Web design can be difficult, and a lot of thought goes into creating a functioning, professional site. Therefore, it's important that you hire a web designer to help you bring your vision to life. This short guide explains three things that you should consider when getting a website designed, and that you should communicate to your designer.

Figure Out What Features You Want

A good first step towards getting an incredible website designed is to make a list of features and pages that you want. You will then be able to give this to your web designer, so they can create a site that matches your needs exactly. What you need will depend entirely on what your business does. For example, if you run a restaurant, you might want a page for your menu, but if you are a hairdresser, you might want a page with pictures of hair transformations you've done. The same goes for features. Do you want a map showing a physical location, a contact form or chat feature, or a portfolio of your past work? Think carefully about the type of business you run, and what you are looking for in a website. A good web designer will also be able to give you ideas and suggestions based on their experience.

Write Web-Friendly Text

People reading web pages do tend to skim, and if you want people to understand and act on the message of your site, you should ensure it is written in an accessible and engaging manner. For a start, don't confront your users with massive walls of text. Paragraphs should be kept short, with around 2-3 sentences or five lines of text. You should also use headings to organise your text, so users can easily find what they want, as well as breaking up the text with images and lists. Makes sure that your text is interesting and engaging, and highlights the benefits of your products or services. You can then pass it onto your web designer for use on your new site.

Consider Your Colour Scheme

Before creating your site, your web designer will need to know what type of colour scheme you would like. It is best to have a coherent colour scheme of two or three colours across your site, as this will make it look more professional. You may already have a logo which you can take the colour scheme from, or maybe you need to choose something. Think about the purpose of your business: a cool, modern clothing shop may suit black and white, whereas a spa might prefer cool blues and greens. Most of all, you need to ensure your text can be read, and that the contrast is good enough – as the UX Collective explains, contrast is the most important part of making your site accessible. If you are not sure about a colour scheme, speak to your web designer and they will be able to suggest something.

By providing your web designer with a list of suggested features and pages, information about your colour scheme, and some readable, web-friendly text, you can ensure that your new site is a great marketing tool for your business venture.