Are you website lazy?
It wasn’t even in the distant past when people still created website using applications such as Dreamweaver. We’ve come a long way. With resources like Squarespace, Wix, Zenfolio and many more, no one really needs much development knowledge to put together an amazing looking website. But pre-made, drag and drop templates can both help and hinder us.
They help because they are easy, intuitive and inexpensive, and you can use your precious time doing what you love - taking photos.
They hinder because they don’t force us to consider our branding elements as much as when you had to develop specs and be really mindful of what you wanted to have appear on a webpage, and the look and feel. All the thinking is done for you.
So we may forget that although these templates are easy and beautiful, don’t just be the person who drags, drops and is done. You have to think about your brand, your style, and your customer and make sure that all elements of your site are geared to talking with him/her. A generic site template is meant as a starting point and while you don’t have to go crazy, you need to be sure it works hard to attract who you want. It is the face of your business on the sleepless web, 24/7.
One important area I find missing from a lot of sites is the value proposition, or positioning statement, because the template doesn’t have offer a space for it (at least not the generic version). While opening with one or more strong photos does make a statement on its own, combining strong imagery with a value or positioning statement helps clients confirm right away if they resonate and fit with you, instead of having to confirm that information somewhere else where it’s buried. So for example, showing a great image of New York is a good start. But imagine you added “New York Photographer for adventurous urban explorers” - the couples that consider themselves exactly that will be like “YASSSS, that’s us!”
If your template doesn’t incorporate the small details you need in its generic form, dig into the design sections a little - you’ll likely find ways you can add or modify design elements. Most website development tools do contain these features, it’s a matter of finding and implementing them. But don’t forget them!
Do you have a good grip on your website? Does it appeal to client you want to work with? Pick up a copy of this handy website guide, with tips on how to optimize your site design your site to attract ideal clients.