Shoot First, Think Later

April 14, 2009 in Conscious Business · Written by Tara Joyce · Follow Me on Twitter

Creative Commons License photo credit: monkeypuzzle

Creative Commons License photo credit: monkeypuzzle

How often is a movie filmed without first writing a script? How often is a book jacket designed without first writing the content?

A website is no different. It tells a story. One of the most common mistakes I find business owner’s make in their website development is creating the design before writing the content.

Your website content isn’t there to fill up your design space. Determine what you are saying and to who before you find a design to compliment it. The worst thing you can do is write web content for the singular purpose of filling up space. Decide what content is important first and then create a design that highlights and compliments it.

Your story, your purpose, your message is the best design inspiration there is.

Other articles that might tickle your fancy:

  • http://timbursch.com timbursch

    It seems like some companies and people have an idea (I've done this too) and just throw something together, but don't really have the purpose figured out. Why are we selling this? What am I really writing about? Doing thing intentionally takes more time and attention.

  • http://www.elasticmind.ca/innerpreneur Tara Joyce

    It absolutely does. It takes far more work. But it makes the final
    product far more valuable and effective. It comes back to the simple
    idea of 'understand why you are doing something before you do it'.

  • http://InnerpreneurVentures.com gulliver

    Let's introduce a little mischief…

    Swiping from Kwakkers, 'churn, baby churn' and 'don’t worry, be crappy' spring readily to mind.

    'Don't deceive yourself that the first version of your stuff is great. And don't wait to perfect before you ship. Revise and improve continuously.'

    Besides, 'thinking' is hugely over-rated. (And that comes fro a strategist. Ha!)

  • http://www.elasticmind.ca/innerpreneur Tara Joyce

    All very true. But still, don't design your site before you write it.
    Unless your name starts with g and ends with ully.

  • http://InnerpreneurVentures.com gulliver

    'Said the young man, to the old man…'

    How is creating the design before writing the content a mistake?

    That's exactly how templates are originated – on the basis that an appropriate design can accommodate a wide variety of content.

    Your basic point of 'design should complement content' is sound.

    (And yes, of course I'm being difficult here.)

  • http://www.elasticmind.ca/innerpreneur Tara Joyce

    Touche. But my argument still stands – know what you are saying, what
    you are communicating before you go out and buy that template, or
    custom design. Understand the message before you decide on the visuals.

    I have no problem with templates (mostly) but I do have a problem with
    websites that spend all their time on the design without bothering to
    consider the content. The design while appealing isn't what will have
    people returning or staying.