I do the design for all the websites created by Sumy Designs. My ultimate goal is for our clients to have a website they absolutely love, love, love. Of course, the idea of the beginning a website can seem intimidating and I never want our clients to feel overwhelmed; I want the design process to be enjoyable and to be a learning experience for our clients. One of the most important steps in the design process is the preparation and research that happens before the design even takes place. Here are some examples of questions that help our clients prepare and Sumy Designs prepare for their site design:
Who is your target audience?
Is it a certain age group, or just anyone who wants to buy a certain product? Knowing your target market helps target the right design.
What should users do when they land on your site?
Should they buy something or be informed about a certain topic? Knowing what the end goal of your website is will help guide us on how we position and steer your users through your website pages.
How should our navigation menu read?
What pages will be in your navigation? home, about us, contact. Will there be any additional pages?
What colors would you like to have featured on your website?
Do you already have colors associated with your logo you want to use? Or do you want to use your favorite colors? Colors are important, if you need some help with color choices, we have some great palettes already created that you can choose from.
Do you have any photos or images that you want me to use on the home page?
If you do please we’ll ask that you send them along as soon as you have them ready. If you don’t, then what type of images would you like to see used on your site? We are happy to help you choose and we have a large variety of stock photos available, many of which are free.
Do you have a logo or will you need a new logo designed?
You may already have a logo, or perhaps you need help deciding if you really need one. If you don’t have one and are ready to make the leap, Sumy Designs can create a logo for your small business.
Do you have content ready for your website?
Perhaps you already have content prepared in an old website site and it just needs to be updated. If you don’t already have your content written, now is the time to get started.
What types of social media would you like linked to your site?
There are so many social outlets around these days, the most popular ones are Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, GooglePlus and LinkedIn. Social media marketing is an important tool for promoting your website. If you aren’t sure if social media is right for you, then click here and find out.
What websites inspire you?
Perhaps it is a competitors site or a site that you really love but is completely unrelated to a site you need? Maybe you like the fonts on this websites, but like the colors on that website. I’ll ask you to send over a variety of link to these sites and ask you to detail the elements of each site you like. These examples provide a good visual of what you are wanting in your new site.
I use all of the answers to these questions to create a design that is unique to your small business and gives it the personality it deserves. When the design is done, I create a template that Amy will use as she begins development and turns the design into a beautiful and fully functional website.
Susan Sullivan
Susan lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area with her husband and children. She is an avid distance runner, environmentalist, part-time beekeeper, chicken farmer and amateur photographer.