When it comes to setting up, or revamping, a website there will be plenty of things to think about. How will it work? What will it do? Which colour palette looks best?
Unless you are a genius with web development and design then it is likely you are going to ask a web designer to help you get the site up and running.
What that designer would like to see is a brief, that puts your thoughts down on paper, so that the end result is what you had envisaged and hoped for. However, writing a web design brief can be daunting for those that have never done it! So, here are some hints and tips for creating that perfect brief and therefore the perfect website.
What is a web design brief and what should it include?
Knowing what a web design brief is can make it a lot easier to create the perfect example. Think of it as an ideas board, that includes everything you want your website to look and function like. A few keywords about your company and what you want from your site is not going to be enough for the web designer to get it spot on (however good they may be). Its important to get down everything on paper to reduce the amount of website revisions, which can waste both precious time and money. Lets have a look at how a web design brief should be set out and what you should include:
1) About your company – Letting the web designer know a bit about your company, product or service, can help them get a better idea of the message you are trying to portray. Knowing what you provide and the way you provide it can also help them research similar companies and gain a solid understanding of what works in your industry. You can use some keywords in this section to help describe the image your company wants to show people; modern or traditional, creative or basic, inspirational or motivational, bold and daring or shy and safe. If you have company literature, logos or branding then make sure you include these too!
2) Your visitors or customers – Who is the website likely to attract? Knowing your target market can help the web designer focus on key trends in that area. Young adults may prefer a completely different design and functionality to older professionals. If you have a marketing plan then you may have already created a target market section which can just be added into the brief. If not then think about who will be visiting the site, what they want from the site and why they would choose you over the competition.
3) What you like (and dont like) – Show the web designer some examples of websites you like and dont like to give them a better idea of your personal taste. If youre revamping your website then include your own URL and explain what you liked most and least about the current set up. It can be anything from the colours to the way that certain aspects of the site works.
What functions do you want from your website?
Many people tend to get caught up in how their new website is going to look, but that is only half the battle. You can have one of the best looking websites in the world but if it doesnt work well then no one is going to appreciate it. It is important include how you want your website to function within your design brief. If you want members to be able to log in to a members area then include it in the brief. If you want a forum that people can use to discuss your industry then include that too. Perhaps you just want a blog that is linked to the website, make sure you include it in the brief! There are many different functions that can be added to a website so take a look at some competitors and see what they offer too.
Some top tips for that perfect web design brief
Now that you know the basics of creating a web design brief, these top tips should help ensure that it is perfect!
- Dont get caught up in the technical jargon! If there is anything that you are confused about then just let your web designer know and they will be able to explain it to you. Dont worry too much about adding in tech jargon to your brief as that is the job of the website designer!
- Think about how you are going to market your website too! Its important to think about how the marketing aspect of your site is going to work and whether you need anything from the web designer to help make this happen. It could be SEO content, a blog or something completely different. Just include some ideas in the brief and your website designer may be able to help you out or recommend another expert.
- Dont be afraid to talk about your budget and time frame! Its important to both you and the web designer that your project is completed within your time frame and budget. Try not to shy away from the word budget and let the web designer know exactly what kind of money you had in mind.
Steve Sims
Sims Designs
As we cannot be experts in every relevant subject, we would love to receive 'guest' articles that may be of interest to anyone running their own business or thinking of doing so. ADD YOUR ARTICLE
