Do It Right Or Don’t Do It At All!
Almost from the beginning of the internet, people like you have tried to find a way to do their own website design to save a little money. Even the software publishers have hopped on the bandwagon by creating do it yourself web publishing software that is so easy to use they even have those ‘books for Dummies’ for almost every one of those packages. Unfortunately, none of those cute programs give you the information you need to successfully design and maintain a truly functional and productive website.
Let’s talk about what the real, and often forgotten, requirements are for a productive website. A good website’s primary function is to bridge the gap between you and your customers, current or potential. To do this, the design of the website has to be designed around two main aspects, appearance and functionality, both equally important. But, these two critical aspects must be balanced against each other. This is the fundamental job and responsibility of whomever you choose to do your website design.
The appearance of the website is undoubtedly one of the prime factors of a website design. The word design itself entails the very purpose of a website design where the designers are required to create an attractive website. The visuals and aesthetics of a website must be striking enough to appeal to a visitor and explore the website further. To be very frank, if the design of your website looks totally unprofessional and/or is difficult to navigate, your potential customers are going to quickly log off and go find a site that is much more attractive and appealing…and easy to use.
But what’s the use of a visually rich website that confuses the visitor and doesn’t serve the purpose of information sharing? The website’s content should be accessible for the user by using well defined information architecture. If the visitor finds that the content or the navigation is the slightest bit confusing, it won’t take him more then 5 seconds to close the website or open a new one.
Bottom line: A competent website designer has the knowledge and experience to design a website that will attract potential customers for you, will help them navigate to the information they require, and will help you create that information in a manner that will be professional, will grab and hold their attention and help you increase sales. Think about it for just a second – the website designer’s income depends on satisfying the needs and requirements of people just like you and if the website he designs doesn’t function the way it should, he isn’t going to stay in business very long. But, if it does, every penny you’ve invested in website design will bring you dollars in return. Look at the websites of successful companies. Decide what it is you want yours to do. Then pick up the phone and call a professional to help you design it! You won’t be sorry.
