Simple steps to a great website

10 Simple Steps
To A Great
Website

I’m the Creative Director at

1. Project Planning
• Be Strategic
 Why are you unique?
 What is your USP?

• Who & Where are your audience?
 What are their characteristics?
 How can you reach out to them?

• What do you hope to achieve online?
 Brand awareness, Lead generation,
Sales/Marketing tool, Data capture

1. Project Planning
• What are the key pieces of content
you like to display?
 Think about creating a sitemap
 Is this content customer focussed....?

• Do you require any specific
functionality...?
 Content Management System to update website
content, Integration with case management
software

2. Design
• Don’t skimp in design!

 Your website is often the first place new
customers will discover you
 Ensure your business’ personality comes
across in the design
 And... first impressions count

3. Navigation
• Keep it simple

• Use easy to understand terms
 Use terms your customer will understand
and avoid jargon where possible

• Make top level Services visible where
possible

3. Navigation
• Be consistent – ensure your top line
navigation is consistent on all pages
 Ensuring visitors don’t get lost

• Highlight where to go next
 Using Call To Action Buttons, Clickable
Links or Images

4. Homepage
• Make your homepage USEFUL

Its your shop window – set out your stall
• Key services
• Client case studies
• Recent success stories
• Clear headings – what can I expect to find on
your web site?
• Prioritise your content - most important first
• Strong Calls To Action – Get In Touch

5. Content
Content is King!!!
At least in Google’s eyes

 Google rewards web sites with fresh
content
 What is Content....?
 Blog posts, News Articles, PR Releases,
Service Updates, Video...
 Don’t be afraid to brag – case studies,
customer success stories
 Fresh content!!!!!!

5. Content
Be Scannable
 Segment - create one page per service
you offer
 Use lists, bullet points, short paragraphs
with good headers and sub-headers
 Lengthy text switches visitors off
 Ensure strong Calls To Action are in
place
• i.e. - Request a Call Back, Get In Touch

6. Video
Video may have killed the radio
star but it could make your website
a huge success!!!

 Video is great for audience engagement
 Google rewards web sites that contain
video content
 The SEO/Traffic boost can be amazing
 Great for Social engagement via YouTube,
Vimeo, Twitter...

6. V ideo
No budget? No content
ideas...?

 Video doesn’t have to break the bank, and
can be produced in-house
 60 seconds from key Partners
 Brief intro from Solicitors on their specialist
areas
 Client testimonials...?

7. Mobile
Should I provide a Mobile friendly version
of my web site?
 YES, YES, YES, YES!!!

 4000% growth
in the proportion of UK & Ireland
web traffic accounted for by
mobile devices, Sept 2009 to
Jan 2012.

BBC News

7. Mobile
Key Points for Mobile Web
Content:

1.Very simple navigation (thumb friendly)
2.Vital information only
3.Include phone number and email address
4.Don’t use flash

8 Search Engine
Optimisation

8. Search Engine
Optimisation - SEO
• Perform keyword research – identify
what your customers are searching for
• Ensure key pages are optimised
 Keywords, Title tags, H tags, Optimised
images
• Create a sitemap – tell Google about
your website’s content
• Fresh content!!!

9. Email Marketing
Why Choose Email Marketing?

 Develop relationships with existing clients
 Build new relationships with potential
clients / contacts
 Drive website traffic
 Build brand awareness
 Promote key services
 Very Cost effective!

9. Email Marketing
How To Build A List?

 NEVER purchase lists – Leads to poor
response rates and can harm brand
 Build lists organically: newsletter sign up,
business cards from events, referral
network, LinkedIn contacts
 Use auto responders - Let your
subscribers know what to expect

9. Email Marketing
Reporting

 Who opened your email
 Who clicked a link
 Which link they clicked
 Social reporting

10. Be Social
Its not all about Facebook...

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• YouTube

10. Be Social
LinkedIn
• Include keywords in Title and Description to be easily found on Google
• Status Updates - Post relevant industry / company news, blogs, video
content.
• Also engage in Groups, offer advice and build relationships
• 100% complete profile
• Link to other social media channels

Company Page
• Overview
• Service information
• Careers
• Employee Information
• Analytics

Paul Haslam, Director
The Web Bureau Ltd
www.thewebbureau.com | info@thewebbureau.com

@thewebbureau

facebook.com/thewebbureau

linkedin.com/in/thewebbureau

Thanks for
your time
Paul Haslam, Director
The Web Bureau Ltd
www.thewebbureau.com | info@thewebbureau.com

Simple steps to a great website

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