Web Design Is For Human Beings

It Is Amazing How Many Web Designers Forget That

The Internet, as we now know it, has recently transformed from a rapidly growing infant, into a young child that has further matured after receiving its share of bumps and bruises. It is now actively learning its place in life. There are many adventures ahead, and the only thing certain is that this Internet child is growing up fast, and has a long life ahead of it. Those who are young at heart, befriend this child, and learn to think in fresh new ways (or at least adapt), will discover the success awaiting them.

In the early days of television, TV shows were little more than talking heads and glorified radio programs. It took a while for the real potential of television to be realized. The same was true of the Internet when web sites were just electronic brochures. Some people still fear the Internet, while others just don't get it. The opportunities for Internet success are fantastic, now is the best time to take advantage of those opportunities, and the fact that most of your competition does not realize this is probably your greatest advantage.

The fact that the Internet is different from all other forms of media does not mean we have to redefine all the rules. There is a balance that must be found; a balance between getting stuck in the old ways, and throwing all established wisdom away. People do respond differently on the Internet than they do to other forms of media, but the fact still remains that we are reaching human beings.

The most important part of working on your web design project is that I get to know you, your business, or your organization. We will have a friendly conversation, either by phone or in person. Then I can determine a creative direction that accurately portrays you. The finished web design is about you. It is about transforming your web site visitors into buyers and supporters. I am merely the person who translates your business personality into an interactive visual communication tool on the Internet.

Make Sure You Do Not Lose Your Web Site Visitors

Due to the misuse of special effects and the proliferation of Flash® content used in web design, I believe it is important for me to say a few things about that. First of all, it is very cool, it is dazzling, you will get ooohs and aaahs, and everyone will be impressed, but it rarely sells anything. There are exceptions, and if your objectives are one of those exceptions, I would be happy to break loose and let my creativity run wild for you.

If your web site design confuses or annoys your site visitors, you lose -- permanently. Those visitors will leave and never come back. I cannot illustrate this point any more strongly than calling your attention to the most successful web sites. Think about Google, eBay, Amazon, and other big names. Do you see Flash® content and gizmos jumping all over the screen clamoring to distract your attention? These companies have spent millions and millions of dollars researching web design. They know something.

I am definitely not saying that Flash® and special effects are bad, and I am not saying you shouldn't use them. I am suggesting caution. Remember this important rule of web design, "Just because you can, does not mean you should."

Good web page design is interactive. The user, your web site visitor, can easily figure everything out. They are in control. They control the horizontal, they control the vertical... Good web design is content driven and the visitor can easily find the content they are looking for. Good web design has sensible navigation. Good web design builds loyalty. Because the percentage of good web design is so low, good web design is actually exceptional. Exceptional web design sells.

The technical aspects of web design are not as difficult as you might expect (but that is easy for me to say after years of experience). Making a web design look professional is relatively easy (or so I think). With effort and determination, you could actually do it yourself (not recommended but possible). Then you can feel proud, show all your friends, and print the web address on all your business stationary (definitely recommended). Hopefully though, you are beginning to realize that a web site design without exceptional web content writing, and without sound web marketing advice, will only get your web site buried in an obscure, back corner of the Internet.

If you are ready to capitalize on the power of the Internet, then contact me right now and you could soon be enjoying the benefits of a profitable web site. Feel free to keep reading as I outline a checklist of important considerations for your web success.

 

Principles Of Success In Web Design

Get Focused, Communicate, Promote, and Succeed

Important web design considerations.

I know it sounds over simplified, but if you want to get a business loan from the bank, they want to see your business plan. Why, might I ask, would you ever want to launch a web site, the most powerful marketing tool in existence, without a plan? Need help making that plan? Great, because I can help. Below you will find a checklist that can also help get you started on a web design plan.

You don't have to be a web guru to understand the principles below either. Let me be the web design guru, all you have to understand is that you need to be successful.

• What is your reason for being on the web? What is your primary goal?
  What benefits could a web site provide for you?
  
  

• Why will someone visit your web site? What tasks should they be able to perform while they are on your site (e.g. ordering from you, getting news and info, downloading, etc.)? Unless you are selling nice looking graphics, no one will visit your site just to take in the view.
  
  

• Quite often, web sites are thought of strictly from a marketing perspective. Consider the convenience it might provide to your customers, ways it can make your sales force more effective, use it as a reference tool for employees, etc. There are many ways you can benefit from a web site.
  
  

• Have you registered a domain name? Do you have someone to host a web site?
  Do you need explanations of these web terms?
  
  

• Who are you making a web site for? What is your target audience? Stay focused.
  
  

• Do you feel it is important for search engines (like Google) to find you? If so, search engine optimization (SEO) must be planned from the very start (SEO means programming your site so people can find you by entering certain search words on an Internet search engine). Trying to optimize a web site after it has been developed is usually more work than building it right in the first place.
  
  

• Your web site needs to compliment your current marketing. I want to know about other things you are doing: catalogs, flyers, radio ads, yellow pages, etc. Your web site and your current advertising will be a valuable asset to each other.
  
  

• How will you be promoting your web site? There is a fairly common myth that the Internet will magically make your business prosper. I can help you make a successful plan.
  
  

• There are so-called experts out there who will tell you that long pages with lots of text will not succeed. First of all, you are reading one right now. Second, they are wrong. It is far easier to scroll down than to keep clicking Next. In addition to that, users who print pages to read off line do not want to click Next to get all the content.
  
  

• People often use the Internet to make informed buying decisions. This is another reason your content is so important. It is best to be as brief as possible, but also, make sure to provide the content your visitors can benefit from. Sometimes, they will research on the Internet, then walk through your door to make a purchase without telling you they found you online. It is difficult to measure your success because of this, but it is just as real.
  
  

• If you surf the web, are there other web sites that you like? Why do you like these sites? Are there features that you feel could benefit your web site design?
  
  

• Keep updating in mind. Most variables are no problem, but if there are any changes coming up soon, like new products and services, acquisition of another company, or anything that alters "business as usual" that you are aware of, this information could be useful in planning an open ended web design.

 

Don't Get Bit By Free Or Cheap Deals

Your Web Site Success Could Depend On Reading This

I sincerely wish that writing this section was not necessary, but it is. Most importantly though, free is not bad, and cheap is not evil. There are plenty of great opportunities in both categories. I myself provide a lot of free extras to add value to my web design services and web content writingservices and strengthen my business relationships. In fact, my best clients are the ones who ask a lot of questions. I want you to ask, because in my experience, I have been able to offer insights that have spared business people of mistakes I have either seen made, read about, or made myself.

The newness of the Internet and web marketing has given rise to some opportunists who just want to make a quick buck because most people don't yet understand the Web.

On that note, be wary of anyone who makes it sound quick and easy. Getting decently listed with search engines for example takes time and effort. It takes 30-60 days or longer to make any significant progress. Aside from some paid advertising, I have never seen any shortcuts, and those paid listings are only provide the paid ads themselves, not the search engine results. Here is my advice, question everything.

With most of the schemes, you are dealing with small amounts because it is easier to make $19 or $99 from a lot of people, than larger amounts which you will question more. Ask an expert before spending money. You don't want to miss a good deal any more than you want to throw money away.

Here is one I view as being more dangerous and it can happen with a seemingly innocent freebie. Watch out for free domain names and free hosting with a web design package. If the company giving you this "generous offer" puts their name on the domain registration instead of yours, they own it. If you feel like you aren't getting good service from them, you can cancel, yes, but they still own your domain name. Now imagine all the effort you have wasted in promoting a site you don't really own.

If you want to check your domain name, go to the whois directory and put in your domain name. If your name and contact information is not on that domain name as the registrant, you may want to call your lawyer.

My purpose here is not to outline every scam, I just want to lay out a principle so you can exercise caution. Call it a public service. As a small business owner myself, it's the least I can do.

 

This Is Better Than Free Web Design

You Can Have Web Site Success With Any Budget

Perhaps you are wondering if Creative Business Services can help you with web site design and marketing when you have a small budget. I understand that choosing a web design company is made more difficult because of the two primary methods used by many to sell web design services. There are those who want to stroke your ego and have the high prices to go with it. Others want to appeal to your budget by selling cheap web design. Common sense still tells you that you get what you pay for.

I believe in treating you better and helping you market effectively. I sell small business web site design with the big picture in mind. You do not need to have thousands of dollars to succeed, you can often do well for hundreds. I have helped other companies with small budgets generate the profits needed to increase their budgets. The result is that they keep coming back for more of my expertise. The Internet presents an opportunity for success never before available for such small investments. Proven web marketing is the key to success, not huge costs.

Feel free to review some of my web design examples.

Now that you have read this far, you understand the difference between average web design and performance based web design. You will no longer be taken in by those who must produce your web site design on an assembly line to make a profit, or by those who just want to dazzle you by showing off their ability to create special effects without any real substance.

Instead of throwing away money on an average web site, or an expensive web site that doesn't sell anything, or just as bad, throwing away money by doing nothing, invest in performance based web design. You will be reaping rewards far greater than the investment. Use the easy feedback form for your questions, comments, or to request a free, no-obligation web design proposal. You can also email me if you like. If you prefer other contact methods, please visit the Contact Information page for the full list of options.