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Website Checklist
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Website Checklist
8 Tips to a Great Website

When browsing the web we can see that there is a wide variety of website styles and designs which, come in a vast array of colors. These can be a very visually appealing experience and the question is, would they work for you? Consider the development of your website as an information center about you and who your are as an individual, a business or ministry and also how you can benefit your visitor. Your website is for others and should be tailor made to reach your potential market [clients, ministry partners, etc.].

Keeping these thoughts in mind, an excellent place to start is, in the selecting of a few examples from the web that stand out from the rest. Make a note of your discoveries, putting them into your favorites or jotting the URL down for future reference.

Website Checklist Strategy: sketching out an overview will be beneficial when adding pages and content to the website. It will keep a focus on what direction you want your website experience to express. Birth a vision for your website and start from there, keep in mind what your visitor is looking for.

Layout: a clean, crisp, professional look is a good formula to follow. Also, consistency in design is very important for your webpage visitors. [see #6] Colors play an important role in the layout. Blues and greens are soothing while reds and oranges bring excitement and draw attention. Experiment with color to see how the look and feel is and does it coincide with the purpose? The navigation bar should be in contrast to the other colors on the page. This helps the visitor to identify with the overall appearance and quickly click deeper into the site for the content.

Logo, Graphics & Photos: if you already have a logo on your business card or stationery this may help in color scheme selection. Choosing photos and graphics wisely will create the visual impact you are looking for. Overcrowding tends to bring a feeling of overpowering of information and images. Remember: simplicity is good.

Information: certain pages need to be standard staples on every page. Pages include: About Us page, Contact Us page, Copyright & Privacy Statements and of course the Home page. These pages should include all your policies and every form of interaction for you and the client. Adding a picture on the About Us page helps to personalize the visitors experience and helps them develop a trust with you. People are more likely to trust when more information is provided, it tends to express that our ministry-business is not hiding anything.

Mission/Vision Statement: what is your company, church or ministry all about? List immediate and future goals and the direction you are headed. This page can also be named the About Us page depending on the verbage you are using throughout the website.

Navigation: this should be made easy and something that is pretty standard in comparison to other websites. The navigation bar should be placed in the same position on every page and a contrast in color. Visitors are very click happy and if there is any confusion on how to assimilate the information needed they will go someplace else. So don’t change the look or even color from page to page, it can cause a loss of traffic. Other navigation helps are adding a search feature, which helps greatly when the website is 15 pages or more. Or a site map which, is an overview of every page on the site and will give a quick visual for locating information on the website.

Content: they say content is KEY or KING. Updating content will attract repeat clients as well as continue to bring in new clients. Articles, book reviews, product reviews, newsletters, E-tips, or maybe even a wisdom nugget when added on a regular basis will create an atmosphere of interaction and concern for your client’s needs. Let’s face it people are looking for information on the web. Making an information rich website will keep them coming back and in turn they will recommend your site to co-workers and friends.

Resources: this is an indication that you are networking with others on the web. Examples: media articles, links page, guestbook, surveys, a bulletin board forum and more. These resources that include information on other websites must be opened in a new window as to not take them away from your site. Organizing links into categories makes if easier for your visitor to find the information they need. Include a link to bookmark this page near the bottom for your visitor’s future reference.

Using these 8 practical steps as a guide can assist in developing a content rich, positive web browsing experience. The goal? To keep those visitors and or potential clients coming back again and again.

Copyright © Lora Rozkowski. Lora is an author and owner of two Christian businesses. For more information send an email to: Roz@rozdesignz.com Reprinted with permission.