Introduction

In today’s digital era, websites are an integral tool in our business toolbox.

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 endeavours 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 crafting a successful website mirrors the making of a memorable film.

A successful blockbuster

To make it easier to understand and relatable, consider this…

The latest blockbuster by Martin Scorsese will have cost millions of pounds in story, styling, actors, production, and direction.

Just because “it’s a wrap” has been called, doesn’t mean the work is finished. Yes, the “asset” is done, but there is still more to do…

Now it’s time for the lead actors to tell the world that this fantastic film is coming to a cinema near you.

And so the promotion trail begins.

We see and hear them everywhere, on BBC’s Graham Norton, on the radio, in the papers, online, breakfast TV and more.

The point here is that Martin and his famous actors are already world-renowned. Yet they still have to promote the film; otherwise, how will the audience know about it?

To only budget for the film production and not the promotional trail doesn’t make sense.

EXPECTING TO BE on page 1 from day 1

Managing client expectations is a big part of the role when managing a successful website project.

With the investment you are making, it’s understandable that you want to get the most from it. And as no one likes surprises, it’s critical that a business understands from the outset that their website is NOT an automatic traffic magnet. And that once live will be on page 1 of Google and generating enquiries that lead to sales; if only it were that simple…

5 COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL BLOCKBUSTER

#1 A compelling story

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

Movies are effective ways to tell modern stories. They’re compelling and engaging. They have heroes who 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 engaging. 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.

#2 Audience profiling

Movie studios profile their target audience to better 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 make the movie in an informed way to increase its reach and engagement.

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

#3 Casting call!

Okay, so we’ve written a story and made sure we understand 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 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, to name a few necessary services!

Make sure you hire specialists who are right for the job and a good fit for you and your company, just as you would when casting a film!

#4 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 ensure the story comes across, the content grabs attention, the pacing feels appropriate, and 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 revisit your website regularly to ensure your rankings are in place, your content continues to appeal to your audience, and your text and design are as effective and engaging as possible.

#5 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 to consider when creating and optimising websites. 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 job is to make sure as many people see and buy the movie as possible, so they can be successful at the Box Office and brag about how much the film brought in.

Take the same approach with your website. If you don't promote your website, how can you expect your ideal customers to find you?

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

FINAL THOUGHTS

Your website: up in lights

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.