Web developers are hired to build websites by many different people. One of the concerns that people may have is not knowing what their websites are going to look like when the web developer has finished creating them. A big problem occurs if the web developer is finished, yet the website looks nothing like the client intended it to after already incurring a huge expense.
To fix this problem, you can use website wireframes. Website wireframes can be used to show the client what the website is going to look like when it is finished. Clients are able to comment on the site and make changes before the web developer has completed the work.
In many cases, a simple wireframe is sufficient to meet the needs of the client and is much less expensive to build. More complex wireframes will allow a user to click through the different pages of the websites, but this can be very expensive to implement.
The main purpose of a wireframe is to show the client the overall look and design of the site, how to navigate through the website and the basic feel of the website when it is finished. Hyperlinks on the website will not work properly in the wireframe pages.
Creating Wireframes
Most commonly, the person whom you hire to design your website for you will create the wireframes. You also have the option to create the wireframes yourself, if you desire. This can be simple to do; it is much like creating a hand-drawn picture of what you want to see on each page of the website. In most cases, you would use software to create the wireframes, such as Photoshop or PowerPoint. Each page of the wireframe should include some sort of reference number so that the designer can easily mark any changes that need to be made.
Wireframing is the first step and one of the most important steps in the entire process of your website design. When creating your website wireframe, there are some tips that you should follow in order to ensure that it is the best wireframe that you can create.
You should be clear from the start as to what your objective is for your wireframe. The biggest mistakes that developers make when creating website wireframes typically occur during the planning stages. A developer should never just start coding without planning first. Planning the wireframe before the coding process gets underway will help you to foresee any problems that may arise and to identify the issues that you might come across during the process of creating the website.
When you start creating the website wireframe, set a deadline right away so that you can keep your project flowing. A wireframe for a simple website should only take a few hours, but a more complicated website wireframe can take up to a few days to complete.
Think about the people who will use your website as you create the wireframe. Would you want to read a registration page that was pages long or would one page be better for you? Most people will not take the time to fill out a long registration page, so keeping it as short as possible is best.
When you are finished with your wireframe, it should include everything that is on the website. This includes all elements from the Log In button, if the user has to log in, to those at the very end of the site. You should be able to step through the wireframe as if you are looking at the finished website. Make use of a wireframe tool as you set up your website wireframe.
