1) Define you ideal client. This requires you getting really curious about who you're serving and then doing the work necessary to find out who they REALLY are. (Market Research!)
2) Know what they want when they visit your site. (part of your Market Research)
3) Set yourself apart from the competition. Make sure your clients understand why your service is different from the competition. It's wise to compete on a level other than money. (Someone will always be willing to do the job cheaper).
4) Show them what's in it for them. Make it easy for clients to find what they want and give them reason's to return to your site. (Quality content)
5) Decide what the purpose of your site is. Make sure you have ways to measure your results by subscribing to Google Analytics or a similar product.
6) Create a StoryBoard for your site. Show all the connections most likely to be used. The goal is to make sure clients can find what they're looking for in "2 clicks".
7) Hire a web designer and share your criteria. Be sure that they can make it EASY for you to administer your own site once they leave. (I hear Wordpress has some great features that are easy to use).
Make serving YOUR customer YOUR job.
Remember that you're hiring the designer to work for you and that you know your customers better than the designer does.
Work together with the designer and be their Ideal Client.
