Creating a new website can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and execution, it can be a rewarding and profitable experience. In this article, we will go through nine steps for planning a new website that will help you achieve your goals and objectives.

Step 1: Define your website’s purpose and goals

Before you start designing or writing any content for your website, you need to define its purpose and goals. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the main purpose of my website?
• What do I want my visitors to do on my website?
• What are my business objectives?

Once you have a clear understanding of your website’s purpose and goals, you can start planning the design and content accordingly.

Step 2: Conduct market research

To ensure that your website is successful, you need to conduct market research. This will give you a better understanding of your target audience, their needs, and preferences. You can conduct market research by:

• Analysing your competitors’ websites and identifying what works and what doesn’t
• Conducting surveys or focus groups to gather feedback from your target audience
• Using tools like Google Analytics to analyse your website’s traffic and user behavior

Step 3: Choose a domain name and hosting provider

When choosing a domain name for your website, make sure it is not too long or complicated. A short and catchy domain name is easy to remember and share with others. It should also reflect your brand and business niche. After selecting a domain name, you need to find a hosting provider that can accommodate your website’s needs.

A reliable hosting provider should have high uptime, fast loading speed, and good customer support. WordPress websites should be launched on dedicated WordPress hosting such as Potato Care. This is our world-class, WordPress hosting and maintenance service with incredibly fast load times, guaranteed maximum uptime and 24/7 customer support.  Take your time to research and compare different hosting options before making a final decision.

Step 4: Create a sitemap and wireframe

A sitemap and wireframe are essential tools in website planning. A sitemap is a hierarchical diagram of all the pages on a website, and it provides a clear view of the website’s structure. A wireframe, on the other hand, is a low-fidelity visual representation of a website’s layout and design.

It helps designers plan the placement of content and design elements while ensuring a consistent user experience. Both these tools help in creating a successful website by organising content and improving website navigation and user experience.

Step 5: Develop content strategy

Your website’s content is crucial to its success. You need to develop a content strategy that includes:

• keyword research to identify the keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for
• A content calendar to plan and organise your content
• A content creation plan to ensure that you are creating high-quality, valuable content for your target audience

Step 6: Design & build your website

When it comes to designing your website, it’s important to ensure that it is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and consistent with your brand’s identity. While website builders like Wix or Squarespace can be helpful, they may not always be the best choice for businesses with specific design needs.

Instead, consider working with a web design agency like Metal Potato that specialises in building custom websites on WordPress. With our expertise, we can help turn your vision into a reality and create a website that meets all your specific requirements, while also ensuring success for your business.

Step 7: Test your website

Before launching your website, you need to test it thoroughly. This involves:

• Checking for broken links and errors
• Testing your website’s load time
• Ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly
• Testing your website’s functionality on different devices and browsers

Step 8: Launch your website

Once you have tested your website, you can launch it. Make sure to promote your website on social media and other channels to drive traffic and increase visibility. By following these eight steps, you can create a successful website that meets your business objectives and provides value to your target audience.

Looking to take your website to the next level? Our team of expert web designers will work with you every step of the way to create a visually appealing website that is consistent with your brand identity and achieves all your goals and objectives.

Get in touch and how we can help to turn your vision into reality.