As I continue to build the framework for BKJ Designs, it occurs to me that some of you may be starting to think about your own web and social identities, as well. Careful planning at this stage will save you time and money once you come to me for help developing your digital brand.
Now, I’m not saying that your site needs to be mapped out completely or that you have already started an Instagram account that is waiting for integration into a complete web presence. That is unrealistic for someone who is just getting started. What you should do, though, is think about your brand.
What does your brand mean to you? Is it an extension of you and your creative identity? Consider how that could affect the style of your site: colors, images, interactions. Build a logo if you don’t already have one. Consider images you would like to include on your site. If you are a landscaper, maybe some before and after photos or photos of projects you have completed. For a restaurant, maybe images of your exterior interior, and some of your signature dishes. The more of these things you have prepared by our first meeting, the faster we can mock up a design
Consider how you would like to elicit communications from your potential clients. Do you want them to call you directly? Do you want to use a contact form to gather more information that can be read when you are not potentially with another client? Do you want to provide a physical address where the client could visit you?
Just these few things will help you form a picture of the website and/or blog that you want to develop and give you talking points for when we sit down to map out your vision. Additionally, these considerations will bring your brand concept to the forefront and give you ideas upon which to build out your non-digital brand. T-shirts, anyone?