A website is often the first point of contact for a customer, so it goes without saying that it needs to be functional, informative and impressive. Designing a website can be an intimidating task, especially with all the considerations that need to be put into place to keep it current. You can design your own site, or use the services of professionals, or do a combination of both.
There are a number of points you need to consider when designing a new website, or even updating an old one. An obvious staring point is the graphic design and layout – the design really needs to be as unique as your brand, products and services, while reflecting your company culture – a pretty tall order. It’s worth using the services of a graphic designer with web design experience here; they’ll know what is possible and advise you against features that may slow it down.
The website performance is a biggie – waiting for a website to load is painful, as is being asked to load a 3rd party application in order to view the website. Today’s web surfers are in a hurry, so your website should load in three seconds or less. The user interface is another aspect to examine carefully – the end user should be able to reach the desired page or content in no more than three clicks. Understanding how people use the internet will guide the user interface design.
The content is a part where you can contribute, if you have the writing skills needed. Content that answers questions in a clear and compelling way beats pages of waffle any day. Your content should be unique, not copied from someone else’s page and should engage the reader from the first line. The information architecture is a key feature of your website design, determining how your content and the internet work together.
Security is not to be ignored, especially if you sell products or services over the internet. Protect yourself and your customers from potential fraud law suits by ensuring your security is what it needs to be. This is something that needs to reviewed regularly – it’s not a once-off thing.
Responsive design is an absolute must, since mobile device use accounts for about half of all internet traffic. Make sure your website works on all devices, or you’ll lose business to a competitor who does have responsive design. SEO practices must be followed too.
You also need to look at scalability – will your website design be able to keep up with the growth or evolution of your business? Many businesses update their websites annually, to keep them fresh, appealing and relevant. Think about if your design with have longevity, or if you will start from scratch each time you update.
For more information on our website design services, contact us. We’d love to see what we can create with you, to exceed your website expectation. With an individual approach to each design, we take the time to understand our clients’ needs and businesses.