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5 Reasons Why You Should Adopt a Content-First Approach

By: Ruviene Domingo

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Copywriting Web Design

02 Nov 2020

5 reasons why your web design process should start with content


Content is the backbone of the web development process. It gives your website direction and maps the layout and flow of information on your site. What should you include on your homepage? 

If the homepage isn’t the first page users see, is the content on other landing pages sufficient to draw interest and attract new customers? By adopting a Content-First approach, the design supports and bolsters the most important aspect of a business website, getting customers to the information they need.

In the past, most web designers adopted the Design-First approach to web development. However as the web development industry grew, we have learned that developing websites without structured and established content is a flawed process. This process will be met with numerous issues later on resulting in a more time consuming and frustrating process than a Content-First approach.

In this article, we give you the top 5 reasons why the content-first approach is so important to your web design and development. 

1. Prioritises Good SEO Practices

Priorities good SEO practices

A content-first approach allows you to prioritise your central message over your website’s aesthetics. People use Google to find the things they want to purchase. And SEO is important for your website to be visible on Google search engines.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of optimising posts, webpages, and articles for better visibility on search engines. It leverages the power of content to help propel a website rank in Google’s search algorithm.

However, it is often regarded as less important than design in the web development process. You need to prioritise your content when building your website to unlock the full potential of SEO.

Your visitors will benefit from a good user experience once you have compelling content and strong SEO performance. This will also help you rank on Google. Content is what brings users to your website, therefore, a content-first approach that prioritises SEO leads to better search rankings and a better user experience.

2. Clear Direction for Design

Clear direction for design

Content is considered the meat of your website. Your website can be aesthetically pleasing but without good content, it will lack substance.

A content-first approach will help designers use the content as their guide to how every visual asset will be laid out. When you’ve already established the content you’ll be using, it’s easier to define the overall sitemap. 

The overall web development process becomes more efficient. From there, designers can build up a sensible information structure. They will also be able to recommend better graphics and images to be used in addition to the content.

Determining your website’s content first can help eliminate the long and tedious process of choosing the right design. This will save you and your team time otherwise spent working on designs you will eventually not use.

3. More Streamlined Process Flow

More streamlined process flow

When a web design project begins without an established content structure, the development process results in endless rounds of iteration between team members and the client. The content-first approach allows a more productive and cooperative process during website design.

Project managers can refer to design suggestions offered by copywriters and consult the client to gain a better idea of the images to use or the overall design style of the website. When there is a set plan, everyone is aligned with each of their tasks and can work without any hindrances.

This results in improved productivity and efficiency among the team which could mean that your website design will be delivered on time.

4. Consistent Style and Tone

Website content style & design tone should be consistent

Consistency has a big role to play when it comes to your website’s design and its content. Both need to be consistent and aligned with the other for your website to look neat and professional. This will inspire trust from your site visitors and encourage repeated visits.

In addition, your content will also set the tone for the design of your website. Your tone is the verbal expression of a mood best adapted to cater to your audience. Web Copywriters follow different tones when writing content; there’s casual, formal and elegant to name a few. 

The selected tone will serve as a guide for the designer to know the overall theme of the website. By establishing your content first, you will prevent probable instances wherein your content and web design do not complement each other.

Consistency in tone for both content and design of your website can help you establish an overall “voice” for your company. This image will also be helpful in connecting with your audience. Since the content-first process is a more holistic approach, you need not worry about consistency because it will follow. Your website will look like a puzzle put neatly together.

5. Better Content Quality

Provide better quality content for more engagement

Content-first web design prioritises quality over quantity. Even if there is less content on your website, it is sure to be of a higher quality and strategically placed making it a more engaging read for visitors. 

At Verz, we incorporate various copywriting and copyediting techniques that are proven to be the key to having high-quality website content. Some of them include punchy headlines, engaging copy and many more. Our experience has led us to conclude that filler or excessive web content results in a higher bounce-rates so it is important to focus on quality.

In conclusion, the content-first approach is undoubtedly a more streamlined process. It saves time, energy, and resources to all parties involved in the web design process.

Let us help you achieve a well-designed website in the shortest amount of time!

Your website is an investment that will yield significant dividends later on. It paves the way for a lot of opportunities for your brand online. To achieve a well-designed website, you need an experienced web design agency that is proven to deliver the best services.

Verz Design has been practising the content-first approach in our web development processes for more than 10 years and we’ve helped thousands of businesses in Singapore using this approach. Let us do the same for your business!


Get in touch by calling us at 6841 1680 or shoot us an email at [email protected] for a free consultation.

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