Why a website is like a movie

Introduction

In today’s digital era, websites are an integral tool inside our business toolbox.to our businesses. A well-designed website can captivate visitors just like a blockbuster movie does. Surprisingly, the similarities between website development and movie production are striking. Both endeavors require careful planning, creativity, teamwork, and attention to detail. In this blog, I will explore the parallels between website creation and movie production, highlighting how the process of crafting a successful website mirrors the making of a memorable film.

not on page 1 from day 1!

Managing client expectations is a huge part of my role when managing a website project. With a website being an investment in your business it is understandable that you want to get the most from it. And none of us like surprises, so I make it my mission to ensure clients know from the outset that their website is not an automatic traffic magnet that once live will be on page 1 of Google for organic traffic; if only it were that simple.

“It’s a wrap”

So to make it easy to understand and relatable I came up with a good analogy. The latest blockbuster by Martin Scorcese will have had millions of pounds spent on the story, the styling, the actors, the production and the direction. When “it’s a wrap” is called the work is still not finished. That is when the promotional trail begins, to tell the world that his new film is in cinemas. And it is usual that the promotion is classed as a separate budget.

Read more to find out why websites and movies should be treated in the same way!

a compelling story

Movie studios don’t create movies and hope they find the story as they go. Before filming even begins, there has to be a script with a compelling story.

Movies are effective ways to tell modern stories. They’re compelling and interesting. They have heroes that overcome challenges. And there’s always a motive behind every action!

You should treat your website in the same way. Plan your story before you start creating. Make your content compelling and interesting. Make your customers the heroes of your story and help them to overcome their problems. And make sure you give your customers the ‘why’ or the motive behind what you do, rather than just selling what it is that you do.

audience profiling

Movie studios profile their target audience so that they understand them. And then they create their content with this demographic in mind. They don’t create the movie and then hope it appeals to their audience. They create the movie in an educated way to increase its reach and engagement levels.

A website shouldn’t be any different. Before jumping into website creation, you should profile your ideal customers with customer personas to increase the success and conversions of your site. You can then use this research to tailor your website content so that it is much more likely to convert into sales.

casting call!

Okay, so we’ve written a story, we’ve made sure we understood our audience, but filming can’t start yet! We need to hold our casting calls.

Movie studios find the most experienced and most relevant actors and actresses, as well as the best directors and producers. It’s all about finding the most appropriate people for the job.

‘Cast’ the best people for the job when creating your business website.

And this is also an important step when creating a website. You’ll need to accept that you simply can’t do everything yourself. You’ll need to hire a web designer, a developer, a content writer and an SEO specialist to create the site, just to name a few necessary services!

Make sure you hire people that are right for the job, and that are a good fit for you and your company, just as if you were casting a movie!

editing

Okay, so now you’ve finally filmed your movie. You’ve put together your movie clips and you’ve ended up with 5 hours of footage.

Movies have to be edited, often multiple times, to make sure the story comes across, the content grabs attention, the pacing feels appropriate, and that the audio and visual aspects of the film are spot on. And don’t forget the digital remaster a few years down the line!

In the same way, you should never consider your website finished after the first edit. You’ll need to frequently revisit your website to ensure that your rankings are in place, the content continues to appeal to your audience, and the text and design are as effective and engaging as possible.

audience testing

The best movies create various versions of the movie to test on segments of their target market. After a rough cut of the movie has been made, crew members run test screenings.

Test audiences are invited to these private screenings to watch the first cut of the movie. They are then asked detailed questions about the movie in surveys and focus groups.

This is also a practice you should use in website creation and optimisation. Consider market research with segments of your customer base to get detailed feedback on how to improve your website and its content.

movie promotion

And of course, work doesn’t stop when the movie is finished and edited. Entire teams of promoters and marketers work to promote ticket sales, DVD sales, and streams of the movie. Their jobs are to make sure that as many people see the movie and buy the movie as possible!

You should take the same approach with your business website. Without promoting your website, how can you expect your ideal customers to find you?

You should work with a website promoter or a digital marketer to make sure your website rankings stay high, and that your ideal customers know about your website, your content, and your services.

creating a business website – that’s showbiz, baby!

So, there you have it. All of the reasons why we believe business websites are like movies – and should be treated in the same way.

Just like a movie, you’ll need to:

  • Write and tell a compelling story
  • Research and understand your target audience
  • Find the best people for the job – you can’t do everything yourself!
  • Edit and re-edit – you’ll need to update your website many times
  • Test your website on your audience with market research
  • Promote your website by using digital content marketing strategies

a business website is like a movie production

And that’s how you end up with a business website that is more than just a list of your products and services. You’ll be able to create a website that resonates with your target market, gains consistent traffic, and ultimately converts visitors into paying customers! But more importantly you understand that promoting your website is a separate phase.

If you would like some help in planning your next website, please get in touch, we’re more than happy to help “direct” you (pun intended!)

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