Minimalist Website Outline
We love minimalist designs when it comes to home interiors, retail spaces, planner formats, and more. But what about a website, where a search engine like Google needs copywriting to push your website to the relevant audience?
Here’s a handful of recommendations to design a minimalist aesthetic on your website!
The root of minimalism is the idea that LESS is MORE.
Less “fluff.” Less slideshows and “read more.” Less images.
Must have pages on a website include a home page, an about (paired with contact) page, your main pitch to your audience, a blog, a social link redirection page, a store page, and a terms and conditions page.
Home Page
Your home page should have plenty of empty space with a focused menu and logo for your brand. We highly recommend using your brand’s mission statement or a slogan your brand lives by. If you use a photograph or video in the background of the home page, make sure your text stands out.
About and Contact Page
We usually recommend combining these pages if you’re shooting for a minimalist design, putting a contact form or your contact info after a brief overview of you and your brand. The overview should tell your story without sharing every tiny detail.
For your brand story ask yourself: when did you realize you wanted to start your brand? A snippet of how the past years have looked for your brand. And, close with an edited version of your brand’s vision (make sure to edit it in a way that makes it actionable and not dreaming about the future, you want your audience/clients to know they can currently depend on you for their needs!).
For your personal introduction, we recommend writing what makes you YOU. Some milestones you’re proud of and some milestones pertaining to being a biz owner.
It’s up to you to include a logo and photo of yourself, we do recommend doing so, but you ultimately decide what feel works best!
Main Pitch
This page will have the most content. Your main pitch is where someone who is wanting to learn about you or your service will go and this page will guide them to your blog, about, store, etc. This page should be designed as a personal message to your audience/client, writing out what you want them to know about your brand. Try to use as much empty space between and around text as possible. If using photos or buttons, place them above or below text rather than in line with it.
Blog Page and Posts
A blog is very important for letting search engines know that your site is active and will therefore push your site to people using keywords that might be found on your website (especially through your blog!). A blog post can be as long or as short as you’d like it to be and the length will depend on your strategy and mission in education and showcasing what your brand does.
Social Redirection Link
This page is basically your site’s “Linktree.” This page should have buttons, text links, or images with links to direct a visitor to the right place after “clicking the link in your bio” from a post you’ve shared. Since you have a minimalist website you should be able to add links to all your website’s pages and have a preview of your blog up for easy access and reference.
Store Page
Your store should have minimalist photography products or graphics for services provided and the descriptions should clearly explain what the service is and its deliverables. Try not to add fluff to product descriptions.
Terms and Conditions
Your terms and conditions should contain all information about someone using your website. To make this page appear less busy you can use accordion drop down blocks on Squarespace or use plenty of space between each term to give the illusion of space.