If you’ve taken a look at my web design services, then you will have seen a ‘Website Strategy Session’ comes as standard with every website project. But WTF is is and why is it so important? This blog post is going to break it down and explain why it’s an essential step of the web design process.

RED FLAG ALERT if your website designer or someone you’re checking out does not include this as part of your website project. A well designed website does more than just look pretty!

What is a website strategy session?

A website strategy session is a 1 on 1 call with your website designer that kicks off a website design project and ensures everything goes smoothly. Crucially, it ensures that you and your web designer are on the same page in terms of your vision and how your website will play into your customer journey.

It allows you to ask any questions, get clarification on what to expect and makes sure you know exactly what is going on.

But it also allows your website designer to pick your brains and fully understand your ideal customer, which will end up influencing the design.

By having a strategy session, you can ensure the website is strategic and high-converting, not just looks pretty.

In my particular web design business, I ask my clients to fill out their website project planner ahead of the call which we then go through and discuss. You can get a free copy of the exact website project planner I use with my clients, by downloading it here. It will help you get super organised for your project and get clear on your goals/vision.

What will we discuss in a website strategy session?

In a website strategy session, we cover a lot of ground to make sure we are on the same page and make sure I fully understand your vision and ideal customer. Some of the topics we will discuss include:

• Your business goals and how your website can help achieve this.

• Getting into the brain of your ideal customer and understanding what they will be looking for from your website.

• What pages your website will include and how each page will be structured.

• Your customer journey, where people are dropping off and what objections people have when working with you.

• Where are most of your leads currently coming from, where do you expect traffic to come from and at what point in the buyer journey are they at when landing on your website?

• How can we make your business processes more efficient using your website?

• Competitor websites and what they’re ranking for.

• SEO and what keywords you want your website to rank for.

• What content do you want on your website and why?

As you can see, there are a lot of points for us to cover, however all are essential in making sure your website works hard for you and your business.

A lot of thought and strategy goes into building a website, its not just about making it look pretty. (But a gorgeous website does help, so you can check out my past designs here.)

How long does a website strategy session last?

A website strategy session lasts between 30-60 minutes depending on the size of your website. If you are planning a simple website, between 1-5 pages, then a 30 minute session should suffice. For larger websites and builds with additional functionality such as email marketing or appointment scheduling, a longer session around 60 minutes should allow enough time to discuss everything.

Why is a website strategy session so important?

So now you know what we cover in a website strategy and how long you can expect it to last, but what is the point in having a call? Can’t you just answer a questionnaire and be done with it?

Using my website project planner is extremely helpful for understanding what my clients want and what I need to create for their website. However, face to face conversation means we can go far more in-depth and get personal. I personally believe business is personal, and having someone explain reasoning in details, really helps to get to the root of something.

For example, someone may say to me that they want to rank #1 on Google for their chosen keyword but I also want to understand WHY. For some people it may be because they value the good-reputation and trust associated with ranking on Google. This may then influence the content on their website, for example showcasing awards they have won or events they’ve featured in. For others, they may want to rank on Google because they want more people to pick up the phone and call them. In which case, I will make sure that their telephone number is front and centre of their website so they can see the results that they’re wanting.

Understanding the why behind something will help build a website that sees a return on investment and the results you actually want.

A website strategy call not only benefits the designer in getting it right first time, but it also helps you too. That’s because it also allows you a chance to ask questions and set expectations. For example, if there is a particular thing you NEED to have on your website, you can make sure this is clearly communicated. Or maybe there is something on a competitor website that you absolutely HATE but can’t put into words, sharing your screen and explaining your thoughts on something, can help make sure your web designer avoids that certain thing.

So not only is it beneficial for getting the website just right, it also means you’re clear on what to expect and what you want.

So know you know what a website strategy session is and why it is important. If you want a strategy session as part of your website design project, then please check out my services or get in touch. I include them as standard in ALL my website projects so your website will be effective and strategic, not just pretty!