In the process of developing a digital project, it is often a mistake to move directly into the content architecture and web design phase without having first clarified very important aspects to keep everything running smoothly. We are not talking about things like competitor analysis or the digital marketing plan, which also matter, but about aspects that are usually overlooked and not given importance. In this article, we explain which key factors you must analyze during the development of your digital project before moving on to navigation design. Take note!
1. Responsive design and “mobile first”
One of the most common mistakes when developing a digital project is to think only about how your website will look on a desktop computer. However, nowadays most web traffic comes from mobile devices, which makes it essential to adopt a “mobile first” approach from the start.
This means that the design must first be planned for small screens, ensuring that navigation and content layout are smooth and easy to use on a smartphone. From there, the experience is expanded to laptops and tablets through a responsive design, which automatically adapts to each resolution and device.
Responsive design, in addition to being a key usability factor, also directly influences SEO ranking, since Google prioritizes in its results those pages optimized for mobile (below you can see a screenshot of what Google says on its “Search Central” website). Therefore, it is not just about “looking good” but about offering a coherent and accessible experience, regardless of where the user accesses from.
This is one of the 4 key factors you must consider before starting to design your environment because otherwise you risk organizing content only with large screens in mind. This leads to developing an environment with low usability, incorrect hierarchy, poor SEO performance, and having to redo navigation schemes to later adapt them to the mobile version.
2. Loading speed
Users’ patience on the internet is decreasing: if a page takes more than three seconds to load, the chances of abandonment skyrocket. That is why loading speed is another key factor that must be considered from the start of a digital project and not left for the final optimization phase.
But a fast website or app not only improves user experience (UX), it also once again has a direct impact on SEO ranking, since search engines reward those pages that offer agile performance. In this sense, Google uses loading speed as one of the main criteria for ranking search results.
To ensure good performance, it is necessary to make decisions and consider certain things before moving on to the design phase, such as:
- Choosing the right technology platform, since not all offer the same performance or scalability.
- Keeping in mind that images must be compressed, fonts must be used efficiently, and unnecessary elements that reduce speed must be avoided.
- Not forgetting best development practices, such as script minimization, use of caching, and opting for quality hosting.
Loading speed is not a minor technical detail but a strategic factor that directly influences user satisfaction, search engine visibility, and conversion. Incorporating it from the initial design stage is key to avoiding future problems that are difficult and costly to fix. Once you already have your website, application, or e-commerce, you can check speed with tools like PageSpeed Insights.
3. Languages and target countries
Another aspect most often overlooked in the early stages of a digital project is defining the languages and choosing the countries it will target. It may seem like a secondary detail, but it actually determines strategic and technical decisions that affect the entire development.
First of all, establishing available languages is not limited to translating texts. It involves defining a workflow for localization, adjusting the communication tone, and considering cultural variations that can change the way users interact with the platform.
If this is not defined from the start, costly complications may arise, such as having to redesign entire sections, redo navigation architecture, or even change the technology platform to meet international requirements.
In conclusion, having a clear language and country strategy from the initial phase allows you to build a scalable, coherent, and market-adapted digital project, avoiding improvisations that often prove expensive in later stages.
In fact, Google ranks better the localized and segmented versions of web pages in each country, whether as independent websites or with different URLs, than direct translations. On its Search Central, Google recommends using different URLs for each language version of a website instead of changing the language via cookies or computer settings. This will make your SEO perform better in each market. Many websites or e-commerce platforms use subdomains (es.web.com) or directories (web.com/es/).
4. Legal regulations, one of the most forgotten key factors in a digital project
When working on a digital project, it is common to focus all attention on design, technology, or marketing strategy and put aside the regulations that govern online activity. However, this is one of the factors that can cause the most problems if not properly defined from the start.
Legal obligations may vary depending on the country and the type of service offered, so it is essential to identify which laws apply in each case. Some of the most important in Spain are:
- Data Protection Law (GDPR).
- Cookie Policy.
- Legal terms derived from the Law on Information Society Services and Electronic Commerce.
- General Terms and Conditions of Contracting.
Ignoring these aspects can result in financial penalties, loss of user trust, and even the obligation to suspend digital activity until compliance is achieved. Therefore, including regulations in the design and development phase is one of the key factors to consider in your digital project.
In addition, you must also think about the legal regulations of other countries if you plan to expand internationally. Depending on the region, legal aspects of digital projects may vary, such as data protection regulations, permitted payment methods, or return policies in an e-commerce.
Why are these factors considered key in a digital project?
These four factors are considered key because they serve as the invisible foundation on which any digital project is built. Together, they work as prerequisites that ensure the project not only looks good but is also effective, competitive, and viable in the long term. If overlooked, it is likely that in later stages obstacles will arise that are difficult to solve.
If you want to know other fundamental elements you cannot ignore, download the checklist of key elements for your digital project. You will be able to develop a more solid project with greater chances of success.
