What came first, the chicken or the egg?
It’s a question that has long plagued humanity in the cold, dark, boredom-infested hours of the night, before we realise that it really doesn’t matter. I only bring it up because there’s a similar question to be asked when creating a website:
What should come first? The content of the site, or its design?
There’s no right or wrong answer, of course. Everyone who makes websites has their own process, and it can take a bit of trial and error to find out which order works best.
In the time I’ve been doing this, I’ve come to realise that it’s easier to start on a website if I have the content to hand first. I’ve tried it both ways, but having the content ready definitely ends up with a better result. Case in point, it’s how I built my site, and my site is the tits .
To try and convince you that my way is the right way after all (ignore what I said earlier about no way being wrong), I thought I’d jot down eight reasons that content should come first. If you read them all and are still unconvinced, then you’re welcome to your opinion. It’s wrong, but you’re entitled to it.
Shall we?
1 – Content drives design
I always find that having the content to hand gives me a much clearer idea of what you want your website to say and do. Where its focus lies and what you want to get across. With that, I can tailor it more closely to what you need and bring the brand message out much more effectively. It’s a head start, a way to make sure I get off on the right foot.
2 – It saves time and money
Experience tells me that the majority of clients will want to make changes to the layout and structure of their site while I’m neck-deep in the build process. Obviously that’s what I’m here for, and I want every client to love their site at the end, but it’s time-consuming for me and more expensive for you. If, on the other hand, your content is written and ready to go it becomes less of a problem. In fact, having the design moulded around the content can help your site to come in on time and on budget.
3 – It’s less frustrating
Picture the scene: hours upon hours have been spent in the weeds of designing a website. It looks stunning, it has more bells and whistles than a Morris Dancing convention. Then the content comes in and it doesn’t fit. It doesn’t look good. It doesn’t scan. Cue me tearing at my hair, and then you doing the same because we have to move the launch date back to sort it out. Or, you could have your content written and ready first and avoid self-inflicted baldness. Your choice.
4 – Content helps the design process
No matter how many websites I build, starting from scratch always feels a little daunting. It can be hard to marshal the ideas, the guidance, and the hopes and dreams of the client and put them all onto that blank canvas. But when there’s some written content in front of me? Well, then I’ve got something to start with other than a white screen and a taunting cursor. Having the content gives me something to work with, gives me inspiration and the creative boost I need to do my best work.
5 – Singing from the same hymn sheet
When you send your content over, it means that it’s been looked at, picked apart, changed up, and lifted (we don’t use the word ‘elevated’ here) by the key people on your side of the project. It can be a long process, for sure, but when it gets to me I wont draw things out any further by asking questions that haven’t already been answered. If I have a question, the chances are that anyone on the team can get back to me with the same confidence because everyone is on the same page. No huge, long email chains asking who knows what, just quick approval and away we go.
6 – No more endless revisions
Every web developer who has been around the virtual block will have stories of being locked in an endless cycle of revisions. Not only do they sap the energy/creativity/will to live, but they also negatively impact the site. The message gets diluted, the shine is gradually rubbed off, and you’re left with something that’s a shadow of its former self. But when your content is written first? Well, that makes the design phase 100% easier, in my experience.
7 – It shows if the design is working or not
Not all ideas translate well to the page, and sometimes we have to kill our darlings – get rid of our favourite concepts and elements. What really sucks is when you only realise late in the game, after the content comes in, that it’s not going to work. That you’re going to have to go back to the drawing board to make it fit. That doesn’t happen when the words are already ready to go, and the ideas can be put in place around it.
8 – Content creation is never done
You can’t just put down some content and walk away, job done. Google doesn’t like that. If you want to keep ranking, keep getting noticed, you need to be consistently creating new, high-quality content to engage your audience. If you have a placeholder for new pages or blogs, then I can do the design work to get them published quickly when the time comes.
That’s what I think, but what about you? Did I miss something? Do you feel passionately that I’m wrong (even though I’m not)? Do let me know.
Or if you need a website built by someone who’s passionately nerdy about what they do, then give me a holler. I’ll ensure the project runs smoothly, especially if you have the content ready first.