We’ve all been there - the moment you have to put pen to paper and bring an idea into the physical world. We know how daunting that can be, to create something from scratch. While we've tried to make it super simple to get started, by providing templates, guides and support, we know it can still be difficult to begin. We find that the easiest way to build your website, is to create a blueprint. We don’t start with moving things around and writing directly onto the pages, instead we start by getting our thoughts together first, planning out a framework, deciding on content and imagery, and THEN, start building it out.
This sounds pretty straightforward, right? But when you’re staring at a blank slate, you need to think outside the box. So before you move a single pixel, grab some post-its, YES post-its (or note cards) and follow these steps to constructing the building blocks of your website.
1. Determine the goal of your website, or it's “job.”
What is it supposed to do for you? Put your answers on your post-its. One goal or answer to what you need your site to do per post-it. Don’t limit yourself at this point, instead use the post-its to bring the ideas you have onto paper. Keep each direct as clear as possible: Sell t-shirts, share recipes, create community job board, etc. Post-its are small after all!. Line the post-its or cards under this header on the wall or floor to create a visual outline.
2. Determine the personality or tone you want to convey with your site.
Write down verbs, adjectives, feelings, or descriptions that you want your audience to experience when they visit your site. Are you a serious business, fun business, political, creative? Think about how your viewers will perceive your brand and write down words that capture the communication style you want to create. Words like inform, resonate, motivate, direct, solve, inspire, challenge, etc. carry different emotional weights. Write down any that appeal to you. Line them up under this header.
3. Determine the top 3 things you want your visitors to understand by visiting your website.
Three. Yes this time you’ll have to be more selective. If you have four or five, write them down for now. The post-its give you the freedom to brainstorm, so if you can’t identify your three easily, try to form groups or categories. Line them up in rank order with the top one being the most important thing you want your website visitors to take away.
Now that you see a visual chart of your ideas start editing in each category. The post-its or cards let you easily move things around. Start ranking to focus on your website’s top goals, personality, and things visitors need to understand. Before you had the freedom to brainstorm, now you have to be surgical and selective. What’s left are the ideas that you should stick with, a clear vision of the essential elements that make your site unique.
4. Determine what pages you need - build a site map
With your clear ideas in mind, build your pages. Label a new post-it/card for each page or section you want on your website: About, Services, Shop, Portfolio, etc. Put each page at the top of a new wall or arrange on the floor. Now move the ideas into the appropriate category. Arrange things in groups or an order that make sense to you. For example you can move corresponding descriptive words to about the ‘About’ page or post-its from the goals section like ‘Sell t-shirts’ to the ‘Shop’ page. Suddenly you have a blueprint for your website - a post-it site map!
5. Plan your content
With your site map to guide you, you can now write content and choose imagery with the right tone and focus. Encourage people to complete the goals you have set. Is it a download, appointment, consultation...whatever it is, help them take that step with clear buttons, or “calls to action.”
Talk about making it stick! With a few post-its and some thoughtful planning, you can take your brilliant idea and turn a daunting task into an incredible opportunity.
Doodlekit
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Sign Up Free Now!The Blank Slate - Obstacle or Opportunity?
The Doodlekit Team
05/11/2016 02:16PM
We’ve all been there - the moment you have to put pen to paper and bring an idea into the physical world. We know how daunting that can be, to create something from scratch. While we've tried to make it super simple to get started, by providing templates, guides and support, we know it can still be difficult to begin. We find that the easiest way to build your website, is to create a blueprint. We don’t start with moving things around and writing directly onto the pages, instead we start by getting our thoughts together first, planning out a framework, deciding on content and imagery, and THEN, start building it out.
This sounds pretty straightforward, right? But when you’re staring at a blank slate, you need to think outside the box. So before you move a single pixel, grab some post-its, YES post-its (or note cards) and follow these steps to constructing the building blocks of your website.
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