the design and layout, merely the content.
During this series, we will cover:
Creating a Home page
Sounds obvious that your website needs a home page, but I have seen so many websites that jump straight into the blog or, even worse, the sales page. A good home page is the difference between people staying on your website for longer to visit other pages, and people who leave and go elsewhere.
Creating an About page
Your about page is a great place to connect with your audience and to show your readers exactly who is behind your fabulous business. I give you advice on how to get personal with your readers without overshare.
Creating a Services page
You need to tell people what you do, who you would love to do business with, and how your readers can work with you. This is the perfect place to explain exactly what it is that you do. You might think that what you do is obvious and doesn’t need to be explained. But if people don’t understand what you do, it’s unlikely that they’ll see a need for your services.
Creating a Blog page
Your blog is the place to demonstrate your knowledge about your industry. You’re the expert, and you can use your blog to give readers valuable information. Your blog can turn into different media: a free download, an eBook, a video, or even a podcast.
Creating a Contact Us page
You have got your audience all the way to the end of your website, and they know they want to work with you, but you have made it difficult for people to contact you. This person leaves your site without getting in touch – and that’s such a pity.
Once you have worked your way through each post, you should be buzzing with ideas for your website. Get them down on paper (physical or digital) and begin working towards well-structured web pages that make you shine online.
This was a blog post written in 2016 when I and my business were in a very different place, physically and mentally. This was written from the perspective of someone who was a few months into running her own business in a different country from where I now live.
I have the experience of running a business, as well as 4 years of working at a marketing agency behind me, and thus my perspective has changed somewhat. I am sharing my older blog posts (from a previous iteration of my website) as a way to have a record of my writing online again.
Melissa De Klerk
Website Designer and Developer, tea lover
I am the owner and founder of Melissa Helen Co.
I have been a web designer and developer since 2015 and have worked with Wordpress since 2008. Since I started my business in 2016, my interests have revolved around business strategy and how that influences their websites.
I design and build websites for small to medium-sized businesses, have many years of branding experience, and have worked in marketing agencies.
You can send me a message me through my contact page, and find me on social media by clicking the buttons below.
