7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Working with a Website Designer
Hiring a website designer for your small firm is a big step to building a strong web presence. Still, you must plan with care to get the best result. Here, we’ll look at seven common errors that small firms make when they work with a website designer in Melbourne and how to steer clear of them.
1. Lack of Clear Objectives
Before you reach out to a website designer, it’s key to know what you want to do with your site. With no set goals, your plan might stray, causing edits and holdups.
Example: Say you run a café and wish to draw more local folks. Your goals may list your menu, offer online orders, and show events. Sharing these goals with your website designer in Melbourne helps them see your plan and build a site that fits your needs.
Best Practice: Write down your goals in a file to share with your website designer. This file should have points like your main group, key parts you need, and the whole look and feel you want.
2. Choosing the Cheapest Option
When funds are tight for small firms, picking the least costly website designer can be a bad choice. A cheap service may lead to a site that’s not well made, which could hurt your brand and turn off potential clients.
For instance, a low-cost web design might use a basic template that fails to show your brand’s true style. This could make your site seem like many others online, which could lower your business’s trustworthiness.
Best tip: Instead of just looking at the price, think about the value a website designer gives. Seek a designer with a good portfolio and strong client feedback. This helps you put your money into a top-notch product that will help your firm grow.
3. Not Providing Enough Content
Content plays a key role in your site, yet it’s often missed in the design. A site designer can craft a great look, but without good content, your site can’t share your message well.
Example: A law firm may have a well-made web design, but if the content does not clearly show the services or give useful info, visitors may leave without doing anything.
Best Practice: Build your content before you reach out to a site designer. This means writing strong copy, picking top images, and making sure all info is right and current. If content is not your skill, think about hiring a pro writer to help.
4. Micromanaging the Process
While it’s key to be part of your site’s design, over-managing each part can harm creativity and slow the work. Site designers are pros with skills in their field. Trust them to bring your idea to life.
Example: Always asking for tweaks to hues, fonts, or layouts can break the flow and end with a mixed-up end result. It may also lead to high fees if the designer bills for extra edits.
Best Practice: Give your website designer in Melbourne clear rules and feedback, but let them have room to use their creative ideas. Frequent check-ins during the work are good but don’t swamp the designer with small tweaks.
5. Ignoring Mobile Responsiveness
In our digital age, more folks now use the web on their phones than ever. If your site isn’t fit for phones, you may lose a large chunk of clients.
Example: A shop with a site that won’t work well on phones may find that guests leave their carts due to a slow checkout on a small screen.
Best Practice: Make sure your website designer in Melbourne puts mobile first. The site must be easy to use on all screens, with clear text, buttons, and images. Ask your designer to show how it will look on small screens before the final design.
6. Overlooking SEO During Design
SEO should be a key part of the web design. Without SEO, your nice website may not rank high on search engines, making it hard for users to find you.
Example: A new café may have a great website, but if it’s not set up for top keywords like “Italian café in Sydney,” it may not get much online traffic.
Best tip: Talk about SEO with your website designer in Melbourne at the start. Make sure the site’s layout, words, and code are all set up for search engines. This means using good titles, tags, and text for images. You may also want to work with an SEO expert to fine-tune your plan.
7. Failing to Plan for Ongoing Maintenance
When your site is live, you must keep it fresh and working well. Many small firms make the error of launching their site and then letting it go, which can lead to weak security, stale content, and poor user experience.
For instance, a small bookshop may launch a site with an online catalogue but fail to keep it fresh. As a result, clients may get upset when they find out-of-stock items or old details.
A smart move: Talk about upkeep with your website designer in Melbourne early on. Decide who will update content, check performance, and make key tech updates. Some designers offer ongoing upkeep plans, which can be a smart choice.
Make My Website: Your Partner in Web Design
At Make My Website, we know the struggles small firms face as they build their online brand. Our team of skilled website designers in Melbourne works with you to craft a site that fits your brand and meets your goals. With an eye on style, skill, and client joy, we are here to guide you every step. Reach out to us to hear more about our services.
By steering clear of these errors, you can have a smooth and easy time with your web designer. This will lead to a site that not only looks good but also helps you reach your business aims. ..