Nowadays every company needs a website. A website is just as important as a business card for a company. A company without a website is very difficult to survive in the 21st century because they will lose a large number of potential customers. Other than that, a company without a website is perceived as not professional because website becomes a very basic requirement.
Why is it so? Change of consumer behaviour. Each and every individual prefer to find information via internet, and buy thru online. It is so convenient and secure to purchase a product, online service booking or even subscribe to magazine compared to other method, for instance flipping through yellow pages.
Most of the companies outsource their web design to third party web design firms. How to evaluate which web design firm is good and reliable? How can you decide to choose which web design firm? Before you hire any web designer, make sure that it fulfills the following 5 core criteria. If one of the criteria is not met, you might as well get a student to do the job.
The first criterion is you need to make sure they are NOT using any off shelf template as a design for your website. It is important that they have a Graphic Designer to design the layout of your website. Professional and pleasant design will have a great impact on your customers. Professional and pleasant impact does not means that you need to have a lot of flashy animation, because search engine does not like it. Professional and pleasant design will retain your visitors for a longer time, which increase the tendency of them buying a product from your website or contact you for a service
The second criterion is you need to make sure they are from a registered company. We are not against freelancer or part timer. Yet, credibility, capability and business experience is important. Are you willing to entrust your online business to someone who is not up to Professional standard?
The third criterion is you need to make sure they provide quick response support to you even if they have completed the website for you. When we say this, we mean it. It is not only support, it must be quick response support. You can lose a lot of money, and worse lose your customers forever when your shop stops functioning for 1 single day.
The fourth criterion is you need to make sure they provide you some basic training on your website. You or your staff must know how to handle your website.
The last criterion is you need to make sure they know about Marketing (either Online or Offline Marketing). This is the part most ordinary web developers can't. Reason is simple; they are Web Developer but not Marketing Consultant. However, your website means nothing when NO Marketing is done. Marketing is the single most Crucial factor that decides profitability of business.
You need to make you your web design firm meet the 5 criteria above. Anyone of the criteria will make or break your business.
Study the subject being featured. Visit as many sites as possible that cover the same as well as related topics. Make a list of what works and what doesn't. Avoid using a design that is going to be uniform with others. Unless your pages are distinctive they are not going to work.
1.Try and avoid run of the mill things like page counters, java text scrolling, flashing images, GIF images, signs which say "we are not ready." Or, too many illustrations or animations, black grounds or fade ins.
2.Create a design which coveys in a stylish way what it has to. Instead of using downloaded illustrations use original ones.
3.Avoid things like heavy files or graphics. These will slow down your pages. GIF is better than JPEG files.
4.Think of the target audience and subject being addressed when designing. The overall effect should be that of exclusivity.
5.Avoid incorporating download plugins. While Flash is innovative and fun you will loose viewers if you don't provide an HTML alternative.
6.Design the pages so that they are not more than 50K.
7.Remember the rule of thumb; a web page should not have more than three screens. And, ensure that the viewer does not have to scroll horizontally.
8. Test your website pages with several browsers. Make sure they open quickly and completely. Do a reality check by asking a cross section of users to check the site. Usability checking will bring to the fore any mistakes made.
9.Don't use backgrounds with tiles or patterns it makes the design fussy and decreases readability. Avoid frames they make the pages difficult to book mark.
10.Determine accurately the rules of creative design and ensure that you apply them. If you have links make sure they work. Limit page content. Pay attention to search engine optimization. Ensure that the design follows the content and is not a separate element. Maintain archives. Use innovative fonts and titles. The content should follow basic elements of style or a style sheet.
When designing the web page think about the site as a whole not each page separately. There should continuity in design. Include a site map for easy navigation. Pay attention to imparting knowledge, include information on the subject of the site, give tips, make available how to articles as well as publications on the topic. The site and pages should be interactive without being a nuisance, so links must be well thought of and of practical use.
Keep in mind at all times the 5 golden principles of design: balance, rhythm, proportion, dominance, and unity.
Both Yean Shin Yong & Paul Wilson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Yean Shin Yong has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Online Business and SEO Search Engine Optimization. WeSourze is a company, specializing in Search Engine Optimization and effective ROI Online Marketing for corporate. Find out how online marketing can s. Yean Shin Yong's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.
Paul Wilson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Interview Questions and Hotels and Hostels. Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for , the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Web Design including topics on web designs, html. Paul Wilson's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.