Steps To Designing A Website

Website design is no longer a linear or tool-constrained process. With evolving user expectations, AI-powered design tools, and no-code development platforms like Webflow, the design landscape in Singapore and beyond is more powerful — and more demanding — than ever.

In this guide, we’ll break down the updated steps to designing a website, tailored for startups, MNCs, and agencies looking to elevate their digital presence.

1. Define Clear Website Goals and Success Metrics

Before diving into tools or wireframes, align your team and stakeholders on the website's objectives

• Lead generation or conversions?
• Brand awareness or storytelling?
• SEO visibility or thought leadership?
• Community engagement or product showcase?

Map KPIs like bounce rate, conversion rate, or average session duration to each goal. In Singapore, many SMEs skip this step leading to websites that look great but don't perform.

Tip: Use tools like Notion or FigJam for collaborative goal mapping.

2. Conduct UX Research and Competitor Analysis

Start with user research

• Interviews with target users
• Heatmaps and analytics reviews (Hotjar, Google Analytics 4)
• UX surveys for existing platforms

Then explore competitors in your niche. If you're a fintech startup, analyse players like Endowus, Stashaway, or BigFundr. What UX patterns do they follow? What differentiates your offer?

Use this insight to craft user personas and journey maps.

3. Build Wireframes with AI and UX in mind

in 2025, tools like Relume and Figma's AI plugin have become indispensable for wireframing.

Start designing your website with low-fidelity wireframes

• Homepage
• Navigation/Sidebar
• Service/Product Pages
• Conversion points (CTAs or lead forms)

Best Practices:

• Follow modern web design best practices like visual hierarchy, accessible colour contrast, and mobile-first layout
• Always test wireframes with 2-3 stakeholders before high-fidelity mockups

4. Move to High-Fidelity Design in Figma

Now that the wireframes are locked, convert them into full Figma mockups

• Include brand typography (see our article on Best Google Fonts 2024)
• Use auto-layout and component libraries
• Annotate design for interactivity, animation and responsiveness

Today in Singapore, high-fidelity mockups are often shown to clients before development begins. This reduces guesswork and scope creep.

5. Develop the Website in Webflow

This is where visual design meets actual code — minus the code. Webflow remains the top choice for development due to:

• Pixel-perfect Figma-to-Webflow translation
• SEO-friendliness
• CMS flexibility
• Built-in animations

Read our article on Webflow pricing if you're planning to use Webflow on your own. If you're planning to hire an agency like us, you can view our detailed breakdown on Website Design Pricing in Singapore.

6. Implement Webflow Maintenance and SEO Hygiene

Launching is only half the job.

Post-launch essentials include:

• SEO meta titles and descriptions
• Sitemap and robots.txt updates
• Ongoing performance monitoring (Core Web Vitals)
• CMS training for client teams
• Regular backups and plugins/security monitoring

If you don't have an internal team, our website maintenance packages might just work for you.

7. Optimise for Conversions (CRO)

After going live, use tools like:

• Optimizely or Webflow Optimize
• Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity

Do your website review:

• Button placements
• Copy clarity
• Page load speed
• Mobile tap targets

Conversion-focused UX design is a core part of all our engagements at ALF Design Group.

8. Gather feedback and Plan Iterations

Design is never truly done. Schedule feedback loops at:

• Week 1 (Just to check if Google are indexing your website)
• Month 1 (First milestone check-in)
• Quarterly (design or feature audits)

These inform future iterations and identify opportunities for micro-improvements.

Final Thoughts: Designing a Website Means Designing for Longevity

From AI-assisted wireframes to Webflow-driven development, the modern web design process is lean, intelligent, and focused on performance. Whether you're a solo founder, startup, or agency partner, following these steps helps reduce friction and deliver lasting value.

Need help launching your next site? We offer full-stack Webflow Design and Webflow Maintenance plans tailored for Singapore businesses.

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