Finding the right web designer is one of the most important decisions when starting a web based business. You have to make the right choice because your business depends on it. Here are some of the things that are a must when considering your web design firm:
* Basic knowledge of web design
First, you have to have basic knowledge of web design and running a web site. It is a fact that before you enter a business, you yourself must have a good grasp of its importance. When you are educated, you know when a design is functional and useable or when it is not. You also know whether to criticize or appreciate the work of your web designer.
If you are not aware of the important things to your business, chances are you will easily end up with a web site that is unusable to your target audience and your business will sooner than later falter and crash. This is not a good thing. So, keep an open mind and explore your online competition. Spend some time reading about web design and everything about business web sites. Go online and do your research.
* Contact web design firms
Contact some firms with expertise in web designing and development. From them you can learn a lot about web design services.
Next, talk to some of the design firm’s current clients and ask them about the services they have found most useful. Learn from their experiences and the success of their web site. Don't just peruse a number of great sites; be sure to know the reason what makes them work. From there you can start to understand what you should be focusing on for your businesses web site.
* Design alone does not make a site
Keep in mind that design is not the only thing that makes a site. Though it is an important part of your site, it is not all of what makes a feasible and lucrative web site.
Another factor to consider is the designer's quest for equilibrium between form and functionality. If form is what matters the most to the web designer then that could be disastrous. Next, is the firm’s organizational skill? Is the web designer good in organizing the page designs and layouts? Better be 100 percent sure about it.
Good and practical navigation is also an issue. This is because viewers get lost in a site easily. They can change their minds with just a click of the mouse. You must have good navigation to keep them from getting confused and instead, guide the user to exactly where you want them to go. Good navigation must also be coupled with user-friendliness so as to be used easily and hassle-free by the visitors. The most important thing is the 'Call for Action'.
The design firm must know the purpose of a web site. Is it to make their visitor buy a product or inquire about your business? The web site is there to serve a goal. Be sure the web designer realizes that goal!
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Choosing the Right Web Designer?
Category: General
Posted on Tue, Apr 11 2006 @ 2:07 AM [CST]
[Permalink] [Comments - 0] [Send Article] [Improper]Tips for Web Design
• Content is King. The most important thing to remember about popular web sites is that they are always rich in content.
• Stick to your subject. Don't try to be all things to all people. Keep your goal in mind. Creating a web site is challenging and fun. The temptation to put as many bells and whistles as you can on a page is almost overwhelming. But unless your site is involved with bells and whistles, don't do it! The purpose of designing a site carefully is not to make it look cool, or win awards. It's to accomplish the intended goal of the site. It's a good idea to write down the goal of your the site before starting any design work. It will help you make design designs for the site as a whole.
• Design sites, not pages. Your primary concern should be the site's overall design. When starting to design a new site from scratch, you should try to create a design that will make sense to users, has a consistent look and feel, and is not to difficult to extend in the future. The consistency of design of a site is one of the factors that differentiates amateur sites from professional ones.
• Make it easy to get around your site. Your customer should be able to easily navigate to any page in your web from any page in your page. It's important to link in a consistent, well thought out manner that users can learn to navigate. Have clear links to your pages and, if are selling a product, make it easy for people to buy it! Show your business name, address, phone number and E-mail address on each an every page. Invite customers to contact you with their questions or comments. Add links to other sites only when necessary, or on a special links page at the end of your site. You want visitors to go through your site before surfing off to another!
• View your site through the eyes of a stranger. Once you have completed you site outline, view it in other browsers. Does it look like you wanted it to look?
• Don't forget to tell the world about your new site. Make sure that your URL is on all your company business cards, letter heads, brochures, phone systems, etc. Swap links with other related web sites and consider banner advertising. List your site with the major search engines, but read their rules of submission first!
• Keep your site current. Come up with a reason for people to visit and revisit your pages and recommend them to their friends. This could be a series of articles giving tips, a daily cartoon, or other attention catching event. The words most likely to attract visitors are: Free and Special. Be sure you offer something of value if you uses these words!
Category: General
Posted on Sat, Apr 08 2006 @ 1:34 AM [CST]
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