Recently Octane CEO Danielle Meadows-Stinnett was invited to be a panelist for the Strong Women Strong Coffee series hosted by Women’s Business Center of Kentucky. This free session is centered on web design showcasing a open panel discussion from top women designers in the area including Danielle, Joanna Sherrow of Savvy Chic Design and Savannah Harover of Digital Savvy.
As the event approaches Team Octane gathered additional resources and tips that could best align with local web designers and small businesses that DIY’ing their web spaces.
AI in Web Design: The Friend, Not the Foe
- AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: AI isn’t here to take jobs, but to make them easier. It’s great for automating repetitive tasks (image resizing, content optimization), generating ideas, and even providing basic design layouts.
- AI-Powered Design Assistants: Tools like Wix ADI, Bookmark, and The Grid use AI to create initial website drafts based on your preferences. This is a fantastic starting point for beginners.
- The Human Touch is Essential: AI can’t replace creativity, brand understanding, and the nuanced decision-making that makes a website truly resonate with your audience. You’re the expert on your business – use AI to empower your vision, not dictate it.
Website Audit 101: A Quick Check-Up
- Mobile Responsiveness: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it’s a major problem!
- Page Speed: Slow sites drive away visitors. Test your site with Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.
- Broken Links & Errors: Check for 404 errors (broken links). Free tools like Screaming Frog can help.
- Content Freshness: Is your content outdated? Look for opportunities to update and add new, relevant information.
- Clear Call to Action: Make sure each page has a clear purpose (buy now, contact us, learn more) and guides visitors towards it.
Top Tips & Resources for Any Website
- Content is King: Focus on high-quality, relevant content that speaks directly to your target audience.
- User Experience (UX): Make your site easy to navigate, visually appealing, and fast-loading. Happy users are more likely to become customers.
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Learn the basics to help your site rank higher in search results. Google’s Search Console is a great place to start.
- Analytics: Use tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s performance and understand your visitors.
Additional Resources:
- WordPress: A versatile and powerful platform, great for blogs and small businesses.
- Squarespace: Ideal for visually focused businesses, offers beautiful templates and an easy-to-use interface.
