Even Tupac Has A Website: 7 Things You Need When Building Your Website
A Websites is relevant to businesses. With the advanced technology opportunities there is discussion that social media only will do a business justice. I don’t agree with that. I believe that a website is your home base. Social media is important for your business, but it needs to be a part of your mixtape strategy. Because even Tupac has a website.
Now, a website doesn’t have to be extravagant. It will tell your story and be relevant to your brand message. It needs to be a place where your guests will go. When you think of the tools out there, social media limits you. It limits your character count, your image formats, etc.…but a website doesn’t. Google likes websites. Build a website, and Google will come to you, with the right SEO of course. 😉
So, let’s talk Tupac. I mean, he’s not only one of the greatest hip hop artists, but his website stands up to his talent. 7 things stand out to me with his website that I agree can be a foundation for creating something for your business. So, let’s get started.
- Navigation: We call it part of the user experience (UX) It’s important to create a navigation that is easy for your guests to find what they are looking for. That when they click onto your site, they know where to go. Simplicity can be creative as well. Competitor analysis is part of the creative strategy. It’s ok to look at your favorite websites. Take notes and ask yourself rom a critical navigation viewpoint why is it your favorite? I guarantee one of your points is that you know how to navigate the location of everything.
- Logos: If you created a logo is it on your website? Are you infusing it onto the pages? If you utilize a logo (which you should) Does it tell you what your brand is? Now, if you’re a new business starting out and you don’t have a logo yet, trust me, I get it. I think when I designed my brand, I fought so hard with my log so I created it last. I know that sounds backwards, but I designed my brand creatively going from the content first, and then building the color story and logo image. And that is ok, because that is what the logo does. It tells your brand story in a single image. Don’t let it get intimidating though, it can be a lot simpler than you think.
- Color Story: Part of the brand message is your color story. If I ask you to tell me what you think Tupac’s brand color story is, you’ll know exactly what colors are on his website. What is so important about colors? It reflects who you are. Yes, it can be an infusion of your favorite color. That’s you. Yes, it can be an infusion of your favorite things. That’s you. How are you using it? Think about other things as well, what’s your business? You may need to have some professional elements in there but add a pop of color! Your business might have some whimsical feeling to it, that’s a great opportunity to use colors you may have never thought.
- Fonts: What’s in a font? Why is a font so important? There’s 2 parts to this. Readability and creativity. Let’s get readability out of the way. Of course, you’re going to have text on your website. Maybe you’ll have a blog? No matter what, words are part of your design. Your guests need to be able to read what you have to say. If you ask any UX/UI Designer, comic sans is the death of us. Just don’t use it, lol. It’s not that you can’t use a fun font that you might feel tells part of your brand story, it’s where you use the font that plays the part of the story. Example: Heading, Logos, and some images it is ok to use cursive fonts or even comic sans. However, the body of your words such as paragraphs, blogs and labels pay attention to the readability. This also includes the color of the fonts you use. Is it easy to be seen and read? Creativity comes in so many forms and, on your website, something simple can be pleasing to the eye. The words on the page should be your top performer.
- Engagement: Your website should have a purpose. Are you ok with them coming to visit quickly and leave? Or are you trying to get them to stay on your website for a long period of time. Engagement isn’t a game, it is interaction. Interaction could be as simple as reading a blog. Engagement could also be watching a video or looking through your photos. Engagement could also be leaving a comment or writing you a message. You want your guests to have a good time on your website and absorb everything you have to say.
- Storytelling: It doesn’t have to be a blog to tell a story. Who are you? So, when I help create a brand strategy, part of the conversation is getting to know you and what you want to say. What you stand for? What you want to stand for? What your goals are? I use it as part of your tone and voice, as it should come across in all channels. In social media vulnerability gets you very far. In branding, vulnerability defines you and makes you relevant to your guests. Storytelling isn’t just words. It’s images, fonts, colors etc.…. Creating a memorable moment is part of your story. You want your story to be told to others and shared and that’s why it’s so important to include in your website.
- Merchandise: Ok, so not everyone needs to sell merchandise. I brought this up, because yes, it is on Tupac’s website. I brought this up because if you are a business, you are selling something. Your merchandise is your point of sale. The process of the transaction might be different for everyone because it depends on what you are selling. That is the big engagement piece of your website. It is ultimately what you want.
There are a lot of tools and resources out there for you to create and build a website. It is so important to look at the big picture when it comes to the creation story. Have you ever seen a brand you were interested in and once you go to their website, you became disengaged because it either didn’t make sense or it didn’t seem to be the same thing you saw on their social media? Your messages should all correlate on every platform. This is how we turn your brand into headlining on the first page of Google.
Thanks for listening!
