Website Design Tips

An
effective website is the cornerstone of a good marketing plan. Our business
cards, stationary, advertising, vehicles, etc. should have the URL to your
website. A professional website helps potential customers make an informed
decision to do business with you.

According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project Tracking
February-April 2006 survey, 73% of American adults use the Internet. At the
time of the survey this represents approximately 147 million people. 91% of
those Internet users used a search engine to find information online. Just
having a website is not good enough it needs to be professional and help close
business.

There are four important components to an effective website:

Esthetics: How does your website
look? A finished website must have a professional appearance. The branding
elements and color scheme should be well coordinated and visually appealing.
All individual visual design elements and typography must fit into the overall
design and be presented within a clear visual hierarchy. Clear visual cues and
accents identify key content and help the user navigate the site.

Content: What is this website about?
The message must be clear and concise. All text should be fine tuned for the
web as its own form of media. A well done website builds confidence that you
are the right person to do business with. Brochures and other printed media
must be converted into a format that engages users to action on the web.

Usability: Is this website easy to
use? All websites should follow the established set of standardized best
practices for building websites which enhance accessibility and intuitiveness.
For example, does a web link look like a web link? Sounds like an obvious
statement, but far too often this web standard is neglected and replaced with
over-styled elements. A usable site is one that provides consistency in
experience without making the user wonder