Web design tips for the self-employed and founders

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There are some important web design tips that every web designer follows and that you should know too if you want to do your own web design – and that you should know too. Here are the 10 golden rules for effective web design!

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1. Plan the structure first, then the design!

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Let's start with these important web design tips, just like I start working with my clients on their websites: Find out how your client thinks. These questions can help you:

• When your customer visits website, what are they looking for?
• What would he like to know about you and your company?
• What does he want to do in conclusion?

Your notes might look like this:

He wants to know:

• Whether we offer what he is looking for
• What we do
• Who we are
• Where he can reach us

And – voilà – you have created the perfect structure for your homepage :

A welcome area, a service overview, a brief introduction of you or your team, and a contact option. You can also create this technique for subpages. This brings us to the next point:

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2. Internal links

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Users love short click paths and not having to scroll too little, but also not too much. This is why internal links are particularly useful. What do I mean by that? On your homepage, you could list an overview of your services (e.g., coaching, training, consulting). You can link these services directly to a subpage where you, for example, only talk about your coaching services, how they work, what you value, etc.

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3. Call to Actions (example right below)

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Your website should attract new customers. And all the web design tips in the world won't help if you forget ONE thing: a clear call to action. Tell your customers specifically, "Contact us here," or "Read more about me now," or even "Book a consultation." Here's what it might look like:

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4. Design for your target audience

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The most important rule in design: The design must appeal to your target audience. Therefore, you should know who your target audience is, and it's very helpful to know what they find visually appealing. Typically, the style your target audience prefers is based on your personality. Example: You're a tidying coach and love clarity and order. Since that's exactly what your clients want—order—they'll prefer a design that embodies that spirit. When designing, keep your target audience in mind and spend less time looking left and right at what your colleagues and competitors are doing. Stick to yourself, your style, your taste. This is how you create truly unique brands!

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5. Better less than more

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Those without any design training may not be familiar with this web design tip, and design tips in general: Every design needs a visual hierarchy! Every good design has one element that takes center stage (colorful, large, bold, etc.). All other elements are placed in the background and tend to be small, delicate, and subdued in color. This ensures that your website visitors' eyes are n't overwhelmed by too much information. A design that follows a visual hierarchy also looks significantly cleaner. Don't overload your design; create ONE focal point .

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6. Start small, expand later

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Once you start researching web design tips, your head starts to tingle: So many ideas about all the amazing things your website should be able to do, what it should look like, what you plan to do with it. I want to slow you down a bit: No matter how great and ambitious your plans are, they won't do your company any good if no one can access the website because it takes forever to finish. My web design tip for you: Think about the minimum you want to start with for your web design. Create it, publish it, and win customers! Once you've completed the first orders or have some time, you can continually expand your website and will have a much clearer idea of ​​what exactly you really need.

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7. Use simple tools to get started

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I'm pretty sure you didn't Google these web design tips because you want to learn programming. I'm guessing you want to create a professional website as easily as possible, right? Therefore, I recommend using one of the simple and handy tools for your web design. WordPress is the best CMS to use as a base. You can then install a modular theme and design your website—without having to type a single line of code.

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8. Keep the design consistent

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A good design is almost boring in production. Why? Because a good design is always the same. The same font for the headline, the same spacing between the subline, the same body text font. The same colors in decorative elements. It may sound monotonous, but it's actually really effective! Let me promise you this web design tip: Keep the design consistent , and your website will look all the more professional! Once you're more experienced in design, you can try out a few unique features – but for starters, consistency is king.

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9. Keep the menu consistent

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A truly simple yet immensely effective web design tip revolves around your menu. The menu bar is usually located at the top right of your page. Users should be able to quickly find what they're looking for there. And therein lies the crux of the matter: How do you decide what should and shouldn't be included in the menu? Customers typically want a quick route to these items on the website: Home, Services, About the Company, Contact.

Everything else is a bonus and can be linked in submenu items. For example, if you're a corporate coach but also provide training and consulting, your menu could look like this:

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10. Decorate your page

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If you're not that into design, you'll appreciate this web design tip: Use images and decorations to liven up your website. Images also allow website visitors to connect emotionally with your content, to feel included and understood. Decorations like small elements (look, I use a gold zigzag line) or patterns in the background can also professionally enhance your web design! Make sure that images and decorative elements are consistent , have a consistent format, and use the same color.

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