Before
The original site was built on a Wix template. It still had the ad bar at the top and used a generic cloudy background in the first section. It felt more like a ready-made kit than a personal, trustworthy place.
Open the original siteWebsite examples
Every business needs a slightly different first impression.
Here you’ll find my first finished client website and a few draft directions alongside it. They show that a good site is not only about looking nice. It is about the right order of information, the right feeling and a clear next step.
Clearly separated One finished site and draft directions.
The first example below is a real client website. The other examples are not finished client work. They are draft directions, so you can see how differently a site can feel depending on the business, offer and goal.
First finished client site
From a template site to a calmer place of her own.
For psychologist and psychotherapist Mgr. Katarína Struhařová, I rebuilt the original Wix site into a calmer, more personal website with clearer reading, softer colors and a “Book a consultation” button in the top bar.
After
The new site has softer colors, its own type style, a clearer first section and a “Book a consultation” button that stays easy to find in the top bar and near the start of the page.
Open the new site- The Wix ad bar and the ready-made template feeling are gone.
- “Book a consultation” is visible right in the top bar and in the first section.
- Visitors quickly see where she works: Vsetín, Valašské Klobouky or remotely.
- The EMDR method and years of practice stay near the top, so important details are not hidden.
- Instead of a generic cloudy background, the site uses a calmer forest motif that fits the topic better.
- The site now has its own type, colors and content order instead of a standard template.
With therapy, people need to feel calm and safe before they send the first message. So I did not only ask how to make the page look better. I asked what a visitor needs to understand within a few seconds, and what would help them feel ready to get in touch.
That led to a first section with a portrait, service areas, the EMDR method and years of practice. Then comes “How I work”, then “What I offer”. The “Book a consultation” button stays close by, so the visitor never has to search for the next step.
Different situations
An example should help the visitor decide.
Sometimes trust matters most. Sometimes it is the feeling of the place, a work sample or quick booking. That is why I do not start only with what should look nice. First I look at what the person needs to understand before they get in touch.
Trust-based service
Draft directionWhen people do not decide right away.
- Suits
- therapist, adviser, guide, expert or anyone trusted with a sensitive topic
- The visitor needs
- needs to quickly understand the approach, feel calm and know the first message is a safe step
- How I would shape it
- a calm start, clear steps, answers to common questions, a gentle button and enough room for trust
Local business
Draft directionWhen it should be instantly clear where to come and why.
- Suits
- salon, restaurant, café, studio, body care or a local service
- The visitor needs
- looks for the feel of the place, services, address, price or how to book without endless clicking
- How I would shape it
- a strong first impression, real photos of the place, a clear service list, contact, a map and simple booking
Expert work
Draft directionWhen the site has to show quality and scope of service.
- Suits
- tradesperson, specialist, repair service, construction work or a tailored service
- The visitor needs
- compares quality, service area, amount of work and how easy it is to get in touch
- How I would shape it
- work samples, clearly explained services, proof of skill, simple steps and a visible way to ask
Bolder site
Draft directionWhen the site should stand out without losing clarity.
- Suits
- a business name, personal name, creative service or a new direction
- The visitor needs
- should remember the site but still quickly understand the offer and next step
- How I would shape it
- a stronger first section, thoughtful page rhythm, gentle movement and a clear order of content
As needed
A site does not have to be complex. It has to be clear.
Sometimes a simple, fast and lean site is enough. Sometimes a larger page with more content makes more sense. The look should help people understand the offer, not make it harder to get in touch.
I always address
- what the visitor should understand at the start
- why they should trust the business
- which next step should be clear on the site
- what size fits the goal and budget
I don't pretend
- that a draft direction is finished client work
- that every site needs complex movement
- that a nice look alone solves the offer or trust
- that a fair price can be set without knowing the size
How I think about a site
Meaning first. Then content. Then the look.
A good first impression matters, but it is not enough by itself. For every design I look at whether the offer is easy to understand, whether the page feels trustworthy and whether the visitor knows what to do next.
- 01 Meaning of the site
What the visitor should understand, why they should stay and when to get in touch.
- 02 Order of information
How to order the content so the page feels natural, not like a random set of parts.
- 03 Look and movement
How to raise the impression without slowing the site down or making it less clear.
Next step
Want to see how your site could feel?
Send me a few details about your business. I’ll prepare a first homepage design for free, so you can see the direction before you decide on paid work.
Get a free designYou’ll see a concrete design.
The first screen shows the look, order of information and the path that should lead the visitor to contact.
We confirm the scope afterwards.
The design first. Only then the price, pages, features and next steps.