How to Create a Fashion and Lifestyle Website

What Type of Website Do You Need?

Before building a website you must decide what type of website you need.

Different businesses opt for various site designs and structures. Here are a few relating to fashion and lifestyle:

E-Commerce Website – Got an eye for the seasons latest trends? You need an e-commerce website to turn your goods into green. Take a look at All Birds, the website animations and videos complement the fluid design and simple branding.

Blog Website – Flaunt your fashion knowledge with a blog website. Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad advises her readers with blog articles whilst selling clothing and beauty products on the website.

Online Communities – Love to talk about style? Create a platform where everyone can express themselves. Lookbook is a platform where users upload pictures of their outfits for other users to vote on.

Coupon Site – Who doesn’t love a bargain? Coupon sites give buyers the chance to save money on top brands. Retail Me Not offer discount coupons on Macy’s and Victoria’s Secret.

Optimise for Mobile

Whatever type of website you go for, mobile optimisation must be part of your website project plan.

Here’s why you should optimise for mobile:

1. Who doesn’t have a mobile? Be available on the device of choice.

2. Google prioritises mobile. Enhance your appearance by being in Google’s top search results.

3. Build credibility. If you aren’t accessible on a mobile device, you look outdated and you risk damaging your reputation.

4. Function. Work with the right web design company and your website will glitter on any mobile device.

5. Be modern. Be Relevant. Fashion moves fast, and so should your business. Stay on trend with mobile.

What Do You Want it to Look Like?

You’re a fashionista, you should be able to visualise your dream website!

Boxy? Applique? Ombre? Work with a web designer to determine your look.

You should focus on a consistent theme on every page, with simple, great quality images. Blend your creativity with the designers and listen to their expert knowledge.

Here are a few trends for 2018:

1. Drop shadows & depth

2. Animations

3. Particle backgrounds

4. Dynamic Gradients

5. Custom illustrations

6. Big, bold typography

Create A Website Design Brief

You’ve decided the type and style of your website. Time to create a website design brief. Here are a few tips on what to include:

● Budget – It’s pointless briefing for a £20,000 website if you don’t have the funds to buy it! Be realistic, think about your business’s goals and where you should distribute your cash.

● Customers – What do they want? Have they made any requests? Have they complained about your old site? Ask them, you may get some worthy information.

● Staff – What do your staff need? They may want somewhere to store customer information or creative content. Listen to them, they know the companies pain points.

The Importance of Content Management System

Your company needs a CMS! It’s like having a phenomenal piece for London Fashion Week and no catwalk to flaunt it on.

Your CMS distributes all your content, social media, emails and blogs.

It functions as a writing tool, storage space, media hub and makes content creation fast and efficient.

Finding the Right Agency

For a professional service, you need to find the right web design company. First stop, analyse their work! Looking at previous websites will give you an idea of their style and preferred clients.

Do they work with a lot of professional service businesses? Then they’ll design more formal websites. That doesn’t mean they aren’t versatile though.

You’ll want to check how big the agency is. Working with smaller organisations will give a more intimate experience, whereas the bigger fish will have a proven track record stretching back years.

Understanding Your Business

Before you commission any web design project plan, you should ask yourself the question, do they understand my business?

Nodding and agreeing with everything you say is fine. But that doesn’t mean they understand your business.

A web design company that understands your business will ask you questions and give you answers. But more importantly, they’ll listen intently to everything you say.

Create a Project Proposal

When you’re deciding on an agency, you need a project proposal. You should inquire with your shortlisted agencies. Project proposals offer insight into how thorough and organised they are.

The proposal should contain a complete breakdown of your service, cost, file owners, future costs and back-up services.

You’ll also need a list of the key personnel you’ll be working with and project milestone and goals. Once your plan is created, you’re good to go!