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TJ Design

5 essential lessons I’ve learned about websites

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In this article, I will share five important lessons I’ve learned about websites that can help you get the most out of yours. Whether you’ve got a brand new website, or not had anytime to spend on your existing site lately, here’s how to make your website work a little harder for you.

Let your copy dictate the design, not the other way around

When designing a website, it’s easy to get caught up in aesthetics and visual elements. However, it’s essential to prioritise the content and let it guide the design process. Your website’s copy should be clear, concise, and engaging, conveying your brand message effectively. The design elements should complement and enhance the content, making it easy for visitors to read and understand. Remember, the purpose of your website is to communicate with your audience, so let your copy take the lead.

The speed of your website really does matter

In today’s fast-paced digital world, speed is of the utmost importance. Visitors have little patience for slow-loading websites, and studies have shown that even a few seconds of delay can result in high bounce rates. Optimize your website’s performance by compressing images, minifying code, and leveraging caching techniques. Regularly monitor and test your site’s speed to ensure quick and seamless user experiences. A fast-loading website not only improves user satisfaction but also positively impacts your search engine rankings.

Your about page is popular

One page that often receives significant attention is the “About” page. Visitors are naturally curious about the people behind a brand, their values, and their story. Utilize this opportunity to connect with your audience on a personal level. Share your mission, team bios, and any unique aspects that differentiate your business. Craft a compelling narrative that resonates with your target audience, building trust and establishing a genuine connection. Remember, an engaging About page can significantly contribute to a visitor’s decision to engage further with your brand.

Customers want to see pricing

Transparency is key when it comes to pricing. Visitors appreciate clear and easily accessible pricing information. While some businesses prefer not to display prices upfront, consider offering a general price range or starting point to provide visitors with a sense of what to expect. If you offer various packages or customized solutions, provide clear instructions on how to request a quote or consultation. Remember, by being upfront about pricing, you can save both your time and your visitors’ time by attracting genuinely interested customers.

Build trust with reviews

Testimonials and reviews play a significant role in influencing a customer’s decision-making process. People seek social proof and want to see what others have experienced with your products or services. Display customer testimonials prominently on your website, highlighting the positive feedback and success stories. Include relevant details such as names, photos, and even video testimonials for added credibility. Genuine testimonials demonstrate trustworthiness and can be a powerful tool for converting visitors into customers.

Building a successful website goes beyond just the visual appeal. By considering the lessons outlined above, you can create a website that effectively communicates your brand message, engages visitors, and builds trust. Let your copy dictate the design, prioritize website speed, optimize your About page, provide transparent pricing information, and leverage user testimonials. Embrace these insights and continually adapt your website to meet the evolving needs and expectations of your target audience.

Got a project in mind?

01536 391 745 hello@tjdesign.uk

How to choose a good web designer

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When selecting a web designer, there are a number of factors to consider to ensure you choose someone who can create a website that meets your needs and aligns with your vision. Here are some key things to look for in a web designer.

Relevant experience

Look for a web designer who has experience in creating websites for businesses or individuals in your industry or niche. This ensures that they have a good understanding of your target audience, competition, and the unique features and functionalities you require.

Check their portfolio

Look at the web designer’s portfolio to see examples of their work. Do their web designs align with your aesthetic? Are their web designs user-friendly and easy to navigate? This will give you an idea of their style and the quality of their work.

Read reviews and testimonials

Look for reviews and testimonials from previous clients. This will give you an idea of the web designer’s level of customer service and their ability to deliver on their promises.

Communication skills

Choose a web designer who communicates clearly and effectively. They should be able to explain technical concepts in a way that you can understand, and be responsive to your questions and concerns throughout the web design process.

Creative vision

A great web designer should be able to bring a creative vision to your project, while also staying true to your goals and objectives. Look for a web designer who is willing to work collaboratively with you and is open to your feedback and input.

Pricing

Make sure that you understand the pricing structure and contract terms before hiring a web designer. Make sure that there are no hidden fees and that you have a clear understanding of what you will be paying for.

Technical skills

Your web designer should have strong technical skills and be proficient in the necessary programming languages and software. This includes expertise in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various content management systems.

Process

Ask the web designer about their process for completing the project. Will they provide a timeline and milestones? Do they provide drafts or mock ups for you to review and approve before proceeding with the final design?

Support

Check if the web designer can offer ongoing maintenance and support for your website.

Choosing a good web designer can be a challenging task, but taking the time to consider these factors can help ensure that you find a designer who can deliver a high-quality website that meets your objectives and fits your budget.

Got a project in mind?

01536 391 745 hello@tjdesign.uk

6 rules for powerful email marketing

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Email marketing is a cost-effective way to reach a wide audience quickly but with an inbox full of marketing emails, how can you make yours work harder?

1. Use a personalised introduction

Greet the reader by saying hello and personalise the email introduction for example ‘Hey… Tracey’. Personalisation is a proven method to boost sales and conversions.

2. Don’t forget the subject line

The subject line is very important as this is the first interaction you have with your potential customer.

Use personalisation when relevant and tailor to make it intriguing enough for your reader to want to discover more for example ‘Want to find out how to receive 50% off all our footwear?’

3. Tailor the content to your audience

The content of the email should be relevant and provide clear meaning to the reader.

If the objective is to gain more reviews on your products, trigger the email after a purchase and give the audience an incentive for reviewing a recently bought product for example ‘Thank you for your order Tracey, we hope you love your new matte lipstick, did you know you can get 10% off your next order by sending us a review!’

4. Use responsive emails

By using responsive emails, the layout will be optimised for mobile devices meaning that the recipient will have the best experience possible when reading the email.

Fonts are normally larger, columns are stacked on top of each other and buttons are bigger leading to higher click through rates.

5. Use clear call to actions

Every email should include at least one call to action with clear direction of what you expect the recipient to do next.

Some examples include ‘shop now’, ‘download now’, ‘claim your coupon’, ‘get your 50% off now’, ‘take a survey’ and ‘leave a review’.

6. Sign-off your email

Sign off the email with your company or personal details, include contact information and an unsubscribe link where relevant.

Find out more about email marketing here or contact myself for more information.

Got a project in mind?

01536 391 745 hello@tjdesign.uk

How to choose your domain name

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What is a domain name?

A domain name is the string of characters which are used to identify websites on the internet. The name is typed in to the address bar of the browser for example tjdesign.uk or google.co.uk.

Best practices

Your domain name should be relatively short, simple, reflect your business and be easy to say out loud.

If the domain name is not too long, you may also add keywords to help with the search engines for example the location of your business or one of the core services you provide.

Domain name types

There are many different domain types and the part at the end is called a top-level domain (TLD). If you are a business trading within the UK, it’s always good practice to choose a TLD which ends in uk as it’s considered more trustworthy and identifies your location.

Here is a list of the most popular domain name types..

.co.uk – Designated for the United Kingdom
.com – Commercial businesses
.org – Organizations (generally charitable)
.net – Network organizations
.gov – U.S. government agencies
.mil – Military
.edu – Educational facilities like universities

How to find out if your chosen domain name is available

Visit DomainTools and enter your potential domain name to find out if it’s available to be registered.

Got a project in mind?

01536 391 745 hello@tjdesign.uk

5 essential rules when designing a logo

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A logo design is normally the first impression your business makes and so it’s really important to get this right.

Designing a logo yourself without using a professional designer is not recommended. It can actually devalue your brand and give out the wrong impression.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been sent a companies branding which is over complex, the sizing is incorrect or no vector version is available impacting the quality of print work required.

Here are 5 essential rules you can follow to improve your logo design.

1. Keep it simple

Simplicity is integral to a good logo design, make sure the company name is easy readible, recognisable and clear of any distracting shapes or complex objects.

Keep any shapes used within the branding simple, as the message the logo design conveys will be easier to remember.

2. Size does matter

Your logo design will need to be scalable to be used for multiple formats in the future. Therefore it needs to be designed to support print, web, vehicle graphics, stamps, embroidery, signs, transfers, promotional gifts, etc.

It needs to be enlarged & shrunken easily without the need for different layouts hence simplicity makes this an easier task.

3. Don’t use too many colours

I normally use a maximum of 3 colours, but generally it’s two. The more colours you have, the more money it may cost you when you print in certain colour methods. Too many colours within your logo can also distract from the messaging.

It’s also really important that you have reversible, transparent and black and white options so your logo design is as versatile as possible

4. Avoid lightweight fonts

Font which are lightweight will not show up when logo designs are printed in smaller formats similar to business cards, pens etc so use medium or thick versions of the font.

In a similar fashion, make sure your letter spacing is adequate enough to be able to read it clearly.

5. Use a suitable style

Your logo design should be unique but it should also reflect the industry you are in.

The symbol or shape used, should reflect your company or a defining characteristic you want people to remember about your business.

Got a project in mind?

01536 391 745 hello@tjdesign.uk

How to create effective Facebook posts

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Follow this handy checklist to write more powerful content and increase Facebook brand engagement

Does your post include an attention-capturing image or video?

The internet is full of distractions with content overload so naturally people gravitate to content that is easy to consume.

Images and videos are easier to absorb than text only posts, so include a relevant visual image or video in your post.

Does your post have ONE main goal?

Many posts on social media are trying to achieve too many things. Keep it simple by alternating one objective for each post.

For example, are you trying to increase website visitors by linking to your site or would you like to expand your followers by providing more information about your services to reach a wider audience on Facebook?

Does your post inspire, teach, entertain or motivate?

Make sure your posts are not always about selling your services & products. Use a varied approach to provide informative information and don’t be afraid to experiment with posts that are more humorous whilst remaining professional.

Some example of different posts could be product of the week, behind the scenes and industry quotes.

Have you written the post in your everyday language?

It’s really important that your text is very easy to understand, relates to the image / video and is relevant to your audience.

When your post is seen, the following should immediately be clear..

  • What you’re offering
  • How it benefits them
  • What to do next

If your post includes a question, is the answer quick and simple?

Questions are a great way to prompt a response but the answer should be answered in a simple manner.

Does your post ‘interrupt’ other people’s timelines?

Social media timelines are busy places. Do your research and check out what your main competitors are posting.

Now put yourself in the place of the audience and ask yourself if your post will stick out and if you would click on the call to action yourself.

Experiment with timing

The timing of your posts can increase the visibility depending on your audience. Schedule your posts for the following times.

For B2B, the recommended time is between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. For B2C the best time to post on Facebook is 12 p.m. EST on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

One of the most important things to remember is making sure you post relevant information to your audience.

Find out more about social media marketing here or contact myself for more information.

Got a project in mind?

01536 391 745 hello@tjdesign.uk