Content Design

We’re going to say this loud enough for those in the back to hear: every web project is a content project. 

There are very few scenarios (we’d say closer to zero, actually) in which you’d be looking for help creating a website with no words or images on it. But yet writing particularly, always seems to be left to the end of digital design workstreams, and is, weirdly, also often the very last consideration when project planning. Like those little alphabetic squiggles on the screen don’t matter much…even though, we can tell you, content holdups are where most projects go off the rails. This stuff isn’t easy, but with a content last mindset, writers become wireframe box-fillers, beholden to character counts and long spreadsheets of SEO cannon fodder, and content itself starts to be treated like a nice-to-have annoyance rather than must-have triumph of audience-tuned narrative and storytelling. 

Wellsir…we don’t like it. So we don’t work that way at Edgar Allan. Here, content is design, a fully-fledged, vitally important part of the web creation process. And as such, we work not just content first, but content always, with a collaborative approach that puts our content designers, UX architects and UI designers in the same file working to create a full, brand-aligned picture for your website or app from the start – one that that gives your audiences exactly what they need visually and informationally. It’s an iteration on the traditional practice of content design that rules the product development world, and if you take a look at our case studies, we think it shows that it works pretty dang well.

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Creating high-quality content is more crucial for businesses looking to connect with its target audience than it has ever been before. However, creating content that resonates with your audience goes beyond just writing a few paragraphs and posting it online. It requires a thoughtful, intentional approach that considers the user's needs, preferences, and behaviors. That’s where Edgar Allan and our team of content designers come in.

Believe the content design process is ideal for ensuring the web is a user-centered place at both the page level and strategic level, helping brand thinking translate from deck to online experience.

Content design is the process of creating digital content that is both user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. It encompasses a wide range of skills, including writing, graphic design, and user experience (UX) design. 

Content design is essential because it allows businesses to create digital content that is both user-friendly and visually appealing. By taking a holistic approach to content creation, businesses can ensure that their content is effective at achieving its intended purpose.

Key Principles of Content Design

Know your audience. The first step in creating effective content is to understand your audience. This includes understanding their needs, preferences, and behaviors. Once you have this information, you can tailor your content to meet their specific needs and preferences.

Prioritize simplicity, a key factor for digital content. People have short attention spans, and they're often scanning content rather than reading it. Therefore, it's important to keep your content simple and easy to digest.

Be clear and concise. Use clear language, avoid jargon and technical terms, and get straight to the point.

Create a seamless user experience. This means designing content that is easy to navigate, visually appealing, and accessible on all devices.

Keep it visual. Illustrations, photography, and infographics are powerful tools when it comes to digital content. They can help break up text, communicate complex ideas, and make your content more engaging.

Benefits of Content Design

Increased engagement: By creating content that is visually appealing and easy to navigate, you can increase engagement with your audience.

Improved user experience: Content design is all about creating a seamless user experience. By designing content with the user in mind, you can create a more enjoyable and effective experience for your audience.

Increased conversions: Effective content design can help increase conversions, whether that's getting people to sign up for your email list or making a purchase.

Improved brand perception: Creating high-quality content can help improve your brand perception and establish your business as an authority in your industry.

Content design is an essential process for any business looking to create effective digital content. Edgar Allan builds the content design process into nearly every client project to which it’s applicable, focusing on key principles like simplicity, clarity, and user experience. By putting users and their needs first, we create content that resonates with our client’s target audience and achieves its intended purpose. 

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You may also be interested in Edgar Allan’s other services like: brand design, brand naming, brand messaging and QA and UAT.

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Read the Edgar Allan blog for more information on our services, experiences and opinions as an award-winning Webflow agency.