Designing A Website: The Pages Element
Creating your first website might seem difficult but it does not have to be. Like most things, you just need to start with the first step and then take another one. The first step is creating a foundation and a good way to build a solid one is to begin with laying out your pages. Once you get the pages of your website laid out, you can then move on to content.
The content is an essential component of designing a website. Many people think that you just write like you normally do but that is not true. For example, you are reading this blog on a website about website design. Look at the text of that I have already written in this blog and you will notice certain keywords that I have included in my own content. See! I just did it again in the last sentence.
When creating a website, you need to understand how the average person thinks when trying to find something on the web. You need to be the answer to their question.
Before we can ahead of ourselves, lets first start with the pages:
Home page - This is the first page of your website. The majority of visitors will arrive here first and it should be extremely inviting, pleasing to the eye, and have content laid out in a simple way. You want to present to the visitor exactly what they are looking for and share with them exactly how they can get it. Regardless if you have offer a service or product, you need to make a good impression and a lasting one as well.
About page – This is an essential page that you do not want to leave out. Usually, people will quickly go to this page to find out about your reputation and stability of your company. With this page, you want to earn your potential customer’s trust.Another good reason for this page is that one of the most common searches used on search engines is the term “about”. This page will enable you to receive a few extra visitors from search engines.
Products or Services pages -This is where you make your money! Explain your products and services well and do not be afraid to call them to action. Encourage them to go ahead with the purchase and outline how they should go about doing so.
Contact page – If people can not contact you, they will not buy from you. If you do not have several different methods that people may contact you with, to them, you are not legit. Finally, your address should be posted here and a map would be the icing on the cake.
Privacy Policies & Disclaimers – This is all the legal jargon and these days it is smart to have this page. Even the search engines will give you higher ratings when you have this page.
I will talk about content on another post but this was just an attempt to get your thought process going. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. I wish you well.
Chris Gordon
Website Design
Well, I need to add a comment to one of my posts in order to establish my RSS feed for comments. So this is it.