by Awesome Author | Oct 28, 2021 | Web Design
The world of designs is a vast one if you are naive or a beginner. You won’t just be confused with several things in the basket, but also unrelated when you have no idea how to move ahead. And, when it comes to website design performed by a designer, they can often face blocks while designing specific models and graphics.
If you fall under such a category, this article is for you. Keep reading to know more about how to get started with web designs and improve on what you’re looking for.
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1. Use Pinterest Mood Boards
Pinterest is one of the significant tools to develop mood boards. For this, collect visual material that you reckon would be advantageous in your quest to incorporate into your project for some directions and inspirations. These can be color schemes, images, existing websites, layouts, and many more. Besides, such a mood board can act as a central hub for all your website design inspiration.
In addition, you can also share them with collaborators and clients to contribute to their material.
2. Create a Step-by-Step System
What they say: failing to plan a system is planning to fail. This also implies that it is very much true with web designing. If you fail to capitalize on the website design, it might be because you have not dealt with the essentials and fundamentals yet. Only when all the basics are in place will one be able to put creative touches. If you want to know more, here is what planning may look like.
- Define the goal of your website – You must know what the website is supposed to achieve. And, if you do not, what is it suitable for? Reasonable objectives tend to be SMART, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely, to be more specific.
- Sketch a buyer’s journey – Irrespective of the overall objective; you must know the route of your visitor. From when they ponder on your website to whatever goal you have in mind. This is one of the ways to develop a popper structure to guide the visitors along the entire way.
- Produce your style guide — Producing one specific style guide can help you stay updated and consistent with your designs. It tends to define colors, fonts, and other designing elements. Utilizing one can promote uniformity, primarily when you are working with others. Google is one good example of this.
- Plan your SEO — Towards the end, you need to plan out search engine optimization. Create a map for your website to acknowledge how to structure the much-needed insight for search engines and visitors.
3. Focus on the Structure
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Just like forming a strategy, focusing on the site’s structure can initially help you step away from the entire process and get a bird’s eye view. Furthermore, this can help you in various other things. For instance, by producing sketches on paper with one pen, you may forget about details like colors and corners for a moment. However, if you are utilizing a whiteboard or a flipchart, consider making the entire thing collaborative.
Even though you are hell-bent on utilizing your computer to design, you can simply use one of the squint tests. This simply implies that moving away from your screen and then squinting your eyes simultaneously. Besides, the entire blurred image will show what is obvious on your website and what the first visit or users will notice on the screen.
4. Stick With Web Standards
You cannot blame the designers for such a task. Every creative individual wants to explore their creative ends to mark a difference. That is a good thing. However, remember that it is necessary to mark some boundaries within which one can be a little creative. For instance, when it comes to web design, there are several established standards. Users and visitors are habitual of specific website elements and tropes. So, when you break such rules, it may put them off and eventually enable them to exit the site.
Among these established standards:
- Consistency in design and branding across every page
- The top left website logo
- Contact info mentioned in the top center or right
- Primary navigation throughout the screen’s top
- Main value/headline proposition and CTA on the homepage
- Header’s search feature
- Social media icons
5. Focus on CTA Buttons & Minimalism
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When you realize the actions and goals of your pages and website, you can eliminate everything that does not serve the purpose. This can streamline the design and make it more pleasant to everyone. But, yet again, there is a lot of research to back this up. In one of the studies, Google found out that it gets negatively correlated with the site’s appeal and attraction points when it comes to visual complexities. In short, people do not wish to get overwhelmed with such changes.
Featured Image Credits: TNZ Web Solutions
by Awesome Author | Aug 21, 2021 | Commercial Writing
Corporate writing or commercial writing, as they say, is similar to each other. Although this may not sound as creative as writing blogs, journals, or stories, it is still an exciting field that allows you to experiment with various niches and, more importantly, enables you to write for multiple clients at once.
As a result, if you have never tried to write a commercial piece, this is an ideal starting point for you. If you ask experienced commercial writers, they will guide you on the same. Everyone begins with copywriting. Not only is this an exciting field, but it pays well too. Like every writer, you can learn new facets of language, enhance your skills, and use different tones and styles to maneuver a specific message. See! It can be as creative as you want it to be.
From writing the health benefits of sardines and red grapes to describing how bobcats function, you have everything to test and prosper. Moreover, if you have been a part of multiple genres at once, consider utilizing this information and facts for future articles. So, let’s get you started with what commercial writing is.
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What is Commercial Writing?
This type of writing is for companies. A freelance or copywriter tends to write a copy to help businesses interact with their clients and customers. Every brochure, advertisement, catalog, and sales letter you’ve come across was written by a commercial writer. This goes the same for TV and radio ads and all those fundraising letters sent by charities. Wait, we aren’t finished yet! Every catalog description you have gone through on multiple websites is written by content writers.
Copywriting is a massive field. Some of the usual jobs a commercial writer can indulge in are mentioned in a rundown:
- Advertisement copy
- Press releases
- Catalog descriptions
- Brochures
- Sales letters
- Company newsletters
- Scripts for television/radio advertisements
- Website content
- Website advertisements
- Direct mail campaigns
- Scripts for promotional films
- Specialist magazines/articles for publication in trade
- White Papers
- Speeches
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It can be fun if one thinks they like the sound of it. Followed by specific fields, commercial writers can be called upon to write these:
- Training manuals
- Internal corporate newsletters
- Job advertisements
- Office procedures
- Company reports
- Corporate vision statements
- Motivational posters
What can you earn as a copywriter/commercial writer?
This largely depends on the work you are into and the experience you have gathered. But, guess what? You can make a real livelihood by committing to commercial writing as your full-time career. And, if you want to adhere to commercial writing on a part-time basis, it can be an ideal way to supplement other income streams.
For instance, writing around 300-350 words for a newsletter can quickly provide you with $25 an hour. Some companies may offer you a temporary contract while others provide a quick job. One can also write press releases for event marketers and earn up to £60 ($120) for every press release. The varying hourly pay rates for article writing and press releases are entirely different. All one has to do is find the right mix since these involve a similar skill.
How do you become a writer?
The good news is that any individual can become a commercial copywriter. Like other writing areas, there are several courses and books about how to begin in this area. Another excellent news is that most of the content work you can take falls under the freelance area. You won’t be competing with staff or contributing writers and editors. Most organizations tend to utilize freelance content writers instead of in-house writing teams. That is because freelancing is tangible, flexible, and cost-effective for companies.
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This has to be the most profound factor. A budding writer does not require any initial investment to begin their writing journey. You only need an internet connection, computer/laptop, telephone, and a printer (if needed).
What you require:
A Website
Several writers own a website where they advertise their services and tend to showcase writing skills. Such a website can comprise a brief about you and the experience you have gathered in all these years. Moreover, do not list your rates as seasoned professionals believe there’s no such thing as typical projects with typical fees. Besides, try enlisting your work samples for companies to look at your work and the clients you have worked with.
Business Cards
Get business cards printed with your title and name. You can either choose online designing sites or have them designed at a nearby store. But, remember, do not put excess information on the card.
Word of Mouth Marketing
Follow the basics. Tell people around you that you’re a commercial copywriter/ talk to your bank manager, friends, people you meet at a cafe, or tourists on vacation. Hand them your business card whenever you can.
Featured Image Credits: Pixabay
