Tweeter button
Facebook button
Technorati button
Reddit button
Myspace button
Linkedin button
Webonews button
Delicious button
Digg button
Flickr button
Stumbleupon button

May 18, 2012

Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Archives for 2010

Easy tips to use when searching for Web Designers

December 31, 2010 By

If you think that finding a designer that can help you with website development is going to be a length or difficult process, think again. There are many companies that are offering website design and development services and finding the right one is a fairly simple matter. All you need to do is look around and see who has created the sites you like best. Here are a few tips you can also use in order to find a web developer that will give you the site you have been hoping for.

Word of mouth can be fantastic

Word of mouth can be a great way to find a website development company that you can work with. If you know other business owners that have sites you like you can simply ask them who did the work for them. Many web designers will put their names on the bottom of the sites so it can be worthwhile to look there.

Once you have the name of the company it can be helpful to ask others what they think of the company. Keep in mind that not everyone will be satisfied with a company but if you hear a lot of negative comments you may want to work with a different company.

Look online

Many website development companies advertise online. If you click on a few sites you should be able to get a look at their portfolio. You may want to go to a site and look to see if they are still using a website design that is advertised in a portfolio. If a company has switched their website again soon after having it designed it can be a sign that you may want to work with another company.

Once you have a few potential service providers that you want to work with you may want to do some background checking. See if you can get references for clients that a company has done work for in the past. They may have many things (good or bad) to tell you about what they think of the website, how it functions and what they like or do not like about it.

By doing some checking and research you should be able to avoid the companies that cannot deliver a functioning, visually attractive website to you. Instead, you will be able to concentrate on the companies that marry beauty and functionality in the sites that they deliver.

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign, Website Revamp Tagged With: , , ,

Building the bones of a successful Website: What you need for your site

December 29, 2010 By

Usually, when a company is undergoing website development and design they think mainly about how a site looks. This is important but it is equally important to consider the things that cannot be seen. The bones of a website will ensure that it works properly, can be found using search engines, and that it can be maintained and updated as quickly and easily as possible. Here are three main things you need to make sure are included in your website for it to be as functional and effective as possible.

A Content Management System

This is critical to any website’s success. A content management system allows you to change, remove or add text, html and images to your site. It puts the power to maintain and manage your site back into your hands and allows you to make changes on your own schedule rather than relying on your website design and development company to do so.

A content management system needs to be one that is easy to use. If you can find one that does not take any special steps to use and is as close to point and click as possible you will be better off. You don’t want to be taking a massive amount of time learning how to use a CMS if it is at all possible.

Analytics tools

These tools can give you valuable insight into how your site is functioning. They can be particularly valuable for an e-commerce site but any site can benefit from the reports that are generated. It is possible to learn how many hits you are getting daily, how many of those are first time hits and how many are returning, and other pieces of valuable information. They can help show you which areas are getting the most attention and interest and which areas may need to be changed or updated in order to make it more appealing to visitors.

Search engine optimization

It is important to make sure that search engine optimization is built into your website. This means using a variety of different items in order to make your site more appealing to search engines. You will need to use keywords and phrases, links and tags on your site in order to get the best ranking possible on a search engine. A website development expert can explain the process to you and give you input on how they plan to incorporate search engine optimization into your website.

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign Tagged With: , , , ,

Three things your Website needs to be successful

December 22, 2010 By

Getting a website built for your company can be expensive. Because of this you want to make sure that your site is as efficient as possible at attracting potential customers and converting hits into sales. This way you can recoup the initial investment in your site and feel confident that you have the best promotional tool possible to sell your products and services online.

There are many things that your website should have although there are three main things that any site needs to ensure that it will be successful. By working with a reputable web design and development company you will have the best chance of getting the kind of functional site you need for your company.

A good site is one that marries sound functionality with a beautiful appearance and search engine optimization features that will attract customers, get them interested in your products and services and cause them to choose you over your competition. Here is what you need:

Search engine optimization

If your customers can’t find your site, they can’t learn about your products and services. Good search engine optimization makes your site much more visible and will put it higher on the list of search engine results. This means that potential customers will find your site before those belonging to your competitors.

Search engine optimization is not all about content although that does play a large role in getting you the kind of ranking you have been hoping for. It also involves using links and html tags that make the search engines sit up and take notice.

Sound functionality at any download speed

Functionality is important. You need to ensure that your site works well and that it is not constantly breaking down or leading to dead ends. It is important to stress that your site needs to work well at any download speed. Although many people do have high speed internet access the fact is that not all do. A site that takes a long time to load on a slow connection speed will often get passed by and this means missed sales and income opportunities.

A logical layout that is easy to navigate

It is important to make sure that your site is easy to navigate. This means making menu options easy to find and utilize. Remember that not everyone who views your site will be able to figure out an obscure layout and will usually end up moving on to another site as soon as they become frustrated. As with download speed or poor functionality, a bad layout can cause people to pass your site by and this is something that you want to avoid whenever possible.

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign Tagged With: , ,

A Computer Novice’s Guide to finding a great Web Design Company

December 12, 2010 By

There are many companies out there that tell you they can deliver a high quality website to you or your company quickly and affordably. It can be difficult to sort out the companies that do not know what they are doing from the companies that are very skilled, especially if you do not know much about web design. You may find that you are overpaying for the services you will receive or that they will be unable to create the kind of website you are looking for. Here are a few tips that you can use to choose a great web design company.

Knowing what a website is can often help someone figure out which web design companies are worth the money they are requesting and which are not. You need to realize that all of the images and functionality that appear on your website are all made up of a series of different programs that all work together. A good website design company will have a variety of different programs and coding languages that will give you the functionality that you want all the while working well together.

You want to make sure that your website design company understands what you want and how to deliver that. In order to make it crystal clear what you are looking for you need to make sure that you are dealing with a company that spends time speaking to you before any programming begins. That way they can get a feel for what you are looking for and how to best deliver that functionality that you are looking for and give you the website you have been hoping for. A company that does not get a feel for their client may not be able to give you the website you want in a timely fashion.

If you are looking for a website design company it can be helpful to find one that includes the features you want. Although bells and whistles can be a good thing it can be much better if you are dealing with a company that can give you sound and reliable functionality before you worry about getting flashy. Consumers do not want to waste time on a website that looks good but which does not function or which takes a lot of time to load especially if it is being viewed on a slow internet connection.

By looking for a company that is capable of incorporating different programs into your web design, who takes the time to understand what you like and what you want to accomplish with your site and which can create a site that looks great and functions well you can feel confident that you have found the right website design company for your needs.

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign Tagged With: , , ,

A Website upgrade can improve Your Company’s bottom line

December 11, 2010 By

A website is often the first impression that potential customers get of your company. If it’s outdated, stale, or hard to navigate, many visitors will leave after just a few seconds. This means that you might have lost out on revenue or at least a potential customer at a later date. A website upgrade can bring your company more customers and keep them interested to see what you offer.

Why You Need a Website Upgrade

Websites built from templates were very common a few years ago, but there are still design companies using the same today. A template site is great for someone just starting out creating an online presence, but it will only work for so long. You need to create a site that is user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing – first and foremost. This means that your visitors can easily find what they are looking for, with easy navigation and links that work.

Secondly, if your company is trying to build a brand and create an image of reliability and confidence, it needs to portray that immediately to visitors. This means that your site is professional in its appearance and speaks to the reputation of your company.

Third, make sure your site is optimized for maximum search engine rankings. If not, it’s harder for your visitors to find you, resulting in lower revenues and leads. Search engine optimization is key to the overall success of your website.

Fourth, if your site takes too long to load, many visitors will click the back button and visit one of your competitors’ sites. The latest website redesign technology and innovative concepts will make your site more appealing to visitors.

Finally, listen to the feedback from your customers. If you receive complaints about your site, address them promptly. Should your visitors tell you that they can’t find what they are searching for or that the site simply isn’t as good as it could be, it’s time to for a website upgrade.

It’s Less Expensive than You Might Think

It’s not as expensive to upgrade a website as you might think. For most companies, the internet is one of the cheapest forms of advertising available today. When used correctly, it can quickly increase your revenue and build a steady customer base. Website redesign is the fastest way to maximize your company’s online potential. Don’t let the fastest growing medium for promoting and pushing your company to the next level pass you by because of an outdated website.

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign, Website Revamp Tagged With: , , , ,

Website Redesign brings new life to old Website Design

December 6, 2010 By

Technology changes quickly. What was cutting edge last year isn’t any longer this year. The internet is changing just as quickly, too. Websites owners, once happy with template sites, are now realizing the need for a website redesign. From more appealing, faster loading graphics to easy to use navigation, a website redesign doesn’t have to be costly for you to see the results in your visitor numbers and your revenue.

Why You Need Website Redesign

Some of the most common reasons why a website redesign is needed include:

  • Increase your company’s reputation or product and services offerings
  • Improve the overall aesthetic appearance of your site
  • Implementing the latest technology to meet changing market conditions
  • Keep your website consistently ranked high in the search engines
  • Increase visitor numbers and revenue

Evaluating the Need for Website Redesign

You don’t want a website redesign without some forethought into what you need. Simply changing a couple of color schemes and adding in a video blog isn’t always enough, but completely overhauling your site isn’t always good either. Look for a website redesign service that examines the following factors to ensure your new website looks fantastic, but is also productive.

  • Limitations of your current website
  • General layout and appearance
  • Usefulness of the current content
  • Graphic design considerations
  • Software, hardware, hosting choices
  • Ease of use of your current navigation
  • Overall Strategy of your site
  • Effectiveness of search engine optimization
  • Level of support and feedback

It takes this in-depth analysis to determine what needs to be done to your site to make it more accessible, attractive, and user friendly for your visitors and potential customers. However, when it comes down to what you really want to see in and on your site, you should have the final say.

If you have product listings or inventory that you sell, you should consider a content management system. This lets you make the changes, such as adding or deleting products or changing prices. It’s important that your website redesign focuses on creating a site that is easy for you to manage. An integrated CMS system may be the answer you are looking for.

Don’t leave your website in the last decade. Website redesign breathes new life into old, stale websites. Your competition is staying ahead of the game with their improved, renewed online presence. In order to keep up or surpass the, you’re going to need to the same.

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign, Website Revamp Tagged With: , , ,

What to consider before going through a Website Design or Redesign

December 4, 2010 By

Many companies have a website that may not be fulfilling all of their needs. It may be failing to convert hits to sales or it may simply have failed to grow along with the company. It is not unusual to find that a company has not changed its website design even though the company may have outgrown it. But is it the right time for you to consider changing your website design? Here are a few things you should consider before you spend money on a new website design that may still not get you the results you are looking for.

Does your site look dated?

It is fairly common to find that a website begins to look dated after a while. It may be starting to look old and tired. Your competitors may have website designs that look a lot more modern and up to date. The last thing you want is to look as though your company is neglecting its website and this can send out a negative message to your clients. If you do not refresh the website design of an outdated website you may find that you are misusing a prime marketing tool and therefore missing the chance to attract customers as well.

Is there new functionality that you want to add?

As a company changes there may be a need for new functionality in your website. You may have decided that you want to add a virtual store front or you may want to introduce an area that is password protected and designed for the use of members alone. You may be able to integrate these functions into an existing framework but it can also be the perfect time for a redesign.

Has your company changed its logo or corporate colors?

This is not always cause for redoing your website design. If, however, it is part of an overall change in your company’s image you may find that you need a new website design. This can be a better alternative to simply plonking a new logo into your existing website design.

No one can tell you whether the time is right to revamp your website design. The fact is that if your website is clean and modern looking, has the functionality you want and has been properly maintained you may find that there is, in fact, no need to change the way it looks or operates.

If, on the other hand, you find that you do need a new website design you can begin the process of finding a company to perform these functions for you. By looking online and seeing which companies offer you the services you are looking for it should not be difficult for you to find the right company to retool or redesign your site for you.

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign, Website Revamp Tagged With: , , , ,

How to evaluate whether a Website Design Package is right for your company

December 2, 2010 By

One thing that you may have seen advertised by many website design companies is a package deal that gives you a set price for their website design services. For someone who is not completely familiar with the field of website design it can be difficult to tell which package is priced appropriately for the services that it includes. Here are a few tips that you can use to tell whether a particular package is priced appropriately or whether a website design company is overcharging you.

The first thing to consider is what kind of website design is included in the package. Some packages will only include work on a very simple website. If you need one that is larger or more complex you may find that you end up paying more than you expected or wanted to. This is especially important if you end up wanting any special functionality incorporated into your website design.

If a package has almost everything that you want with the exception of certain functions you may want to ask how much it would cost to include them in the package. Although it may change the cost of the package you may find that it is still worthwhile as the price may still be very reasonable. It is always better to make sure that you know the terms and costs before you sign any agreements however.

The next thing to consider is whether or not the package includes items such as search engine optimization, content management functionality and other features that can ensure that your site is up to date, functioning properly and as easy to find as possible. These three things can mean the difference between a company’s site bringing in customers and driving them away.

Just because a package seems good does not mean that you should immediately choose a specific company. You need to make sure that they have experience working on the kinds of sites that you need. This is especially true if you need advanced functionality such as a site that is capable of interacting with other programs. If there is a specific program you need your site to interface with (such as Quicken, for example) you may want to inquire as to how much experience a company has had in this area. The last thing you want is to choose a company that seems like they know what they are doing but who actually does not have the knowledge and experience to produce the deliverables you have requested.

There are many different companies that are offering website design packages. By taking your time and researching different companies you can find the one that is right for you and that has the features you are looking for in the packages that they offer.

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign Tagged With: , ,

Improve your customer’s experience Online with a Website Redesign

December 1, 2010 By

Many businesses tend to create a website and then forget it. This is especially true if there isn’t a frequent change in your products, services, or policies. However, in order to stay competitive, your website needs to accurately portray your company. It needs to convey confidence and professionalism to visitors and provide them with a great experience while on the site.

Website redesign services can help you create a site that will be visually pleasing to your visitors, but also very functional. One of the most common complaints from internet users is that some websites are simply too hard to navigate. They can’t find what they are looking for, the site takes too long to load, or there is no information listed about the company. You can improve your customer’s experience online with a website redesign.

Other signs that changes should be made include a need for more manageable content. Content management systems are now easier than ever to use and can make quick work out of adding or deleting products, updating product descriptions, and changing prices. You don’t need to pay someone each time a minor change is needed. These CMS are as easy to use and there is virtually no learning curve.

If you feel that your site doesn’t correctly show the direction your company is headed, a website upgrade can help. Improve the quality of the content, graphics, images, and videos. Start a blog to keep your visitors informed of the latest changes, new products, or special events. Create a means for receiving and acknowledging feedback and reviews. Provide links to social media sites and increase your search engine rankings. All of these can be done with a simple website upgrade.

You may be surprised at how inexpensive a website redesign can be. Most companies can have your new site up and going within a few days once you know what you want. Look for a company that has performed previous upgrades before and can show you examples of their work.

In closing, a website redesign could be just what your company needs to bring its online presence current and make it competitive. As one of the least expensive means of advertising and promotion, your website can start generating the kinds of revenue, leads, and customer lists that will propel you past your competition. Isn’t that the goal in the first place?

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign, Website Revamp Tagged With: , , ,

What you need to Know about including ecommerce elements into your Website Design

November 28, 2010 By

If you are planning on building a website for ecommerce purposes you need to know that doing so is a very different experience than any other type of website design will be. Because the focus is on generating revenue the elements that you need to consider and incorporate will be very different than a website design that is aimed at educating the public about goods or services.

If you have decided that you want to try and sell products online here are a few things to consider when including ecommerce elements in your company’s web design.

Does the website design match the products?

This may seem obvious but for many people this is something that they overlook. It is not just about making sure that the site features the products you are trying to sell. The entire feel of the website design also needs to support the impression you are trying to give potential customers. In a way, it’s a little like creating an overall brand except that in this case, it is focused more on the products that you are trying to sell.

Think about how you want customers to feel when they look at your site and the kind of customers that you want to attract. A fun and modern website design may be great for cutting edge products whereas if you are selling more traditional products or services you may need a more traditional site design. The wrong website design may confuse customers and they may end up going elsewhere to purchase their goods.

A simple design may be best

Remember that you want your website design to showcase your products. You want the products to stand out in your customer’s mind and not the site itself (although you do want them to remember your site enough to return to it more than once). A site that is overly flashy may detract from the items or make it difficult for them to even find the products that they are looking for.

If you do have an ornate website design already you may want to find a way to link it to a simpler, cleaner virtual storefront that incorporates some common website design elements but which may be less flashy and more straightforward.

Make it easy for customers to choose and pay for products

A shopping cart is essential to selling products online. Unfortunately the best shopping cart may be useless if customers cannot find it. Therefore it needs to be possible for them to find the shopping cart. It also needs to work consistently and mesh well with the payment system. If someone is unable to complete a transaction they will likely go to the competition and make their purchases there. This loss of revenue can be devastating for ecommerce website design.

By putting a lot of thought into your website design you can create a powerful tool to raise online revenue. The look of the site, combined with the overall feel and the functionality can make or break your site so consider each choice carefully in order to make the best decision for your company.

Filed Under: Website Design, Website Redesign Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts