Creating the best website ever is a bit like surfing – you need to know your audience and keep things simple and streamlined. Use high-quality visuals and fresh content to keep things interesting, and make sure your website looks great on all devices. With clear calls-to-action, optimized keywords, and a responsive design, your website will be ready to ride the waves of the internet. And don’t forget to test, test, test – just like you wouldn’t paddle out without checking the conditions first!
1. Define your audience:
The first rule of Website Club is to know your audience. Who are they? What do they want? Knowing your audience is the first step in creating a website that resonates with them. Use your website to tell a story that speaks to your audience’s interests and needs.
Eg: Imagine you’re creating a website for a local surf shop. Your audience might be surfers of all ages and skill levels who are looking for the latest gear, updates on local conditions, and tips on how to improve their skills.
2. Keep it simple
Ain’t nobody got time for complicated websites. Keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate things with a complicated design or too much information. The more straightforward and easy-to-use your website is, the better.
Eg: When designing your surf shop website, keep the design and layout simple and easy to navigate. Use a clean colour scheme, clear headings, and simple navigation menus to make it easy for your visitors to find what they’re looking for.
3. Make it mobile-friendly
These days, people are more likely to visit your website on their phones than on their desktops. So make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
Eg: Many of your visitors will be accessing your surf shop website on their mobile devices while on the go. Make sure your website is optimized for mobile viewing, with large, easy-to-read text and images that load quickly.
4. Use high-quality images
A picture is worth a thousand words, so use high-quality images to help tell your story. Don’t settle for blurry or pixelated images. Make sure they’re sharp and eye-catching. Ain’t nobody got time for blurry or pixelated images.
Eg: Use high-quality photos and videos to showcase your surf shop’s products and services. Show off the latest boards, wetsuits, and accessories in action.
5. Keep your content fresh
Your website should be like a fine wine, always improving with age. Keep your content fresh and up-to-date to keep visitors coming back. Google also loves fresh blog content, so it’s a great opportunity for you to boost your SEO rankings too!
Eg: Keep your website up to date with the latest news, updates, and special offers from your surf shop. Add new blog posts, photos, and videos regularly to keep your visitors coming back for more.
6. Use white space
Don’t clutter your website with too much information. Use white space to give your website a clean and modern look.
Eg: Use white space between website elements and around images. Highlight your products and services with high-quality images and clear, concise descriptions. When there’s room to breathe, everything will pop more and appear crystal clear!
7. Make it easy to navigate
Your website should be like a lighthouse, guiding visitors to where they need to go. Ain’t nobody got time for a website that’s hard to navigate. Make it easy for your visitors to find what they’re looking for.
Eg: Make it easy for your visitors to find what they’re looking for by organizing your website into clear sections and categories. Use drop-down menus, search bars, and clear headings to guide your visitors to the information they need.
8. Include social media buttons
Make it easy for your visitors to follow you on social media. Include social media buttons on your website.
Eg: Make it easy for your visitors to connect with your surf shop on social media by including links to your social media profiles on your website. Encourage your visitors to follow you for the latest news and updates.
9. Use call-to-actions
Want your visitors to take action? Use call-to-actions to encourage them to do so.
Eg: Use clear, compelling calls to action to encourage your visitors to take action, such as signing up for your email list, making a purchase, or scheduling a lesson. Make it easy for them to take the next step.
10. Optimize for SEO
Make sure your website is optimized for search engines. This will help your website appear higher in search results.
Eg: Use relevant keywords and phrases throughout your surf shop website (such as “surfboard for sale”) to help it rank higher in search engine results. Research popular search terms related to surfing and incorporate them into your website’s content.
11. Use a responsive design
Your website should look good on all devices. Use a responsive design to ensure your website looks great no matter what.
Eg: Ensure your surf shop website looks great on all devices, including desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. Use a responsive design that automatically adjusts the layout and content to fit the screen size.
12. Test, test, test
Finally, test your website. Test it on different devices, test it on different browsers, test it on different connections. The more you test, the better your website will be.
Eg: Test your surf shop website on different devices, browsers, and connection speeds to ensure it loads quickly and looks great. Make sure all links, buttons, and forms work properly, and fix any issues you find.
There you have it, web-slinger! 12 tips for creating the best website ever.
Remember, keep it simple, keep it fresh, and always test.
Better yet, I can take care of all of this for you when we build a website together! Check out the Services page for the deets. Happy web-slinging!
