Organizing a project in a web design agency can be quite a challenge. At the start, you need to consider business goals, target audience, competitors, and a bunch of other factors. Plus, the process involves multiple stakeholders whose opinions need to be taken into account, often through indirect communication, which can complicate things.
Having the right web design project workflow is crucial for success. Let's talk about how to design a website and make it through with minimal stress. We'll share a step-by-step guide and some handy tips.
This might sound obvious, but this step is crucial for managing a web design project from start to finish. Most people would say the site should sell, but that's not always the whole story. Selling can happen in many many ways, and websites come in various types, each serving different purposes. Here are some examples:
If the company's goal is to improve its search rankings and attract more organic traffic, then you need to dive deep into UX/UI improvements. Some preliminary research might be necessary. Search engines love user-friendly and valuable websites, so it's important to carefully plan the structure, the order of sections, and their user convenience. Don't forget about a blog—articles boost SEO and improve user engagement. The longer users stay on the site, the more search engines view the site as useful.
A landing page, on the other hand, has different objectives. It's great for quick hypothesis testing or launching an ad campaign. This doesn't mean you can neglect UX/UI; it's still important. However, the level of detail and depth in web design won't need to be as extensive as with a full-fledged corporate site.
A catalog site has its own unique needs. For e-commerce, product pages are key for lead generation and require special attention. Features such as image zoom on click, the ability to add items to favorites, availability information, and a section for similar products are crucial. For certain products, showcasing certificates and licenses is also important.
The next step is to analyze your target audience. There are many ways to do this, but the simplest method is to answer five key questions:
Let’s say you're creating web design project management software. Your potential customers include design agencies looking for ways to streamline web design project workflow and reduce effort spent on edits and feedback. They search for the right project management tools, find a relevant article, read it, explore your site, try a free trial, and decide to start using your product.
For this scenario to play out, the article should at least have a strong call-to-action (CTA) encouraging them to try the product. Additionally, the site should showcase the tool from multiple angles to highlight its benefits.
You're probably already keeping an eye on your competitors, but during web design project management, you'll need to focus on practical details. Consider the following:
The answers to these questions will help you find your own solutions. Some insights might lead you to think, "We need to do it the same way, but even better." Others might make you realize, "This approach definitely won't work for us." In any case, you'll have a solid foundation to base your web design project on.
4. Collect Site References
First, gather as many ideas related to your topic as possible, then narrow it down to the top 3-5. At this stage, it's important to analyze and not just blindly copy.
Here are a few resources for inspiration: Behance, Dribbble, Awwwards, SiteSee, Land-book, 99Designs, and of course, Pinterest.
Before you start prototyping, you need to decide on the site structure and visual concept.
Before you start prototyping, you need to decide on the site structure and visual concept.
Working on a site design typically involves many people: project managers, designers, developers, and marketers. The CEO probably adds their two cents from time to time as well. Without transparent communication, web project management can become a nightmare.
New decisions on improvements can easily get lost in a sea of emails. Decisions agreed upon by some specialists may need further approval from managers. With multiple stakeholders and parallel processes, it's difficult to get a clear picture of the project's progress.
The specific methodology you use—whether it's Agile or Waterfall—doesn't matter as much. If communication isn't well-established, project management won't be effective. There's a high risk of missing important details, firefighting issues, missing deadlines, going over budget, and eventually burning out. This can lead to choosing easier and faster solutions instead of the original ambitious ones.
How to avoid this? Use web design project management software. Let's show you how to simplify processes using GoComment, a widget installed on live websites during development.
The functionality streamlines development processes, keeps communication transparent and focused on tasks, and gathers customer feedback in a format that's convenient for everyone.
The final step is usability testing. At this stage, you need to ensure that the site is truly user-friendly and everything functions as intended. If possible, this should involve real testing with participants from your target audience.
Afterward, make the necessary adjustments and conduct additional testing to ensure the user experience is now top-notch.
Creating a website requires careful attention to each step, from the initial research to the final testing. Ineffective project management often complicates the process. When many stakeholders are involved, it becomes particularly challenging to maintain clear communication and stay focused on the overall vision. This can easily lead to missed deadlines and budget overruns. Project management tools for website development can help you sidestep these challenges.
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