Web Designers In Peterborough
Web Designers In Peterborough Can They Build Great Websites
Peterborough is a bustling city with a growing online presence, and the demand for skilled web designers in the area has never been higher. Whether you’re a business owner looking to establish a new website, or a business wanting changes making to an existing site and gaining new clients, Peterborough has plenty of opportunities to offer.
In this article, we’ll explore the world of web design in Peterborough, discussing the benefits of hiring a local designer, the questions to ask, and the latest trends in website design. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, this article is the perfect resource for anyone looking to make an impact in the Peterborough web design community.
The Different Types of Web Designers
There are lots and lots of web designers in Peterborough (and individuals) who will suggest they can build you a website. The unfortunate fact is that they will all build you a website and these will range from
- The Graphic Designer site which will probably look visually stunning and be capable of winning a multitude of awards for looking pretty.
- The Nerd site – often built by a computer genius in a bedroom on a platform that you need a degree in nuclear physics in order to be able to access, let alone modify
- The Home build – started as a project on a FREE web platform (because it was free) many, many months ago, but you never quite get round to finishing
- The internet marketing company – who will be able to build a site that can get found and importantly will lead to conversion and ultimately the phone ringing, orders being placed or customers walking through your door.
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Web Designers In Peterborough The Questions To Ask
If you are looking at having a website created or having your existing website modified or redesigned by web designers in Peterborough then asking the following questions may help you in your selection process
- What experience do you have in web design? How long have you been in business, and what types of clients have you worked with in the past?
- Can you provide examples of websites you have designed in the past? Do you have a portfolio or case studies available for review?
- What is your process for designing a website, from start to finish? How do you handle the development and testing stages?
- Do you have experience with search engine optimization (SEO)? How do you ensure that a website is optimized for search engines?
- What content management system (CMS) do you recommend using for a website? Are you experienced with the CMS of our choice?
- How do you handle website maintenance and updates? Do you offer ongoing support after the initial design and launch?
- Can you provide a breakdown of the costs involved in designing a website, including any ongoing fees for maintenance and support?
- How do you ensure that a website is accessible and user-friendly for all users, including those with disabilities?
- Can you provide references or testimonials from past clients?
- How do you stay up-to-date with the latest web design trends and technologies? Do you attend conferences or take courses to improve your skills?
- First ask yourself why you want a website – WOOH . Yes the first question you need to ask is what do I want the website to do. Now this can range from being a simple on line catalogue, so that when someone in Peterborough types in my product or service in a search engine, your company will appear in the search facility. So that quite possibly they can find your telephone number and then call you.
- So there’s a crucial point, for many companies its not about having a website, its about ensuring your telephone number appears.
- At this point it may be that having a fully optimised Google listing could be a good investment, and that having a beautiful looking website will never provide you with a return on investment. This takes us to the next most important question ROI on internet activities which I will cover in the next article
Key questions your web designer should ask before starting your website design and build
1. Describe your company from a telescopic viewpoint
The idea here is to understand the big picture. The answer to this question should provide information to get a basic understanding of your client’s company and their industry. They should ask you about ask about your mission and values and list the services and/or products you provide
2. Where do you see yourself and your company in 1, 5, 20 years?
A website designer needs to understand where your business is headed and what you hope to achieve. What are your plans to expand or dive into new markets as time moves on. By understanding your longer term vision may allow the web designer more opportunities to creatively partner together or add more value to the project.
3. What is the biggest challenge you face as a company?
Website designers are here to solve problems—not just make things look pretty. A good web design agency need to understand how they can help you through design and the creative process. It’s important to know a companies strengths and weaknesses. This allows the web designer to bring some potential solutions to the table also helps them start to the marketing process. Creating that trust is important and lets them know that you’re working together.
4. Describe your company in 5 single adjectives
This where you start to get a sense of your company’s personality. Are you expressive or serious? Cost-effective or luxurious? Adjectives are useful when compiling a design mood board.
5. What problem does your business solve?
This is the core of your business. You need to understand the problem to know how to solve it. You’ll probably hear the answer to this question in all the other questions but it’s important to answer this directly so the web designer and marketers can take time to think about it.
Businesses are in the thick of it and subconsciously know what they are doing day-to-day, but can lose sight of what the actual problem is or even why they are trying to solve it.
6. What functional and emotional benefits do you offer your customers?
This starts the conversation about what makes your company unique. It also sheds light on their solutions to the problem you are solving. Are you helping customers save time or be less stressed? Or perhaps you are appealing to the heart and the brain
7. Its all about the businesses customers
The most important question here is “Why?”
You shouldn’t be thinking about what you want from a website. You should be thinking about what your customer is looking for
By always asking, “Why?” It helps and encourages businesses to think beyond their personal preferences and to start thinking about their customers. It puts words to thoughts and feelings they might have trouble describing.
8. Who are your target customer?
Your target customer isn’t everyone in the universe.
Your customers need to be broken down by category. Is your target audience farmers or more specifically cereal growers?
Do they have multiple audiences? Maybe it’s a cereal growers and large acreage horticlture. When creating customer personas, simply think about one individual. Look at their demographics but more importantly, their behaviours, wants, and needs as it pertains to their business.
You’re creating a website for your target audience not for the marketing director or CEO of the company. Sometimes their personal design preferences may overlap but not always.
9. Who are your competitors? What are their strengths? What are your advantages?
Most business ideas or new product developments aren’t radically new. Therefore you need to understand about the industry, your competitors and what the norms are. Great website design is a delicate balance of blending in but standing out.
Web designers in Peterborough, improving website performance
A professional web designer can play a crucial role in improving your website in several ways. Here are some ways they can help:
- User Experience (UX) Design: A web designer can analyse your target audience and create a user-centric design that enhances the overall user experience. They can ensure that the website is easy to navigate, visually appealing, and optimised for different devices and screen sizes. By focusing on UX design principles, they can make your website more engaging and intuitive for visitors.
- Visual Design and Branding: A web designer can create a visually appealing design that aligns with your brand identity. They will consider factors like colour schemes, typography, imagery, and layout to create a cohesive and attractive design that represents your brand effectively. A professional designer can also help establish a consistent visual language across your website to build recognition and trust.
- Responsive Design: With the growing number of mobile users, having a responsive website is crucial. A web designer can ensure that your website is optimised for different devices, including smartphones and tablets. They will create a design that adapts to various screen sizes, maintaining usability and visual appeal across all platforms.
- Information Architecture: A well-organised website structure is essential for easy navigation and content discovery. A web designer can help establish a clear and logical information architecture, ensuring that visitors can find the information they need quickly and easily. They will structure the menus, navigation, and content hierarchy in a way that maximises usability and reduces user frustration.
- Performance Optimisation: A professional web designer can optimise your website’s performance to ensure fast loading times. They will optimise images, minify code, and employ other techniques to reduce file sizes and improve site speed. Faster loading times not only enhance the user experience but also contribute to better search engine rankings.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Web designers are knowledgeable about SEO best practices. They can optimize the website’s structure, meta tags, headings, and content to improve its visibility in search engine results. By incorporating SEO principles into the design process, they can help your website rank higher and attract more organic traffic.
- Integration of Technologies: If your website requires specific functionalities, such as e-commerce capabilities, contact forms, or content management systems, a web designer can integrate the necessary technologies seamlessly. They can choose and customize plugins, APIs, or frameworks to enhance your website’s capabilities and meet your specific business needs.
- Ongoing Maintenance and Updates: Websites require regular updates and maintenance to ensure optimal performance and security. A professional web designer can provide ongoing support, perform updates, and make necessary adjustments as your business evolves. This helps keep your website up to date, secure, and aligned with the latest design and technology trends.
In summary, a professional web designer brings expertise in user experience, visual design, responsive design, information architecture, performance optimisation, SEO, technology integration, and ongoing maintenance. By leveraging these skills, they can significantly improve your website and contribute to its success. If you would like to know more about web designers in Peterborough, marketing metrics and analysis contact Andrew Goode MBA, MSc, FCIM Click here to arrange a call
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