Content Creation for Your New Website
Building a new website is exciting—but before your designer can bring your vision to life, you'll need to provide content and images. This is often the step that slows a project down. Whether you're writing your own copy or struggling to choose the right photos, being prepared makes all the difference. In this post, we’ll walk through what you need, how to write it, tools that can help, and how to choose images that look great on every screen.
1. Why Good Content Matters
Design gets attention—but words build trust. Your website content tells visitors who you are, what you do, and why they should care. Without clear, relevant copy, even the best-designed website will fall flat. Preparing your content in advance helps your project launch on time and connect with the right audience.
2. Writing Your Website Copy (Even If You're Not a Writer)
You don’t need to be a professional writer to create strong web content. Here are a few tips:
- Know your audience. Speak directly to their needs and questions.
- Be concise. Visitors scan—keep paragraphs short and impactful.
- Use your voice. Let your personality or brand tone shine through.
Need help? Try these tools:
- ChatGPT – Generate ideas, rough drafts, headlines, FAQs, and more.
- Grammarly – Great for catching grammar and clarity issues.
- A professional copywriter – Worth considering if writing feels overwhelming or time is short.
3. What Content You’ll Need (Page by Page)
Here’s a simple guide to what each page typically needs:
- Home: Brief intro, what you offer, and a clear call to action.
- About: Your story or background, mission, or values.
- Services: Description of what you do, pricing or packages if applicable.
- Contact: Phone, email, location (if needed), and a contact form.
- Portfolio/Blog (optional): Show off your work or share your expertise.
4. Choosing the Right Photos
Strong visuals elevate your site. Here’s how to choose wisely:
- Use original photos when possible—authentic images build trust.
- Stock photos are fine too! Use reputable sources like:
Tip: Look for photos with natural lighting and real people. Avoid overly staged or cliché images.
5. Image Resolution & Format Tips
To keep your site looking crisp and loading fast, keep these in mind:
- Full-width banners: Aim for at least 2000px wide.
- Format: Use JPG for photos, PNG for logos or images with transparency.
- Optimize: Use tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh to compress images without losing quality.
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6. Responsive Images: What You Need to Know
Your website must look great on all screen sizes. That means:
- Images may crop on mobile. Choose images with flexible composition—center the focus, leave space around edges.
- Text over images? Keep important words inside the “safe zone” (centered, with room to crop).
- Portrait vs Landscape: Landscape works better for banners; portrait is great for galleries or bios.
7. Start Early, Launch On Time
Gathering content always takes longer than expected. Start working on your text and photos early in the process so your web designer isn’t left waiting—and your launch isn’t delayed.
Need help creating content or organizing your ideas? Contact me! I offer content consulting and can guide you through the process step by step.