Introduction
One of the best parts about being a web designer is that you get to create something from scratch. You have an idea in your head, and then you can make it come to life on the screen. It’s a great feeling! That said, there are some things that you need to know before starting out with any new project. This article will help guide you through some of those pitfalls and provide tips for how to avoid them in the future.
Putting content before design
The reason your design doesn’t matter is because you don’t have any content.
I’ve heard it said that “content is king,” but I think that’s only true if the two are at least equally important. In this case, as in many others, we want to put design first and then add content after.
In my experience as a web designer, when people ask me how long it will take to build their website, they always say something like “We have all of our copy ready.” But then they never want to pay for more than one round of revisions! So what gives?
The problem here is that people are getting ahead of themselves—they’re putting content before design because they’re worried about all their words fitting into the box on their screen without having any room left over for photos or graphics or anything else interesting (read: visual).
Not planning a site map
A site map is a diagram that shows all the pages on your website. It’s like a road map for your website, showing you how people can get from one page to another.
If you don’t have a site map, it can be tough for people to find what they need on your site—and especially if there are lots of pages. As a result, users might leave and never come back. You also won’t know if any pages are missing or not working properly because there’s no way to check everything in detail without having an overall picture of how everything works together!
A good way to create one is with online tools such as SiteMapGenerator or MapperAppeal (see below). Or you could use Excel or Google Spreadsheets instead if that’s easier for you since those options let marketers plan out different layouts and then export them into PDF files afterwards so that designers can take over afterwards with building out actual websites using HTML code.”
Not asking for feedback
- Ask for feedback.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for your client’s input on your work. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as through meetings and phone calls. If you are using a chat tool like Slack or Skype, consider having a conversation with them over these platforms as well.
- Use their feedback wisely. When clients give you suggestions, don’t immediately dismiss them—even if they sound off-base or too far-fetched to be true! As long as they aren’t asking for something out of the ordinary (like changing the color scheme), it can be helpful to look at their suggestions objectively rather than just outright rejecting them right away. You might even find that some of the things they suggest are actually good ideas and could improve your website design even further!
If you are a web designer, be sure that you know how to plan your work
- Know how to plan your work. Before you start designing, make sure you have a site map in place. You need to know the purpose of each page on the site and what content will be on it before you start designing. Asking for feedback from your client is also important, as this will help guide you and ensure that their needs are met in the design.
- Put content before design. It’s easy for web designers to get caught up in making pretty things instead of ensuring that they meet their clients’ needs first and foremost—but if there’s no content or information presented on a website, then there’s not much point having it online at all! And remember: unless your client has specifically asked for an animated webpage filled with flashing lights (and even then), keep things simple by using text instead…
Conclusion
In the end, these mistakes are easy to avoid. Simply plan out your site map, ask for feedback and make sure that you know how to design your work. These simple steps will help you create a better website that is easier for your clients to understand.
Related posts:
How To Get Clients For Web Designers: A blog about how to be a web designer and make money doing it
How To Get More Clients As A Web Designer
7 Things You Can Do To Get More Clients as a Web Designer
The Complete Guide to Freelance Web Design and How to Get Clients: A blog that talks about designing and how to get clients as a freelancer
