1. FAQs



2. cartoons

3. links

4. Polls

5. Surveys

A FAQ (frequently asked questions) should be self-explanatory. However, it's important for visitors to feel that they have a place to get a quick question answered. FAQ pages are an easy format for professional web design to circumvent the most basic contact questions such as who, what, when, where and how.

For example, a FAQ page for a professional web design company may answer questions on turnaround times from initial contact. It may answer general questions about fees. It may also provide links to samples as well as cursory explanations of basic web design features and specialized features offered by this particular web design company.

First time visitors to a site may find FAQs particularly beneficial as they are less likely to send an email inquiry about a question. The questions should be formatted in a simple, clear style. The answers should be formatted similarly. This allows the visitor to get the answers to their questions quickly and efficiently. If the FAQ page is exceptionally long, then making the page searchable is another benefit. This, is of course, a double-edged sword and should be discussed with the professional web designer. If contact emails are preferred, then a link to a page that opens an email form may be a better solution for those websites that want their customers to engage in a dialogue.

Web cartoons are extremely popular. With more and more people looking for their news on Internet newsfeeds, combining internet cartoons with newsfeeds in one section of the website is a way to provide end users with a reason to repeat their visit. For example, a company that handles sutlets and cartoons that are related to the subject matter. There may be some fees involved and it's important to investigate those before incorporating them into the web design. Don't be afraid to add a little fun to a site that's all about business. After all, look at the popularity of such strips as Dilbert.

Weather links are similarly popular and available in a multitude of formats. End users can either enter their zip code or click a link to check their local weather. The weather link can be as simple as a hypertext pointer to the WeatherChannel.com or as fancy as an imbedded program that displays the five day forecast in a side window. The final professional web design will be a cohesive effort between both the professional and the client.

Finally surveys and polls are a great way to get feedback from visitors. Polls are also just fun. Competitive polls that research the results of favorite television shows, stars, books, upcoming movies or computer software programs can give the web designer or webmaster useful information for future updates. Another favorite that often shows up with the above are daily quotes. Many sites use a daily quote, saying or scripture to increase the illusion of personal involvement between the visitor and the website.

These are just a few of the features available to add to a professional web design. Whether the site is broad based in its appeal or focused only on graduates of a particular school, tweaking the features to increase visibility and visitor appeal is the job of professional web design. Introducing personal features can enhance delivering a clean, informative and useful site; however the final judge of those features will always be the client.