Comprehensive guide to planning your website project for Nigerian businesses
By Chineme - GlobeNet.dev
Introduction
Planning your website is the first and most important step in creating a successful online presence. This guide will help you think through all aspects of your website project before development begins, saving you time and money while ensuring you get exactly what you need.
1. Define Your Goals
Before anything else, clearly define what you want your website to achieve:
What is the primary purpose? (Sell products, generate leads, provide information, build brand awareness)
What are your business objectives? (Increase sales by X%, get 50 leads per month, reduce phone calls)
Who is your target audience? (Local customers in Awka, businesses in Anambra, nationwide customers)
What action do you want visitors to take? (Make a purchase, fill out a form, call you, book an appointment)
Tip: Write down 3-5 specific, measurable goals for your website. This will guide all your decisions.
2. Know Your Target Audience
Understanding your audience is crucial for effective website design and content:
Demographics: Age, location, income level, education
Behavior: How do they use the internet? Mobile or desktop?
Needs: What problems are they trying to solve?
Preferences: What do they value? (Price, quality, convenience, trust)
Language: Do they prefer English, Pidgin, or local languages?
Questions to ask:
Where are your customers located? (Local, regional, national)
Do they primarily use mobile phones or computers?
What information do they need before making a decision?
What concerns or objections do they have?
3. Research Your Competition
Study what your competitors are doing online:
Visit competitor websites and note what you like and dislike
Identify features they have that you might need
Look for gaps in their offerings that you can fill
Check their pricing and positioning
Review their customer reviews and feedback
Key questions:
What are competitors doing well?
What are they missing?
How can you differentiate yourself?
What can you learn from their mistakes?
4. Plan Your Content
Content is what visitors come to your website for. Plan it carefully:
Essential Pages:
Homepage: Clear value proposition, what you do, call-to-action
About: Your story, why you're different, credentials
Services/Products: What you offer, pricing, benefits
Contact: Multiple ways to reach you (phone, email, WhatsApp, address)