Are you looking for tips on how to plan, prepare and create content for your website? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Whether it’s a small business or large corporation, every website needs thoughtful planning and preparation in order to build content that is both engaging and informative.
In this blog post, I’ll share my top tips on how to plan, prepare and create content for your website.
First off, this is not as difficult as it looks to be!
With the right guidance, you can create an amazing website that effectively communicates your message to your audience. Your website designer will be a guiding light, but it’s important to understand that your content is the backbone of your website (not just the pretty design!).
So let’s get started!
My starting point
Whenever I start a website, I will ensure I have had a conversation to clearly define the purpose of the website (this means the client shares what they would like their website to do). I use this as a basis to create content outline document that my clients use to help gather and build content.
Now, onto your part!
Step 1: Define the Purpose of each page
Besides the overall purpose of your website , it’s important to define a purpose for each page – this will help guide the content you’ll need to create.
For example, your about page should focus on the story behind your business and how you got started. Whereas, a product page may need to include more information about pricing, services and features.
Think about what you want people to learn from and do on each page and make sure this is reflected in the content you create.
Step 2: Use the Website Template
All WordPress based websites use a template or what it is more commonly known as a theme, and it’s important to keep this in mind when writing content.
For example, smaller sections of text tend to work better than long blocks of text, as they make the page easier to read. It’s also wise to use heading tags and subheadings throughout your content so that people can quickly scan through the page and find what they need.
A website template already has a lot of these features and design elements built into it, so work with what you have and it will make creating content a dream!
Step 3: Draft your Headline & Introduction
Now that you’ve defined the purpose of the page, it’s time to create a headline! This will be your first impression on visitors so make sure it’s catchy and reflects the purpose of the page.
For example, if your page is about where people can find you, then your headline could be something like, “Where to Find us”.
Next is the introduction content – this is your chance to hook the reader in and draw them into the rest of your content. It should be no longer than a few sentences, and could include things such as a key takeaway, an interesting fact or problem you are solving.
Step 4: Write the Pages Body Copy
The body copy is the main content of your page. This can be anything from a few sentences to a few paragraphs. Aim to keep it concise and informative, while also making sure you consider how it will look on the website when it’s all put together.
A lot of clients want to share a lot of information as it helps with SEO and ranks better in search engine results, but be mindful that the content should always remain easy to read and consume (avoid super long paragraphs of text!).
Step 5: Collaborate & Build on your Ideas
Writing content for a website can be challenging and it’s not something you should try to do alone! If you are having trouble crafting out your content, don’t forget to collaborate with others and share ideas – this could be a colleague, family member or even someone from the public. Even your web designer can give advice.
Writing for the web is all about telling stories and giving information in an interesting way that resonates with your audience. So don’t forget to have fun when creating content and make sure you are always reflecting your brand’s personality.
Step 6: Repeat the Process for Each Page
Now that you have conquered one page, it’s time to repeat this process for each page of your website. Remember to stay consistent and keep the same voice throughout all pages so people know who they are interacting with when visiting your website.
Before I forget, don’t forget about images for each page
Images are a great way to add further depth and personality to your page and its content. Images can help visitors engage with the story you’re trying to tell and bring your content to life.
Please make sure your images are clear, high quality and relevant to the content. No ones like a pixelated or grainy image, so please avoid those! If you cannot take the images yourself, use images on free image stock websites but please don’t forget to check copyright information when sourcing images online.
And you’re done!
Writing content for a website can seem like a daunting task but with careful planning and preparation, it’s actually quite straightforward. Remember, take it piece by piece. This isn’t a sprint, it’s a long distance race!
I hope this blog post has given you an insight into how to plan, prepare and create content for your website. If you need any further help or advice, please feel free to get in touch on kayla@thebrandgypsy.com