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5 Things You Need to Know Before You Design a Great Website

a great website is visually appealing

If you’re looking to build up your online presence, you’ll want to give some consideration to building a great website.

A new website can be a powerful tool for meeting your goals and improving your company’s image.
When designing or building a website, whether for your business or for a personal project, you must first plan everything out.


So, before you think about how to design a great website, make sure you’ve checked these five items. You’ll be happy you did!

Photo by Pixabay

What defines a great website?

Many websites are created with a specific purpose in mind. They enable you to buy things, read about products, communicate with others, and obtain information.

But what shows when you have taken the effort to design a great website? Why do some websites leave us wanting more, while others leave us feeling like we’ve had the best time ever? It all comes down to how well they meet the needs of their users and how enjoyable they are to use.

A great website is easy to use

So many online businesses fail to convert their visitors to sales because their website is not easy to use. A great website should be simple and intuitive enough that anyone can use it. If it isn’t, you will lose customers and end up spending more money on support calls than you would on a good web developer in the first place.

A great website is visually appealling

When people visit your website, the first thing they will notice is how it looks. If your website appears dull or out of date, visitors will leave before learning what you have to offer. A great website design will entice visitors to explore more of your site and become acquainted with all of its contents.

a great website that is visually appealing
Photo by Designecologist

A great website is responsiveness

One of the reasons people buy from you is if your website is responsive. Responsive design is a method of creating websites that are optimized for viewing on both large and small screens. This enables you to create a single website that displays differently depending on the device being used to view it.

A great website is clear and organized

When you identify your ideal client, you need to organize your website for them. A great website serves a specific purpose and achieves a specific goal. It explains why you’re there and what you’ll find when you get there. A great website stays relevant by regularly updating itself with new content, such as blog posts and press releases related to the industry or topic being discussed on the site in question.

Your website should look good on all devices (and browsers) so that visitors can easily find what they’re looking for and get the most out of your content.

A great website is fast

A great website loads quickly! A slow loading time will lower your search engine ranking and may drive visitors away from your site. You want your site to load quickly so that you can concentrate on providing value to your customers rather than dealing with technical issues.

Photo by Eser Tekin

5 Things You Need to Know Before You Design a Great Website

The difference between an online vs offline business is an online presence – a great website. There are many things to consider before you design a website, and here are a few things that you should keep in mind:

1. What Web host are you going to utilize?

If you want your site to be up and running quickly, then you need to choose a web host. A web host is required if you want your website to be accessible to anyone with internet access. A web host is essentially the internet storage space for your website. There are a lot of options out there, including free hosting and paid hosting services.

There are numerous types of web hosts available, including shared, virtual private server (VPS), dedicated, and cloud hosting. Each has advantages and disadvantages, so it’s critical to understand which type of hosting is best for your site before you begin designing it.

If you only need one or two pages on your site and don’t expect it to grow significantly in the future, shared hosting will probably suffice; however, if you plan on adding several new pages over time and want a lot of flexibility with how they appear, VPS will be better suited to your needs. Web hosts include Kinsta, Flywheel.

Photo by Markus Spiske

What to consider before choosing a web host?

When it comes to selecting a web host, you will have dozens of options ranging from shared hosting to dedicated servers.

Not all hosts, however, are created equal. Some have more features than others and can be significantly more expensive or less expensive than the competition. Before selecting a web host, it’s critical to understand exactly what you require.

  • How Many Websites Do You Want To Host?
  • What Type Of Website Do You Need?
  • What kind of traffic will my site receive? How much bandwidth will it use?
  • How much disk space do I need?
  • Do I need any special features such as SSL certificates or WordPress optimization?
  • What type of content will you be posting?
  • What can you afford?

2. What Content Management System do you want to use?

CMSs are software applications that allow you to create and manage content for your website. They enable you to update the content of your website without having to learn HTML or code.

There are numerous CMSs available, each with its own set of features, so it’s critical to select one that meets your requirements.

Among the most popular CMSs are:

WordPress is a free open source CMS with an ever-expanding library of plugins and themes available for download from the WordPress marketplace. It is now used by more than a quarter of all websites on the internet (including this one). While it is simple to use and customize, if you want to make changes yourself, you will need some technical knowledge.

Photo by Pixabay

Joomla! is a free open source CMS that, unlike WordPress, allows you to build a website using modules rather than templates. It is now used by more than 1% of all websites on the internet (including this one). While it is simple to use and customize, if you want to make changes yourself, you will need some technical knowledge.

  • Magento

Magento is a paid eCommerce platform designed specifically for eCommerce websites (such as Amazon or eBay), but it can also be used as a general content management system, similar to WordPress or Joomla!

3. What Content Delivery Network will I Utilize?

The content delivery network (CDN) is a web service that stores duplicates of your website’s content in multiple locations around the world, allowing users to download pages from nearby servers rather than your own (s). It’s especially important if you have a large number of users accessing your site at the same time or if your server isn’t nearby (or both!).

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are an excellent way to increase the speed of your website. They assist you in delivering your content from the closest possible location, allowing it to load faster for users.

There are two kinds of CDNs:

  • Web Hosting Provider –

A web hosting provider can provide a CDN service at no extra cost, but they typically only allow you to use their own CDN, which is inconvenient if you need access to multiple providers. Many hosting providers provide free SSL certificates, and some, such as Bluehost and HostGator, even have built-in caching features for WordPress sites.

  • Third-party CDN providers,

Third party providers such as Amazon Cloudfront or MaxCDN, provide more options and flexibility than web hosting providers, but are typically more expensive. If you intend to use any scripts or plugins that rely on Google’s JavaScript libraries or jQuery, it is best if there are multiple solutions available.

What to Consider before choosing a CDN?

There are numerous CDNs to choose from, but which one should you use? The answer is dependent on your specific requirements. Here are some questions to consider before making a decision:

  • What am I willing to spend?

The cost of a CDN varies greatly depending on the number of visitors, bandwidth and storage requirements, and other factors. It’s important to understand that not all CDN services are created equal; some may perform better than others or provide more features at a comparable price point.

  • What type of data am I storing?

If you’re only storing static assets (images, for example), then there are numerous CDN available, with varying price points and features. If you’re storing dynamic data (API calls, database queries), then things get more complex as most CDNs don’t support this functionality.

4. What Theme will I utilize to design my website?

The theme is another important decision to make when designing a website. There are many different types of themes available, each with a unique look and feel. Some themes are intended for specific types of businesses, whereas others are more general.

You might want to select a theme that already incorporates your branding (i.e., your logo and color scheme). This makes it easier for people to recognize your brand when they see it on other websites, such as affiliate or sponsor sites.

Photo by Stephan Seeber

What to consider before picking a theme?

Here are 5 ways to know a great theme for a website:

  1. Text is readable even on small screens.
  2. Images don’t take up too much space.
  3. Navigation is easy to use.
  4. Site load speed is fast.
  5. It’s clean and simple.

5. Who will be designing my website?

The first question you should ask is who will design a great website for your business. If you are in charge of the design process, you should be aware that there are numerous types of designers. Some specialize in corporate websites, while others specialize in ecommerce sites and still others in small business or personal websites.

The type of designer you hire will be determined by the type of site you want to build and the amount of money you have available. For example, if you want to take a small physical business online, a simple informational website with no shopping cart or payment processing capabilities, any competent web designer can create one for you at a reasonable cost.

However, if you want an e-commerce site with an integrated shopping cart system and payment processing capabilities, you’ll have to pay more because these features necessitate specialized knowledge and software packages that not every web designer has access to or understands how to use.

What to consider before choosing a website designer?

Before you start looking for a website designer, here are four things you should know:

  1. The designer must have prior experience in your field.
  2. The designer must be able to clearly and thoroughly explain their process.
  3. Your website designer should be able to handle all aspects of your project.
  4. The designer must be able to communicate effectively with clients and be easy to work with.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many considerations to take into account when designing a website. This post is meant to give you a brief overview of the most important things to consider when designing your own website. If you want more information on these topics, or if you have any questions, please leave a comment below.

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How to Structure and Automate Your Business to Scale Fast and Avoid Entrepreneur Burnout

Running a business in Nigeria is not for the fainthearted. From inconsistent power supply to handling stubborn staff and clients, to managing cash flow issues, the pressure on entrepreneurs is real. Many business owners start out with energy and passion, only to find themselves overwhelmed by endless tasks. The result is burnout, and a business that feels like a heavy burden instead of a wealth-building machine.

But here’s the truth: if your business is not structured and automated, you can’t scale sustainably. At best, you’ll hit a ceiling. At worst, you’ll collapse under the stress. The good news is that with the right structure and smart automation, you can build a business that grows beyond you, while you enjoy peace of mind.

In this article, I’ll break down step by step how to structure and automate your business so you can scale fast and reduce burnout. This is not theory. These are practical strategies Nigerian entrepreneurs can apply immediately.

Step 1: Build a Solid Business Structure First

Before you even think of automation, your business must have a proper foundation. Many entrepreneurs in Nigeria operate like hustlers — no defined processes, no documentation, no clear job roles. That’s why they can’t leave their shop for one day without things falling apart.

To structure your business:

1. Define Clear Roles and Responsibilities
Stop being the “chief everything officer.” List out all the key activities in your business — sales, marketing, operations, finance, customer service. Assign them to specific people or create job descriptions, even if you are still the one handling most of them for now. This makes it easy to delegate later.

2. Document Your Processes
Every successful scalable business runs on systems. Write down how you onboard customers, how you deliver products or services, how you handle complaints, how you pay vendors. Think of it like creating a playbook. This makes it easier to train staff and maintain consistency.

3. Separate Personal and Business Finances
A lot of entrepreneurs mix personal spending with business money. That’s the fastest way to kill growth. Open a dedicated business account. Pay yourself a salary. Track your expenses. When your finances are structured, scaling becomes possible.

Step 2: Identify Repetitive Tasks That Drain You

If you constantly feel drained, it’s because you’re spending energy on tasks that could be automated or delegated. Sit down with a pen and write out everything you do daily and weekly in your business. You’ll notice many repetitive tasks like:

Sending payment reminders

Following up with leads

Updating records

Responding to the same customer questions

Scheduling meetings

Inventory updates

These tasks are important but they don’t require your personal attention every time. Once you identify them, you’re ready for automation.

Step 3: Leverage Automation Tools to Save Time

Automation is not about replacing people with robots. It’s about using tools to handle repetitive processes so you can focus on high-value activities like strategy and growth. Here are areas every Nigerian business owner can automate today:

1. Marketing Automation
Instead of manually posting on social media, use tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to schedule posts ahead of time. For email marketing, platforms like Mailchimp or ConvertKit allow you to set up automated follow-up sequences. Imagine a system where once someone downloads your free guide or fills a form, they automatically receive nurturing emails without you lifting a finger.

2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
A good CRM helps you track leads, follow up automatically, and manage customers in one place. HubSpot and Zoho are popular options. Instead of carrying customer details in your head or WhatsApp chats, you’ll have a proper system.

3. Accounting and Payments
Use tools like QuickBooks or Wave for bookkeeping. In Nigeria, you can also set up automated payment systems using Paystack or Flutterwave so customers can pay online without stress. That reduces the headache of chasing payments manually.

4. Task Management
To avoid confusion with your team, use platforms like Trello, Asana, or ClickUp to assign and track tasks. This ensures everyone knows what to do without you micromanaging daily.

Step 4: Hire Smart and Delegate Properly

Automation is powerful, but people are still essential. If you want to scale, you must build a team. Many entrepreneurs delay hiring because they think it’s expensive, but the real expense is trying to do everything yourself.

Here’s the formula:

Start with virtual assistants for basic admin tasks.

Hire part-time or contract staff for specialized roles like social media or accounting.

Train employees using your documented processes so they can run the business even when you’re away.

Delegating doesn’t mean losing control. It means freeing up your time for high-level decisions like partnerships, expansion, and strategy.

Step 5: Use Data to Make Better Decisions

One reason entrepreneurs burn out is because they make decisions based on guesswork. If you don’t track your numbers, you’re running blind.

Some key metrics you should monitor:

Monthly revenue and expenses

Customer acquisition cost

Conversion rates from leads to customers

Average order value

Repeat purchase rate

When you automate data collection using your accounting software, CRM, or analytics tools, you can see trends clearly. This helps you know where to cut costs, where to invest more, and when to scale.

Step 6: Build a Scalable Mindset

Even with the right tools and team, scaling won’t happen unless you shift your mindset. Many Nigerian entrepreneurs are stuck in survival mode — always thinking short term, chasing quick profit, or afraid to let go of control. To truly scale:

Stop working in your business and start working on your business.

Focus on building systems, not just hustling for sales.

Invest in leadership skills so you can inspire and guide your team.

Take breaks. Rest is part of productivity. A burnt-out entrepreneur cannot build a thriving company.

Practical Example: A Boutique Owner in Lagos

Let’s make it real. Imagine a boutique owner in Lagos handling everything — buying stock, marketing on Instagram, taking orders on WhatsApp, delivering clothes, and managing cash. No wonder she’s stressed.

Here’s how she can scale with structure and automation:

Document her supply process and create a calendar for stock replenishment.

Use Paystack for payments instead of manual transfers.

Set up Instagram automation tools to schedule posts weekly.

Hire a delivery partner instead of doing it herself.

Use a CRM to track customer sizes, preferences, and purchase history.

Employ a shop assistant to handle walk-in customers.

With these changes, she reduces burnout, increases sales, and positions her business to expand into multiple branches or even an online store.

Final Thoughts

Scaling your business in Nigeria is not just about working harder. It’s about working smarter by putting the right structure in place and automating repetitive tasks. When you do this, you free up energy, reduce stress, and create room for exponential growth.

Remember this: structure is the foundation, automation is the fuel, and mindset is the driver. Get these three right and your business can grow beyond limits.

If you want professional help in structuring and automating your business for faster growth, Dgazelle Agency specializes in building high-converting systems that help entrepreneurs scale without burning out. Contact us today and let’s help you build a business that works for you, not the other way around.

Isaac  Adasah August 18, 2025
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Paid ads allow you to target based on age, location, interests, income level, and even behaviour. If you skip this step and target broadly, you will attract people who will never buy. Imagine running a Facebook ad for luxury wristwatches and targeting all Nigerians aged 18 to 60. Most of them cannot afford it. Instead, you can target professionals in cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt with interests in fashion, luxury, or business.

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