Do you want to outsource your website but aren’t sure what to provide to your web designer? In this article, you’ll discover 11 elements you need for a professional website that attracts customers.
In this article you will learn:
- Why you should outsource your website (and what the benefits are)
- Exactly what you need to provide your web designer for a successful project
Why outsource your website?
Do you need a new website but lack the time, knowledge, or motivation to build it yourself? Then collaborate with a web designer who can create a site that makes a strong impression online.
A web designer knows exactly what to do to ensure that your website works effectively. This means that your website is easy to find in search engines and AI tools, and that it aligns with your business or organization. And this, in turn, can lead to more customers and supporters.
Other benefits of outsourcing your website include:
- Time savings: your web designer builds your website, and in the meantime, you can focus on your business or organization.
- Professional expertise: a web designer draws on his or her experience.
- Speed: a web designer works faster, so the project moves along more quickly.
- Quality and innovation: a web designer stays up to date on the latest developments and can tailor your website accordingly.
- Maintenance and support: is your website ready? Then your web designer won’t let you down, and you can always count on him or her to maintain and update the website.
- Scalability: is your business growing? If so, your web designer can add new features to your website, such as a blog, an online store, or a booking system.
Of course, there are also downsides to outsourcing your website, such as the cost. But when you consider the quality and the time saved, these benefits often outweigh the investment.
11 things you should give your web designer
Your web designer will need a lot of input from you to achieve the desired result. Gathering all this information takes time, so be sure to set aside time for it.
1. Choose a domain name
You can take a strategic approach to this. For example, you could use your own name or your company’s name, such as naturalsustainable.be. You can also incorporate your location into the domain name, such as ecorotterdam.nl. By including your city name, you’ll immediately improve your online visibility. After all, people often search specifically for a suitable company in a particular location. You can purchase domain names from providers such as Combell in Belgium.
2. Find a good host
To get right to the point: never choose the cheapest hosting company, because what seems cheap now could end up costing you more later. What this means is that by choosing the cheapest provider, you may run into technical problems down the road. So look for a host that’s easy to reach in case of problems and that has a good reputation.
It’s also advisable to choose a sustainable hosting provider—a company that powers its servers with green energy and perhaps even gives back to society in some way. For example, Combell plants new trees in the Belgian Ardennes.
Want to learn more about sustainable hosting? Read all about sustainable hosting here.
3. Create an overview of your website’s general structure
What pages do you need? Which pages should appear in the menu? This is often used by companies or organizations that are having their first website built:
- Home page
- About me / about us
- Services
- Contact
Let your web designer know exactly which pages he or she needs to create for you. You’ll probably need a privacy policy as well; your web designer can help you with that.
Do you need a privacy policy and a cookie banner? Find out here if you need a privacy policy and a cookie banner.
4. Send your logo
A logo is very important for a website: it ensures your brand is recognizable. It’s a key visual element of your website. For example, the colors used in the logo can serve as the foundation for the website.
Send your logo to your web designer in the highest possible resolution. He or she knows exactly how to further optimize it for online use.
5. Design and create a favicon
It’s a small image that appears on the website’s tab as soon as you open the website. Often, the favicon is the logo, a simplified version of it, or a small version of a photo. Don’t have a favicon? No problem—you can easily create one yourself or have your web designer make one for you.
Read here to learn how to create your own favicon.
6. Photos for your website: choose authentic photography
A website stands or falls on its photos. The stronger the images, the more impactful the website. One pitfall here is the use of stock photography or AI-generated images. Stock photos are common on many sites and lack authenticity. And AI-generated images are often so obviously artificial that they can even scare off potential customers. In addition, search engines like Google favor websites with unique images.
So how do you solve this? Hire a local photographer and have them take a series of great photos of yourself, your business, or your organization. These photos will make your website much more compelling—and, in turn, strengthen your brand. Do you already have a set of photos? If so, send them to your web designer in the highest possible resolution.
Want to know more about why you should work with a photographer? Find out here why stock and AI photography aren’t a good idea for entrepreneurs.
Are you still looking for a photographer? In addition to being a WordPress web designer, I’m also a sustainable photographer in Brussels, and I’d be happy to help you. Please contact me for a no-obligation quote.
7. Put together a color palette
Colors, together with the images, form the visual foundation of your website. They ensure that your website forms a cohesive whole that attracts visitors and invites them to stay on your site. Do you already have a brand identity? If so, you already have a color palette. Send the color codes to your web designer. These are often in HEX or RGB format; your graphic designer will know how to work with them.
Don’t have a color palette yet? Then use the colors from your logo or your photos, or search for color palettes yourself using search engines. A limited number of colors for your website is often enough. Stuck? Your web designer can help you put together a great color palette.
Want to extract the colors from a photo? Read here to learn how to extract colors from a photo.
8. Choose a clear font
Another important visual element is the font. Choose no more than one or two different fonts for your site. Preferably, opt for a sans serif font—that is, one without serifs at the ends of the letters. Sans serif fonts are easier to read for people with dyslexia or those who are learning to read.
Looking for some great typography for your site? Find out here where to find amazing fonts.
9. Write compelling web copy
To ensure your website is easy to find, it’s best to provide high-quality content. You can write this yourself or have a copywriter write it for you. It’s often recommended not to have your content written by AI. You can, however, use AI chatbots to brainstorm, have your written content checked for spelling and grammar, get suggestions, and improve or strengthen it.
When writing content, SEO comes into play. SEO stands for search engine optimization. This allows you to incorporate search terms into your titles and paragraphs that you want people to use to find you. Your web designer or copywriter can help you with this. Your chatbot can also help with this, provided you give it clear instructions. Are your texts ready? If so, please send them via email or as a text document attachment.
10. Craft a tagline
This is a very short phrase that appears in your browser tab when someone visits your website. It appears right next to the favicon, the small image mentioned earlier. A tagline could be your company’s slogan, for example, or a short version of it. Another option is to include a description of what you offer.
11. Link your social media accounts
Does your company or organization have social media channels? If so, let your web designer know. They can add buttons that link directly to your profile on LinkedIn, for example, so people can easily follow you.
Conclusion
Although outsourcing a new website saves you a lot of time, there are still quite a few things you’ll need to provide to your web designer. You can’t get all this done in just one evening, so be sure to set aside plenty of time for it. Does it all seem a bit overwhelming? Your web designer can tell you exactly when he or she needs what.
Are you still looking for a web designer? I’m a sustainable WordPress web designer and would be happy to help you. Please contact me to schedule a no-obligation introductory meeting.
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