Now, this is strange for a website designer to be talking about website content as more important than the website design and look but is true.
Think about it when you go to google to search for something you expect an answer, right?
The same thing goes for your potential clients. When they visit your website, it must have relevant content that can help them.
You can have the most beautiful-looking website ever, but if people cannot find it?
What was the point of the beautiful design?
Many people ask me about website design and want something beautiful, an over-the-top look, and nothing is wrong with that, but they forget that content is more important.
Some people are so obsessed with the design of the website that they forget the goal, and why they wanted a website.
When I advise them, it is like they think I don’t see what they are trying to do, but I do.
Here are five reasons why website content is more important.
Website design and look!
When getting a new website focusing on the design and look of a website like beautiful themes or layout makes sense to you.
The problem is design is not what people remember.
A website needs to be built around content, and not the other way around, and this is the mistake a lot of people make when getting a website.
Spending all your time concentrating on the look and throwing some content on the website is setting yourself up for failure.
The content will guide you on the layout, functionality, and navigation.
When getting a new website focusing on the design and look of a website like beautiful themes or layout makes sense to you.
The problem is design is not what people remember.
A website needs to be built around content, and not the other way around, and this is the mistake a lot of people make when getting a website.
Spending all your time concentrating on the look and throwing some content on the website is setting yourself up for failure.
The content will guide you on the layout, functionality, and navigation.
Best website content gives the best user experience
When users don’t find your website easy to use, they are more likely never going to come back, why would they?
A website is like a physical store if the sales representative is rude or does not answer your questions you are not going to buy.
You are going to go to a store where you are satisfied before you buy it.
No matter how good the design and functionality of a website are, if the content is not good, the user experience will be disappointing, remember people come to your website to get information.
They want to find your services or products, and why they should use you over your competitors offering the same service.
Finding, out as much information about you as before they become a client.
Please don’t get me wrong potential clients want a good design to convince them to come to you over a competitor a crap design is not an option but a good design isn’t possible without content.
In my opinion, as website designers without content, we have nothing to design and make decisions about the necessary functionality.
If you have over three people designing your website, and still today your website is not complete, maybe it is time you listen to the advice given by website designers.
They are just trying to help you to achieve their goal. Allow website designers the opportunity to help you.
Importance of website content
One of the things that make a website design process to take long is information. A website needs to be built around content, and not the other way around.
Content provides information to educate your potential clients about your business and also the search engine about your website.
When a user visits your website, they are looking for products, services, or information.
The clearer the website looks, it keeps users on your website.
Increases the chances of a potential client being a client or a potential sponsor looking at the work the organization is making and sponsoring or donating to the organization.
What content does for a website SEO( Search Engine Optimization)
Content is the most important thing when it comes to boosting your SEO ranking.
Websites to show up in search results, search engines have to know what your website is about!
It is not about how pretty it looks and the animation on the website but is about keywords.
I see so many websites have the most beautiful homepages, but there is no content on them.
The homepage is going to be the most visited page on your website and should have information about you or your business services.
Keywords are the terms that you want when people search they can find you online and best describe your products or services. These terms should be unique to each page on your website.
Websites that contain little to no content, it is going to be difficult for Google to identify your website when crawling your website.
You can have a website for many years, and it will not generate income for the business because it is not getting visitors.
Website design beauty and looks do not produce results, but website content does.
When you look at the sites that some people will call it easy, or plain generate thousands of rands and dollars.
Website contents help you achieve your goal
Understanding the goal of the website can help both you and the web designer. Website content is important, it does no matter the type of business you have.
Setting goals for what you want from a website are you looking for an online brochure or educating your potential customers about the services you offer?
An online brochure serves the same purpose as a traditional hardcopy printed one. It is an information package for customers to learn about your business.
Most of the time, this is a standard website that is hardly any chance called a static website.
You want more people to be aware of your brand or get more customers whatever the goal is to understand it first.
A school website will differ from a business, and a newspaper business site will not be the same as a product or service business because a newspaper business has a lot of content.
Therefore a blog would be a better option for newspapers.
Websites or blogs people call websites but don’t let the word blog confuse you.
The main difference between a website and a blog is how frequently you are planning on updating it, with new content and a website tends to be much more static.
To learn more about websites or blogs, read this post about the two differences between a website and a blog.
If you are still not sure if your design for a website and blog, which one you should choose, or you need a website. Click Here To Book A Free Consultation so I can help you choose the best option for you.
Checklist
We all want to attract clients and the way to do this using words not just pictures alone. Website content must highlight what makes you different and why potential customers must use you over competitors.
This blog is to help start-up entrepreneurs to add their small businesses online so people can know they exist.
I understand their frustration now they probably don’t have a budget for marketing, that’s why the extra small standard website package starts at R299 per month.
To get you started and later get the R1500 per month to create content for your website to update monthly and send you reports. Remember, website content is more important than design.
Checklist to get for your website content
- Business Name
- Tag Line
- Logo
- Colors you want to use that are most likely in the logo
- Contact information (Email, phone, cell, fax)
- Social Media
- Mission
- Vision
- Services and or products you offer
- Keywords you want to rank for
- Photos and Videos
- Target market
- What makes you different from your competitors
- Why should clients choose you
- Reviews / Testimonials
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Sitemap (Step by step process you would take your customer when they visit your office)
- Sales pitch you use to get clients
- Look at a design or layout you like
- The goal or purpose of a website
Now this list will slightly differ from business to business when you gather information for your website.
Conclusion
No matter how beautiful a website is, if it does not generate money, it is a crap website.
We go through 5 things why content is more important than the design and looks of a website.
Understanding the purpose of why you created a website will help you achieve your goal. No one visits a site because it is beautiful, but people visit sites because of the content.
People want your services or products they have a problem they need help with they want to improve their situations, etc.
For them to see your beautiful designs, they must first find you!
Send this post to someone who does not have a website to go through the checklist to gather the necessary information for their website.
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