Work Boot Startup Kicks Off Its First Website
February 2019
Planning: The Key to an Effective Website
Launching a website is one of the most important tasks a startup business must undertake. No matter whether you’re selling professional services or actual products that can be purchased online, a website is central to your business’ marketing efforts. It can be so tempting to rush through the process and just “get something up” fast. However, it’s always better to get it right the first time, which means taking the time to plan.
CASE STUDY – HOSS Boot Company
HOSS Boot Company, located in Buford, Ga., is a startup work boot and work shoe company founded by several veterans of the work boot footwear category. The planning process included:
Gaining an understanding of the work footwear category
Establishing objectives for the website
Conducting reviews of competitor websites for design trends and overall functionality
Developing a sitemap to capture all needed content, products and functionality
Working with the web development team to determine the best e-commerce platform
Determining which lifestyle and product shots were needed for the initial launch and selecting a photographer.
Selecting the Right Project Team
It’s also important to select the right team to handle the project. Several types of talent are needed to develop a website including a marketing project manager who understands and directs the overall strategy; a website designer with creative and branding experience who also understands website user experience; a copywriter and then of course developers that have the right technical expertise for the job. And for businesses that rely on their website for sales, working with a digital marketing team to implement an online marketing and SEO strategy is a must once the site is live.
Whether you’re developing your first website or redeveloping an existing one, taking time to plan on the front end is crucial. A website is a significant investment for a business, so make sure you get it right or you may find yourself spending even more to fix issues that could have been avoided with a little more planning.
Website: HossBoots.com
Website Design: Kimberly Jones, JonesHaus
Website Development: The Dev Department
Photography: Kevin Garrett Photography
Platform: WordPress with WooCommerce e-commerce solution