The Value of a Professional Brand & Website Designer
Let’s get deeper on what problems a professional website design can solve for your business—when we work together the end result is truly more than just a pretty website. Speaking from my perspective as a design consultant, I am pulling back the curtain to share a bit more about my process, approach and the value it provides.
Let’s kick off summer!
Jump into the deep end with me and let’s solve some internal problems related to your business and attract more opportunities for you to grow.
As someone in the trenches of website design, it is easy for me to be so focused and excited about helping a new client that there are missed opportunities to truly educate them on the process and what to anticipate. While this can vary greatly from designer to designer, I am pulling back the curtain about what you can expect when working with me. I hope this will also shed some light on the cost of hiring a designer and how it relates to the return on investment that can be expected.
Some freelance web designers operate more as order takers. Client would like the site to show X, Y, and Z pages using these ‘favorite’ colors and this logo. This approach might work well for someone who has a solid idea about who their target audience is and how their brand experience resonates with those folks. As a business owner myself, I fully understand a seasoned owner being in this position and feeling confident in their branding and brand positioning. I’ve also come to realize this is not the client I will best serve. As much as I want to say yes to any and all opportunities that come my way (within reason), this is simply not how I operate. I do not consider myself a freelancer—I am a consultant with a more holistic process that adds more value than just a website which is the part of the process I most enjoy.
Don’t get me wrong, if someone comes to me with fantastic branding and needs help polishing their website design and client journey I am all in on picking up the reigns from there! I just don’t consider myself a pixel pusher and feel like the value I am able to bring to the client’s business is beyond simply making something look presentable.
As a brand and website design consultant, a huge part of the process is understanding the needs and goals of my CLIENTS and also their TARGET AUDIENCE. You see, a website that speaks to what the client “likes” or thinks looks great may not speak to their target audience. The end goal is always to drive more “at bats” with potential clients who visit your website. So why would you invest in hiring a professional if those key points are not being considered? Striking the right balance is where the design magic happens!
My ideal client scenario and where I see myself adding the most value, is a client who is open to exploring their brand, target audience and customer journey along with the website design. Brainstorming and picking up on little nuances I can incorporate into the design is my super power. I pay attention to the details and look for ways to add subtle nods in the design of the site that show who my client is as a person—sometimes these little nods are only known to me and the client but they are always there on some level. This makes the end result fun and personable. It will not only feel organic to my client but also positions them to connect with potential new clients as well. This builds confidence in the brand and drives more authentic connections with site visitors.
To simplify, which is what I am all about, let’s break it down to 8 key points of value added benefits a client should expect.
8 Ways a Brand & Website Consultant Adds Value
Branding—if you are a new business or looking to re-brand, we take a deep dive into the waters of brand discovery and hone in on everything from typography to logos, sub-logos and color palette. This thoughtfully guided process ensures your branding is authentic to you as a business owner while also establishing trust and professionalism with your target audience.
Content/Messaging—if you have no idea where to start or feel overwhelmed at the idea of writing your website copy, we work together to start the process with a helpful content planner. From there, we pull together the content into readable sentences authentically incorporating keywords that real people are searching for in your industry.
Accessibility—Remember that color palette I mentioned, there is more to this than just selecting colors you like. We want to land on colors and fonts/layouts that are accessible to site visitors. There are checks and balances in place as part of the process to improve this important component of your site. The way your site is laid out should comply with accessibility laws and best practices.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)—The website will be designed following SEO best practices. Guidance will be provided post launch to help point you in the right direction with continuing to positively impact SEO. This is a long game so setting up your site properly from the beginning is important.
Improve Internal Workflows—Your website should do more than just look pretty and connect you with clients. Together we explore ways to solve inefficiencies in your operations through the use of your website. That could be something as simple as an FAQ section or more in-depth like a questionnaire or Acuity Scheduling integration. Work smarter not harder!
Design Based on Solutions—The design and set-up of your website should solve internal problems as noted above but also clearly communicate what you offer and the problem you solve for clients. Positioning yourself as an expert in your field and also taking site visitors through a clear customer journey.
Conversion—Your business website is your virtual store front. Even if you have a brick and mortar location, your website is the window into your business and what clients can expect. Taking it one step further, make it EASY for people to do business with you. Strategically placed CTAs (calls to action) are crucial to converting site visitors to paid clients which is the end goal!
Powerful & Pretty—The end result should make you feel confident. Working through the strategy and components of your website with a consultant is going to propel the business forward. Having professional guidance will ensure you are set up for success and a return on your design investment.
A website design is more than just a pretty pixelated image of your business. It is the foundation that validates you exist in today’s fast paced digital world. Put your best foot forward and attract your dream clients while you sleep! A well built website should work for you, your clients and result in more business opportunities. If you have experienced growth and a change in your offer, level up a DIY design by hiring a professional consultant to close the gaps and strengthen your online position. If you are a new business, start off strong with a professionally designed website and branding organic to who you are as a business owner. At the end of the day, your website could be the first impression someone has of your business. It needs to be done right and shine bright!
If you are curious to learn more about how we can partner, I would love for you to start the process by sending a design inquiry and we can chat in more detail. If you have general questions, send me an email: jlwatrob@north8designs.com.
