Insight

With everyone focused on creating the next big website, complete with social media integration and a design never seen by mankind, the competition dwarfs the most important part of a website: content.

Content is, after all, the reason people are visiting your site. So why, in all of the fuss about how to be ahead of the curve, is creating online content hiding in the strategy shadows? We’re not sure, but we’re determined to bring it into the light through a short blog series devoted to the art of content creation, because we believe you should think about content from day one.

Let’s face it, there’s an overload of information on the internet – more words than the human mind can conceive. Perhaps that’s why people consider content as an after thought to creating a beautiful site - good design is the first thing that grabs people’s attention. But, like in dating someone, beauty doesn’t hold ones attention forever. In reality, you need great content to keep visitors intrigued.

How did Reagan get the nickname “the communicator?” Why is Obama one of the greatest rhetoricians in the modern era? How can Fox News hate but also respect Rachel Maddow? Because of the words they choose. That is why content is important – it is how you display the power behind what you do.

Content describes who you are and what your mission is. With the current trend in consumerism of buying from a company you trust, clarity is what you need to have a great site. Take a look at these sites: hello.desktimeapp.com, postable.com, and albatrossreach.com (one of ours), all have concise, relevant wording - you don’t have to play hide and go-seek to find their mission.     

Finally, content needs to be the first thing on people’s mind when creating a site because it can inspire truly unique design (as Shawn’s previous post mentions). If you can clearly convey who you are in words, then it makes the creation of an impactful design easier. In addition, content is the base for which a site design can expand its format to non-traditional platforms, such as phones and tablets.

Clear and concise writing allows a site to be designed in a non text-heavy way that is soothing on the eyes. aworkinglibrary.com, revamptgoods.com (designed by us), and viljamis.com all have designs that take form around the writing; highlighting the key content. You can tell they nowhere near an identity crisis.

 Good sites start a conversation, are a part of the conversation, and expand a conversation.  That’s what this blog series is for, we want to work with you and encourage you to think about every detail of content you may want or need. We’re also being a bit selfish; the better the content, the better our work is. Our websites and designs give you an extraordinary amount of customization control, but that’s useless without extraordinary content, so let’s help each other create a spectacular site  - deal?