Who do you need on your team to build a successful website?

Building a new website or even just updating your old website is a team sport. In my experience, it takes at least 4 individual roles to be filled on your team.

Here you are, you’re investing your money and time in showcasing your business online. So, you want a website that

• Attracts customers

• Connects with customers

• Converts customers

• Looks professional

• And, you can feel proud of

Here are my tips for who to have on your team for a successful website build, and how to recruit the best member for your team. 

You

You're the most important member of Team Website. It’s your business. 

You want this to happen. You’re ready to take your business to the next step.

The most successful websites I’ve worked on were when the biz owner (you) was totally committed to the project, ready to learn and embraced change.

Are you ready to be on the Team?

Job description:

• Passionate about your tribe and growing your business

• Committed to the project

• Willing to learn

• Able to be guided

• Embrace change

• Got enough information to trust the process

Questions to ask yourself to see if you’re ready to be on the team:

• Why do I want/need a new website or updated website?

• What do I want my website to accomplish for my business?

• Am I ready to invest in my business?

Website copywriter

Pictures and colours don’t sell your products or services, the words do. 

And there’s a specific way of putting the words together on websites that engage, connect and transform your client. And ultimately gets them to take the action that leads to the sale.

Getting the right words in the right order takes a knowledge of psychology, your specific market psychology, persuasion, current best practice, user experience (UX), micro-copy, SEO and AIO.

SEO is how the search engines find you and present you in search results for specific words or phrases that your client enters into the search box. A website copywriter needs to take this into account.

And now AI search (GEO) is a thing - a copywriter needs to know how to write to optimise for AI search too! Phew! 

When someone lands on your website they need to find what they’re looking for and engage with it – quickly. 

It’s the job of the copywriter to craft the conversation in a way that your client can quickly and easily see this is the right place for them. And know what to do to engage with you.

Who do you want on your team?

• SEO, web-experienced copywriter

• Able to write for humans (UX) as well as Google bots

• Knowledge of how to optimise for AI search

• Includes tone of voice and competitor research

• Someone who ‘gets’ your business and/or dream client

Questions to ask your copywriter:

• Can I see your portfolio?

• What research do you do to make sure you write with my voice?

• Do you do keyword research and include this in the copy?

• What is your process? Why is this your process?

Web designer/developer

You’ll find that some web developers/designers also will write, create graphic design (font choice, logo and colours) and photography. Which streamlines things nicely! 

Or they may work as part of a team on projects so that everything is aligned. In my experience, web developers/designers often come from a design background.

Traditionally, a web developer builds your website from scratch – coding it on platforms such as WordPress. This means you’ve got a website specifically tailored to your needs. Which is great if you have a complex site with memberships, online forums, data libraries etc.

However, many people just need a web designer who will build a site with service pages and a call to contact to book an appointment. For this, there are many non or minimal coded platforms like Rocketspark, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow etc. Or shop sites such as Rocketspark and Shopify. 

Who do you want on your team?

• Can they help guide you to the right platform for you?

• Are they experienced with the website platform you want to use?

• Can they work in a team with others?

• Can they show you how to use your site when the building is done?

Questions to ask your web developer/designer:

• Can I see your portfolio?

• What platform do you suggest I use?

• What platforms do you have experience using?

• What is your process?

• What happens after the site goes live? (support)

Photographer

Yes, you need your photo on your website! 

Connection is important, and we want to see who we’re about to connect with and invest our money in. But a dodgy old selfie from 1995 isn’t going to cut it these days.

Professional photography can capture you in the right way, make you feel relaxed and confident in your business.

I really don’t like having my photo taken. Like. Really. 

But I know the benefits of having photos on my website. So, I started stalking a few photographers and came across one I liked. Her photos were so relaxed and fun while still being professional. And the investment gave me so much confidence in how I put myself out there for my business. She really knew when to click the camera button! 

A photographer can help you out with more than just photos of you for your website (and social media). 

They can also use your Brand Message story to help you decide on photographs that would support the conversation on your website to help convert clients. Pictures not of you, photos of you with clients, pictures of you in action, product photographs.

Who do you want on your team?

• Someone with an eye for capturing the emotions and feelings you want to show on your website

• Someone you feel comfortable with (as comfortable as possible if photos aren’t your thing!) with

• Someone who can see beyond the portrait photo

Questions to ask your photographer

• Can I see your portfolio?

• Can you talk me through the process of how you set up for a photoshoot?

• How many photos will I get?

Go Team Website!

So, there you have it. This may seem like a lot of work, but it’s easier co-ordinating your team if you know who you need on it. I’ve seen many times where the website’s been built and all of a sudden the designer asks where the copy is. Or when the copy is written and the website platform hasn’t been decided on.

Getting your website updated or creating a new one is one of the big investments for your business, and you want it to start paying off ASAP. 

This is how to get a professional site built with as less stress as possible with minimum delays. 

Ready to get your website team together?

I work alongside a great team of graphic designers, web developers and photographers who can help you build a website you feel proud to shout out loud about!