How to Think About Corporate Site Design and Strategy

June 1, 2015In Framework4 Minutes

For many companies, the role of the corporate site has shifted from a go-to destination for their brand to a channel for public relations. Brand websites and mini websites have taken the role in selling and engaging the target audience. While companies have evolved their strategies in terms of what to do with their other sites, very few have done much in terms of creating an effective corporate web design.

Before even discussing design, it’s important to develop a corporate website strategy. You have to start by asking important questions. Why are people going to your corporate website? Will you need a mobile version of your site? What goals do you have for the corporate website? How will you go about achieving these goals? You have to map out your strategy so that you can come up with how the design can support the goals.

Two people working together to strategize corporate site.

Once there is a clear strategy, you can begin working on the corporate web design. There are many ways to go about constructing or redoing the corporate site. As mentioned before, you can go build it as a public relations platform as many large corporations do. It can help give vital information to potential investors, partners and customers. It can also provide necessary background information for prospects that want to do their research before doing business with you.

Another alternative is to use it as an engagement tool to promote your brands and generate sales. You can build a catalog of the products and services that are sold under the various brands the corporation is running. The site can be a helpful resource that links one brand to another. It can tell the story behind the brands to win fans and get the word out about what other brands that they should be in the know about.

In either case, you want to avoid the typical design that many corporations use on their site – cold and boring. Even if it is a corporate site, the design should still draw the eye and get users to want to learn more about what you have to say. Many corporations use engaging stories, videos, and interactive elements to help boost engagement. You can do the same as long as there is a clear purpose as to why you are doing what you’re doing.

Of course, all the standard rules of design will apply. This means that you want to deliver a clean and intuitive UI and provide a great user experience. Corporate sites often tend to have an uninviting UI. While they are often organized and simple, the design makes users feel like they are not going to find anything more valuable than the main content they’ve already gone through.

This doesn’t have to be the case. Simple things like using different color palettes, unique design templates, and different fonts can make the UI more appealing. When combined with great storytelling, visuals, and content, you’ll get the much-wanted attention of the users and succeed in promoting your brands or any other goals you have for the website. In conclusion, you need to think through your corporate site’s strategy and how to make the design bridge the gap to your goals while engaging your users.

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