How to Critique Your Interior Design Website
Live Website Critique
(How I critiqued my own interior design website for changes)
Your website is a living breathing marketing tool for your business that needs ongoing maintenance & attention. Admittedly, over the last year, I have been so focused on Designer’s Oasis that my own interior design website (katebendewald.com) has been neglected.
While I could make these changes in isolation and pretend to have had a perfectly poised website all along, I decided it would be more helpful to record a critique of my own site and share the changes I’d make.
This is Part 1. I’ll share Part 2 in the coming weeks once the transformation is complete.
My hope is these insights will help you improve your own website to be more effective. Here is what I’ll cover
What makes an effective website
Homepage layout and copy recommendations
About Page strategy
Contact Page improvements
Below the video, you’ll find a brief summary with timestamps for quick reference.
What Makes a Good Website?
A good website is sticky! It makes people want to spend more time browsing.
A good website gets people to take action! What action do you want potential clients to take when they visit your website? book a call, follow on social, join your email list, etc.)
The Home Page
(1:45)
Navigation (3:48)- Make all buttons super clear, include buttons to all of your important pages (contact, about, services, portfolio)
Body (5:10)- Include an attention-grabbing hook as the title that is displayed above the fold and accompanied a call to action button. The copy should be focused on your ideal client. Include their pain points, head-nodding copy, imagine statement, and a testimonial.
What we can do for you (8:10)- List the features of your services (bold the title) as well as an explanation of how this feature will benefit your client.
Intro to About Page (10:00)- Include…
Picture
Attention-Grabbing Headline
1-2 sentences about you or your business
Button linked to about page
Services (10:40)- Include…
Attention-Grabbing headline
How you will help them
Explanation of services
Button to full services page
Testimonial (12:00)- Include an image and brief testimonial try making a testimonial graphic in Canva
Press (12:38)- List any publications that you have been featured in. Make sure that links to the publications open in a new tab.
Gallery/Portfolio- Showcase a few portfolio pictures and include a button to view your portfolio page.
Final Call to Action- Book a Call
Footer- Include…
Navigation
Book A Call
Link to About
Link to Portfolio
Logo
Your Business Location
Social Links
Search Bar
About
(17:20)
Headline- Make sure this grabs your ideal client’s attention
Working with us- Speak directly to your ideal client and reiterate their pain points
Introduction- Tell your ideal client about yourself and your experience
Coffee Date- Tell your ideal client some fun facts about yourself. Let them see your personality who you are when you’re not working!
Call to Action- Book a Call
Team- List of who works with you and a little about them and their skills.
Press- Include any press that you have been featured in.
Contact
(20:00)
Heading- Attention-Grabbing Headline that includes a subheading with a description of who and what the call is for.
Book a Call- Embedded Scheduling calendar through your CRM.
Other Inquiries- A button for people who are not looking to book a discovery call to contact you.
Add-ons- Social Links, FAQ’s, Opt-in
I hope following along as I audit my website has inspired you to find improvements that you can make on your own website. Making these simple changes can make all the difference when it comes to getting your potential clients to take action!
