Web design is a lot like building a house. First, you must find the perfect location for your new home; then, prepare the ground and clear any obstructions that might impede construction. After that, you have to design your house-to-be, so it fits in with its surroundings and has all the facilities you need inside. It takes time and careful consideration, but this article will show you how to make sure your web design is on track from start to finish.
As we all know, website designing is a crucial process, which can only be done if the designer has a well-thought-out plan and design. Web designing involves an iterative process where the designer constantly evaluates the website and makes changes to improve its usability or aesthetics. Check out this comprehensive guide to the web designing process, which covers almost all the major steps for designing a website.
Few Website Stats To Know For Web Design
When you are designing a website, it is essential to keep some key statistics in mind. Here are a few website stats to know for web design:
- The average attention span of a human is 8 seconds. This means you must ensure your website is easy to navigate and digestible. Otherwise, people will simply leave.
- 70-80% of people will leave a website if they don’t like the design. This emphasizes the importance of having a well-designed website.
- 48% of users say that if they arrive on a business site and it isn’t working well, that reflects poorly on the business itself. This means that your website needs to be functioning correctly at all times.
- 38% of users will stop engaging with content if the layout is unattractive. Again, this highlights the importance of having an aesthetically pleasing website design.
- 92% of users believe that first impressions are essential when visiting a new website for the first time. So, you only have one chance to make an excellent first impression!
- 67% of consumers say they are more likely to purchase from a mobile-friendly site; 54% say they would abandon their purchase if they had difficulty accessing content on their phone or tablet
- 59% of internet users said they would not recommend a business with a poorly designed website on mobile devices
7-Step Web Design Process To Create Winning Website
Step 1: Identify Your Goal
Every great website starts with a goal. Without a clear objective, your website will lack focus and direction. Your first step in the web design process is to identify your purpose.
What do you want your website to achieve? Do you want to increase sales, generate leads, or build brand awareness? Once you know your goal, you can start to map out a plan for achieving it.
Think about who your target audience is and what they need from your site. What kind of content will appeal to them? How can you make it easy for them to find what they’re looking for? Answering these questions will help you create a website that meets your goals and drives results.
Step 2: Determine The Scope Of Your Project
Another crucial step is to determine the scope of your project. This means understanding what you want your website to achieve and what you need it to do. Do you need a simple website with just a few pages or a more complex site with an e-commerce store? Once you know the scope of your project, you can start planning your site’s structure and content.
Step 3: Design Your Website
The third step in web design is to design your website. This is where you will decide on your site’s overall look and feel, layout, and navigation. You will also need to create any graphics or visuals you want to include on your site. Once you have a basic design mockup, you can then start working on coding it into HTML and CSS.
Step 4: Content Creation
Once you plan your website’s structure and navigation, it’s time to start filling it with content. This is where you bring your site to life and start engaging with your audience.
When creating content for your website, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Write for your audience – who are they, and what do they want to know?
- Keep it clear and concise – long blocks of text can be off-putting for readers
- Use imagery – people are more likely to engage with visuals than text alone
- Make use of calls to action – encourage your readers to take the next step, whether that’s subscribing to your newsletter or checking out your latest product
Step 5: Visualize The Content
In this step, you will take all the content you have created and put it into a visual format. This is where you will decide how your website will look and what kind of feel you want it to have. You will also need to consider how easy it is for users to navigate your site and find the information they want. Once you have a clear vision for your website, you can start creating mockups and prototypes.
Step 6: Develop The Website
Assuming you have finalized your website’s design in Photoshop (or Sketch), it’s time to bring your vision to life. This is where web development comes in – the actual coding of your website.
The first step is to slice up your design into individual images. This means exporting each section of your plan as a separate image. For example, if you have a header, navigation, body content, and footer, you would export these as four different images.
Next, you’ll need to create an essential structure for your website using HTML5. This will involve creating a few files: an index.html file for your homepage and then separate .html files for each additional page on your website. Once you have made the skeleton for your website, you can begin adding the images you sliced up earlier.
Finally, you’ll need to add some styling to your website using CSS3. This will make everything look more excellent and more polished. It’s also worth adding in some essential responsiveness at this stage so that your website looks good on mobile devices and desktop computers.
Step 7: Launch The Website
Assuming the website design is complete and approved, the next step is launching the website. This can be done by uploading the files to a web server or publishing the site through a web hosting service.
There are a few things to keep in mind when launching a website:
- Make sure all file names are lowercase and use dashes (-) instead of spaces.
- Ensure that all images are optimized for fast loading times.
- Minimize the use of JavaScript and Flash.
- Use .htaccess to create custom error pages (e.g. 404 Not Found).
- Check the site in all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE) to ensure compatibility.
Website Design Mistakes To Avoid
When it comes to web design, there are a few common mistakes that can easily be avoided. Here are seven of the most common website design mistakes to avoid:
- Not Planning for Mobile
With more and more people using their mobile devices to access the internet, ensuring your website is designed with a mobile-first approach is vital. This means creating a responsive design that will work well on all screen sizes. - Ignoring Search Engine Optimization
SEO is essential for getting your website seen by potential customers. Ensure your website is designed with SEO in mind from the start, using keyword-rich titles and Meta descriptions. - Making It Too Complicated
Keep your website design simple and easy to navigate. Don’t try to cram too much information onto each page or include too many fancy bells and whistles. Stick to the basics and let your content shine through. - Use of Outdated Technologies
Ensure your website uses current web technologies such as HTML5 and CSS3. Using outdated technologies can make your site look dated and cause compatibility issues. - Not Testing Your Website
Before launching your website, it’s essential to test it first. This includes testing all forms, links, and functionality to ensure everything works correctly. You should also test your site on different browsers and devices to ensure it displays correctly across all platforms.
Wrap Up
As we discussed above, the web designing process includes seven primary phases: identifying, determining, designing, content creation, visualizing, development, and launch. Each step holds its own importance; therefore, it should be done carefully and thoroughly. By following the above seven steps, you can make your web design process way easier and smoother.
However, if you feel you still need technical expertise or a leading website design agency for help, then head to CodeMax Media. They can help you create a stunning website that accurately reflects your brand. Contact us today and get a winning website for your agency!