Planning a new website - Step 2

You have your web strategy in place, you are armed with your Creative Brief, so what is the next stage? Simple! You need a web developer who will make your project come to life. If you do not have an existing relationship with a web developer you need to find one - a good one! Selecting the right web development agency to work with on your project is imperative to its success.  They must clearly understand the requirements as set out in your brief, provide a suitable, disciplined approach to your project with clear timeframes and from there you can start on the design process. 

The Key Elements

The success of your site is going to be based on its usability. Ensuring your visitors’ experience is a good one should be foremost in yours and your designer’s mind. The website must be easy to navigate, easy to read and - one that people often forget - easy to understand! It is important that visitors grasp what your site is about within a few seconds and therefore the content and the design must sit hand in glove to complement each other effectively.

The other key elements include choosing the right CMS, and do not forget to bear in mind the future maintenance of the site. The colour scheme is also very important. Your brand guidelines may direct this but even so use colour sparingly. A simple colour scheme is generally much easier on the eye and on the whole looks better. Successful sites are clearly laid out, well-structured and use a sympathetic colour palette.

And be patient! Do not expect instant results. Remember that it is unlikely the designer will produce the final design on the first cut. The project is about successfully blending many elements and in most cases, many iterations are needed before the design is finalised.