How to Choose a Web Site Designer

It seems that everyone from the 15-year-old kid to their Grandmother is able to design a web site these days. You could also build the site yourself using a word processor or other web site program; however if you choose this route, plan on spending quite a bit of time learning, to get your site to look professional.

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Simplicity is king in Website Design

We like to be complex in many aspects of our lives. We desire the latest electronic gadget, the most advance technology in our new car, the state-of-the-art digital camera. However, when it comes to web visitors browsing habit, nobody has time for complexity and we all want to find what we want online in the shortest possible time.

What does not mean for web design companies? Why do some web design companies still propose complex web design solutions to their clients? We live in an age where nobody’s got time. We are busy or so we like to think. So much information, so little time. So we zap through web pages expecting to find exactly what we want as quickly as possible. Why not? There are so many web pages out there. The average web surfer spends less than 10 seconds on a web site. If the web design is the least bit complicated or non intuitive, we are off to the next web site. If 10 seconds is all you have to impress your online customer, what sort of web design do you require to make an impact? The most flashy? May be not. Try simplicity and familiarity. If you want to impress busy people who are short of patience and time, try the simplest web design you can put together. It is not surprising that Google is one of the most successful web designs in the world. How many people use the advanced search button on Google?

The simplest Web Design solutions work. His does not mean that the back end of the web site need to be simple. You can have the most complex content management system; the most comprehensive feature set in your web design, but keeps the front end, the interface as simple and intuitive as you can. Simple can mean different things to different web designers. Where do we start when putting together a simple and effective web design? Try Google heat map guide on where to place adsense on a web page. Granted it is disputed but it is a starting point for positioning the most relevant and poignant information on your web page. Next try a simple navigation, vertical left or horizontal top. Many people like fancy stuff. There is nothing wrong with a bit of flash on a web design. However, avoid changing too much from the conventional paths. We all talk of change and recognise its benefits but we are animals of habit and we would rather go along the same easy path rather for hunt for new ways of getting somewhere.

This principle applies in web design. Online visitors are used to navigating in a certain way. Change the path on your web design and you could make it too hard for your potential clients. Keep it simple, keep it short and familiar. True, it does pay to design complex features into a web design. The more gadgets and flash, the more web design companies can charge for your web design. Some web design customers even want complex designs. It’s instinctive to think that the more money you spent on your Web Design, the more it will pay back. This is not always the case. Sometimes the simplest features, the more basic web design yields the most benefit.

Importance of Content in Web Designing

Content available on a web page is nothing but the information or products, which you want your visitor to come and see or purchase the products and any images that is been used to assist that objective. Written information is one best way and is very easier to read for visitor when it is broken up into short, concise paragraphs. You further need to do your best to use high-class grammar and spelling. Run your information by using spellchecker in a word document before your page is uploaded. You don’t need to retype all, just use your right mouse button for copy and paste.

Any time you willing to use images or graphics in or around your content information or products descriptions try to use as small images as possible. Also, refrain from using too many images on any one page because both larges images and too many would considerably slow down the loading time for the web page. You need to remember that your visitor would only wait for about 30 –40 seconds for a page to load before they become impatient and goes for another search.

Using image resize tool for uploaded images is a good idea to resize bigger or smaller images. These tools are adequate for most resizing requirements; however, extreme resizing from very large to very small image or vice versa could be a bad idea because it may result in loss of some detail in the image. One can obtain better result if you resize them first using a quality image-editing program on your computer and then go for uploading your websites.

It is good idea to break up your products into various groups within your catalog to help your pages from being affected by too many images. Even if you sell only one type of products but you have 50 variations of it, you could still use multiple pages by organizing them into categories; for example “Product Name 1”, “Product Name 2” etc.

Lastly, there are various things you could add to your website to spark it up. Things like banners, flashing or graphics, animations or colored text, etc. There’s a saying when it comes to web designing world that is, “Just because you could add something, it doesn’t mean that you should.” Remember as you choose items to put on your site and it would in-turn help you to keep your website looking professional.

Small Business Websites: 10 Steps to Success

Tips on Designing Your Small Business Website

There are all sorts of websites out there, and clearly some of them are working much harder than others. How can you be sure your website will be a champion?

The key is website planning and strategy. Think of your website as an employee and make sure you hire the right one. If you approach this project with clear goals in mind, you will be rewarded with a lucrative asset to your business. What’s most important? The questions below will get you started.

1. What are your specific business goals?

How could your website help you achieve them? Need to increase sales through cross selling? Your website could educate customers about using your products or services together for greater value. Need to reduce time spent in customer service on the phone? You can promote your website as your primary customer service centre, helping to redirect queries that can be easily solved. A little time spent planning a job description for your site will result in a website that works harder for your money.

2. Who is your target market?

What are they looking for in your type of business? Your website will have to appeal to them and speak to their needs. If your site clearly addresses your customers’ needs, visitors will spend more time there and will be more likely to become paying customers. How can your website add value for them? If you need ideas have a look at competitor websites and imagine you are their customer. Identify what they have done well and capitalize on their mistakes. Look at other websites that you like. How did they make such a good impression?

3. What do customers like best about your business?

Is it your high quality products? Your value for money? Your speedy customer service? Your friendly staff? Whatever it is your website should reflect those aspects of your business. They are what set you apart. If you’re not sure why people come back to you consider undertaking a customer satisfaction survey to find out.

4. Do you have identifiable branding that represents the unique personality of your business?

If not, develop a branding identity that will set you apart from competitors, starting with a logo that communicates the character of your business. The visual design of your website is an extension of your brand identity. Be sure your website is dressed for success and represents your business as nothing less than credible and professional.

5. Do you have the time and skills to prepare your own content?

Be realistic here. Your written text should be concise, focus on customer needs, and use language that your customers understand. If writing isn’t your thing, consider hiring a copywriter to massage your copy or even write it for you. Make use of images and video where it will be useful to customers. If you don’t have quality images at hand, consider hiring a photographer or buying stock photography. Don’t be tempted to cut corners and compromise quality just to save a few bucks. The impact of your content is critical to your website’s success.

6. How can you take advantage of interactivity?

There’s no substitute for experiencing your product or service in person, but as this may be your only chance to make an impression, make the most of it! Establish what your customers are interested in, give it to them and lead them to action through the interactive nature of the Internet. Engage them with online competitions, printable discount vouchers, product demonstrations, live help, customer feedback surveys, etc. Interactivity can also be a great way to build your customer database or gather market research about your visitors.

7. What is a realistic budget for your website?

To plan and implement a website strategy you’ll need to invest upwards of a few thousand dollars to do it right the first time. Think carefully about your budget. Does it seem reasonable given your business goals? Think about the bottom line benefits in terms of potential cost savings as well as revenue potential.

8. How can you promote your website?

First and foremost, put your domain name on everything! Letterhead, invoices, signs, sales tags, whatever you can. It’s much easier to remember a website address than a phone number. To attract new customers via the Internet you’ll need to harness the search engines. Search engine marketing involves optimizing your website so it’s visible to customers searching for your type of business. If you are in a competitive market, you may need to budget for comprehensive search engine optimization for your site. If you’re looking at search engines as a major source of new customers you may also consider adding ‘pay-per-click’ advertising to the mix.

9. Will you manage your own updates?

Keeping your website fresh provides a reason for visitors to return to your website. If you plan to make regular content updates, consider investing in a Content Management System costing as little as a few hundred dollars. It makes more sense to pay your website developer for ongoing development rather than simple changes to content that you can make yourself.

10. How do you know if your website is a champion?

After your site has been live for several months, quantify the gains generated by your website and identify the impact your investment has made on the business. Using software tools you can establish which parts of your website are performing well, and which parts need tweaking. A website strategy is never really complete. You can always improve on the status quo. Set a regular schedule for review and don’t forget to budget for strategy changes and ongoing development.

How to Make Your Website

Hopefully, you have basic idea of what you want out of your website. The next step is to put it into some sort of order. Where do we start and where do we finish? It is a simple question, but the answer takes a lot of perspective and planning.

Assuming that you know what you want to include on your website, a simple organizational chart can put the layout into some semblance of order.

"Home" page is the front door or gateway into your website. One way or another we got the customer/client to open that door and come in. Now that they have taken that first step, we cannot afford to lose them due to confusion and not knowing where to go next.

A simple, uncomplicated flow of traffic from your major categories, to your sub-categories and from there, to each of your adjacent or lower levels makes it easy for the non-technical (and that happens to be most internet surfers), to get around your website and not become confused. On top of going from one category to the next, they must be able to maneuver with ease within each of those categories. You want to direct them to where, you want them to go next and not be jumping all over the place.

The layout that you see in this
CHART will become the basis for our navigation system. This is a major piece of the puzzle, which we need in order to put everything together. In essence, this will be your flow of traffic.

Organizational Chart.

This type of a chart is as basic as can be. For all practical purposes, this is your road map. You are starting at Home and going to your first stop. This could be Products, Articles, Services, etc. Within each of these secondary categories, you have their own sub-categories, each of which should be relevant to its primary category. It is important to maintain the continuity that you want and not have the customer jumping all over the place.

No Excuse for Poor Planning.

A poorly planned website is one that does not permit you to navigate from one page to any other page on your site. For example, if you are on Page 4 of a site and want to go to Page 2, you should not have to go back to Page 1 in order to get to Page 2. There must be a smooth flow of traffic throughout the website.

If this is not poor planning and navigation, I do not know what is. There is no excuse for it. All it takes is a few minutes longer to properly layout your map. Regardless of the size of your website, assuming that it is more than one page of course, being able to move around your website easily is imperative. It is one of those little things that frustrate the customer and probably cause them to leave.

Think Like a Customer.

Just stop for a minute, sit back and think like a customer/client. When you are surfing through a website, consciously or unconsciously, you are thinking “how easy, hard, or confusing this website is to navigate”?

Usually in my talks, or articles you will hear or see me repeat, innumerable times, "Think Like a Customer". Very often we become so engrossed in what we are doing that we do not sit back and look at whatever it is through another persons eyes. A different perspective is imperative. Always get someone to give you an objective opinion and/or proof it for you. For a moment, you must stop looking at it under a microscope and give it a panoramic view. You will be amazed at how much you have either missed, left out, or should be corrected.

How you choose a Website Design Company?

Everyone knows that today is the age of internet. Every successful company knows that a web site is an essential marketing tool. Whether you're in the business of selling widgets, soliciting volunteers, or building your brand awareness, a carefully executed internet marketing plan can reap a tremendous return on your time and money. so that’s why they people making, and updating their business website according to the time and technology.

Depending on your web design budget and you needs. The first thing you need to do is determine your goals and objectives.

Specifically:

• Who is your target audience?
• How will your target audience find your website?
• What do you want them to do once they're there?
• How will updates be made to the site?
• What is your timeline?
• What kind of return on investment do you expect from the site and how will you measure it?

Creating your web site can be a tricky process. Choosing the best web design company for your site is extremely important. Now it’s time to find the right web design company for your needs. Go to Google and search for web design firms and you will see how many results show. Start at the first web design result on work your way down. Examine the portfolio to see if there is anything equivalent to the web design layout you are imagining. You will be able to tell immediately if this web design firm is right for your company and its look and feel. Find out if they have the staff available to work on your entire web design needs and that they know the programming necessary to complete the job in a timely manner. Ask for references, a top end web design firm will be glad to offer up references on the web design work performed. Most web design references will be glad to talk to you about the quality job your potential web design company did on their web site.

When searching for a company, here are a few key questions to consider:

• Does the company's portfolio reflect the kind of aesthetic that you are looking for
• Does the company work with clients in your industry? Have they previously created a site similar to what you want in scope and function?
• Were they responsive to your query, or did it take them four days to return your call?
• Were they friendly and helpful and take time to find out about your company and your needs?
• What kinds of guarantees do they offer for their products? What kind of support is available?
• Do they have a thorough testing process? What are the terms of the contract and who owns the final design, source code, and intellectual property?

Now that you've found a couple of different companies, and have a couple of proposals in hand, you'll want to take some time to compare them carefully and check references. Call several of the company's clients and ask the following questions:

• Did the company meet your goals and objectives?
• Did they follow up after the launch, or disappear once the check was cashed?
• Does the site function properly?
• Are you happy with the design?
• What does your target audience think of the design and functionality?
• Did you get the return on investment that you were expecting?

A Professional Web Design Agency may cost more in the short term but you are trying to satisfied their customer but you must Remember, when it comes to your business and your companies exposure on internet, so take your time to finding a good web design company. Your future may depend on it.

Are you designing it right?

Every company or organization is uniquely defined by its logo and a logo represents the company and the products/services related with it. When it comes to buying of products and services, people generally relate the logo with the products. Originality plays an important role in logo designing. For a good logo, colors, fonts and a meaningful icon are a deciding factor. A thorough research backed with creative thinking and supported with deep designing techniques goes into making a creative logo. A business with an innovative logo will have an edge over other businesses.

The logo is used in a variety of activities including:

· Representation of business, products and services
· Online promotion of company and products
· Business branding
· Business identification

Some companies do not support the concept of logo or even if they do, the logos are either badly created or copied from some other company. This only leaves the company with bad reputation. A bad logo is not done with good thinking and not much of the time is spent in designing it.
A good logo designing requires good designing skills accompanied with lots of research. Logos demand a high price because of the research and skills and involved, also logos separate a company from its competitors. A logo designer plays key role in branding the product with the company.

A good logo should have the following:

1. It is simple: Don’t overcrowd the logo with text and circles instead leave an imprint on the onlookers mind.
2. Unique: Brand recognition is created with a unique logo.
3. Consistency: Colors, fonts and layout, all these elements contribute to good-looking logo.
4. Immediate impact: This aspect of logo designing is very crucial; the logo that is created should leave an impact on the visitors. An effective logo grabs the attention of an onlooker.
5. Suitable: A company selling sports goods online must have an effective “sporty” logo. The logo should be related to the sporting goods and colors play a vital role here.

Thus, the logo forms the foundation of your business and helps in the overall promotion of the services.

Want to Redesign Your Website

Top Reasons Why You Might Want to Redesign Your Website

Have you ever thought about website redesigning? If so, you have come to the right place. Here, through this informative article, we will take a much closer look at some of the reasons that you may want to get a complete website redesign. We will also take a closer look at some of the things that redesigning your website can do for you. Read on to find out more.

Making Your Website Look More Attractive

Have you made yourself a website just for the sake of having a website? Did you just make a dinky website on your own since you have no experience in website designing? If so, then chances are that you may want to redesign your website. If you have a business, you want to get the best results. The key to your success may be how appealing your website looks. A website redesign can help your business a whole lot in the long run.

Organization Can Make All The Difference

One of the main reasons that you may want to consider getting a website redesign is because your website is currently unorganized. Chances are that there is information scattered throughout your entire website, without any rhyme or reason. If this is the case, then chances are that people may not understand your website when they do decide to visit it. By deciding to redesign your website, you could be making a huge difference in the success of your website.

Develop the Right Style For Your Website

There is no doubt that style can be very important for your website. Although there are certain things which you would love to see on your website, there are other things that you need to take into consideration when you go through website designing. This includes, what is the most suitable for your business, as well as what people are interested in seeing. If you decide to get your website redesigned, you will be able to have a website developed for the style which you are looking for. This can lead to the overall success of your website.

Promote Your Website

One of the main keys to your overall company success is website promotion. There are a number of different ways to increase your website promotion, some of which include search engine optimization, email campaigns, directories, and other websites. Of course, before you can experience the best website promotion, you need to make sure that your website is as professional and appealing as it can be. In order to have the most successful website promotion, you should definitely consider a new look for your website.

Get Better Website Optimization For Your Website

Chances are that you probably have your website listed in search engine databases. If so, you probably know the way that search engines work is through website optimization. This is when websites are arranged according to how well keywords match up to what a person is looking for, through keywords. In order to increase the search engine optimization for your website, some new website designing needs to be done. The best keywords will be chosen, to make your website more effective in search engines. For the best search engine optimization strategies and to increase website optimization, you should definitely consider having your website redesigned.

Change the Wording to Make it More Appealing

Are you unsure of whether or not the information on your website sounds appealing enough? Do you also want to make sure that people who view your website can easily understand it? These are both very good reasons to consider website redesigning. The way that your website is worded can make a huge deal to someone that is browsing through it. Making sure that it sounds as appealing as it possibly can be very important to your success, as well as your website optimization.

What Good Graphics Can Do For You

One of the main things which people want to see when they visit a website is graphics. There are a number of different things that graphic design services can do for your website.

* It can make your overall website look more appealing to anyone who visits it.
* Graphic designs can also add to the style of your website.
* If you have a company website, you may find that your overall success will be increased through graphic design.

Make Sure That Your Website is Easy to Use

One of the main things that people hate about websites is when they are not easy to use. When people use a website that has confusing navigation, chances are that they will not use the website again because they will get frustrated with it. Website redesigning can help you a lot when it comes to making your website easy to use. An understandable website can lead to the overall success of your business, by increasing the sales that you get.

Develop a More Professional Looking Website

One of the most important things that there is to know about website design is the fact that a website is the soul to your company. If you have a company which is very professional, chances are that you will also want your company’s website to be very professional as well.

If a person finds that your website does not seem professional or legitimate enough, they will most likely avoid using your services. If you decide to get your website redesigned, you will feel rest assured to know that your website is as professional-looking as it should be.

Match Your Competition

The truth is that industries are constantly changing. If your website is older, chances are that the content that can be found on it may be out of date. In order to match your competition, you should have a website that is just as good as your competitors. Having your website redesigned can be extremely successful when it comes to this.

Why Is Website Redesign So Beneficial?

* The appearance of your website will be improved through graphics.
* Your website promotion will be more successful.
* Website optimization will be increased.
* The overall success of your company will be increased, through encouraged sales or use of services.

Whats the Best Website Design option for your Business

PRE-DESIGNED TEMPLATE OR A CUSTOM DESIGN?

Don’t let your business get left behind. If you’re not on the web already, what are you waiting for? There are plenty of reasons for your company to get online. A website provides an instant visual presentation, is always available, is easily updated and improves customer relations, just to name a few benefits. There are a couple of options for your company, though, when planning your website design. Should you use pre-designed templates or have a professional design a custom website?

Pre-Designed Templates

A website template is pre-designed by a professional. Once the template is designed you can add or change any content you like through an easy to use Wizard. Templates are time savers. With templates you don’t have to wait to get a hold of your web design company if you want to make changes to the site. Also, the cost of a template is considerably less than hiring a firm to create and maintain your site. No HTML coding or graphic design knowledge is required to maintain your own templates. You can customize most aspects of the templates but they can look somewhat generic, not be search engine friendly, or become too time consuming to manage.

Custom Design

If your business doesn’t have the time to manage their own website, hiring a professional may be the right road to take. Building and maintaining a great looking website takes a great deal of time and effort, not to mention knowledge of different coding and design skills. What business has time for that? Yes, hiring a professional web design company does cost a little more money. This isn’t the only thing your business should consider. You should consider all the time and effort that will be saved by hiring an outside company. Another benefit from hiring a professional is service. With templates, you may be left in the dark if you get into some trouble. Or, you may have to pay for costly service calls to fix the problem. Also, you can be sure to have a fully customized site, completely unique, that looks professional and increases your business!

Both customized websites and templates have pros and cons. Basically it comes down to your company’s budget and spare time. If you’ve got the time to manage your own website a template may be the right choice for you. If time is something that your business doesn’t have a lot of and you value a professional’s expertise, a fully managed and customized website will work better for you. Whether a template or a customized website is best for your company, you can’t lose!