Planning Successful Websites
The Internet offers exciting opportunities to businesses of all sizes. With so many businesses online competing for your customers, it is no longer enough to simply drive visitors to your website. Your website is a global window to your company, your brand and your values, and it is a statement that can be read by millions. That’s why it is essential to make sure that your website says all the right things about your company.
Do your customers or prospects find what they are looking for on your website? Or are they frustrated, confused or bored by your presence? Whether your website is state of the art or in a state of decay, this practical workshop will send you back to the office with dozens of ideas that you can implement straight away to improve your website.
This 3 day series of workshops will teach you the basics of what makes a well designed website. Your course leaders speak in everyday language, and use anecdotes from their own experience. Visual examples – such as live websites – will feature extensively. Many elements of the course will be interactive, allowing you to learn by doing it yourself.
Who should attend?
Whether you are a business owner who recognises that first impressions count or a manager who understands the power of online marketing, this course is for you!
Any company that appreciates the importance of the Internet will already be thinking about how its website can stand out from the crowd. Well structured design and content makes for an impact on the web and need not cost a fortune, it is a matter of knowing what is important and how to deliver it. This course is designed to teach you the value of seeing your website from a customer perspective, heightening your appreciation of visitor perception and site usability and using this insight to make your website work harder for your business.
Event programme in detail
Day 1. Morning: Introduction to Web Design
Is your website good? Could it be better? This first session is designed to help you answer these questions yourself. We will help you to understand what separates a mediocre website from a good one and how to appreciate the importance of design in ensuring that your website is efficient, effective and ultimately works much harder for you.
In this session:
- Appreciating the impact of well thought out design
- The problem with poor design
- Your design framework
- Learning by example: a website redesign case study
- Critique of participants’ websites
Day 1. Afternoon: Marketing Planning and Good Design
No marketing plan is complete without a website strategy; now that that you appreciate the importance of good design, we will introduce you to the role marketing plays in the process. You will learn how the marketing planning process can directly influence the design of your website and the best processes to review and improve your online strategy and plan.
In this session:
- Reviewing the current situation with your website
- Setting objectives for your website
- Selecting a successful web strategy
- Practical tactics for implementing a new or improved website
- Creating your project plan
- Measuring your success
Day 2. Morning: Understanding Web Design
Looks aren’t everything! A successful website is one that ensures its important information is easily accessible to everyone. Understanding the methods you can employ on your website to best suit your objectives and your customers’ needs is essential to successful online marketing. This session will give you the knowledge you require to turn your website into a well thought through and effective business tool.
In this session:
- Learning by example: best (and worst!) practice case studies
- What makes a well designed website?
- What is the role of your homepage?
- Navigation techniques
- Making sure everyone can use your website
- Understanding your design options
- Checklist of key website features
Day 2. Afternoon: Beyond First Impressions
With a website that has impact, you can grab your customers’ attention, but how do you engage with them once they have started to actually use it? What your website says and how it says it are as vital to its success as how it looks; this session will give you the skills you need to create a compelling website that will actually work harder for you.
In this session:
- How to engage with your website visitors
- Your website’s most desired response
- Capturing information from your visitors
- Converting visitors into customers
- Top tips for great copy
- What is different about writing web copy?
- Copywriting for search engine optimisation
Day 3. Morning: Managing Your Content
Taking control of the delivery of information on your website is the next step in owning your ‘online’ presence. This session will highlight the benefits and pitfalls of managing your own website copy and help you to identify if content management is right for your company. We’ll show you what resources you require for the task and the time commitment involved.
In this session:
- How to keep your website copy fresh
- Understanding content management
- What about database driven sites?
- Types of information contained in a website
- The issue of style versus content
- The effects of content management on search engine optimisation (SEO)
Day 3. Afternoon: Managing Your Suppliers
This final workshop will empower you to make educated choices regarding the design and operation of your company’s website. It is the link between the knowledge gained in the previous sessions and real world benefit to your business by providing tangible benefits and positive actions you can actually use.
In this session:
- Managing your web project
- Identifying your success criteria
- Sample web briefs
- How to choose your supplier
- Managing the processes
- Evaluating the cost
- What are your next steps?
To benefit from this FREE exclusive programme you first need to become a registered member with eBusiness Club. The next step is to enrol with Connected Nottingham. Follow these simple enrolment guidelines.
This opportunity is strictly limited to small and medium sized businesses operating in the Greater Nottingham Partnership area. Check your eligibility here.