Website Design
Whether you are having a site built from scratch or are doing a redesign of your existing site, it is really important to examine the reasons you need a website in the first place. If you look at your own favorite sites, you will find that they are organized in a particular manner -- around their central navigation. You might also notice how they handle mobile display. How they present their brand may mirror how yours is presented, for websites often have things in common. Many websites may even look alike and have the same message to their customers. Finding your own distinct voice so you can stand out is worthwhile.
Your website is the public face of their business and the design elements used on it (use of color, fonts, typography, etc.) are all important. It is the "skin" that projects your company's identity and defines how your clients, customers or partners view your business. Your small business will gain credibility by having a website. Without one, potential customers will go to your competition. If you already have a website, but it is "home made", having it professionally redesigned will provide your business with a site that will inspire even greater confidence. Your site is certainly tied to your marketing efforts, but it is far more than that.
Essentially, your brand is all about how people perceive you. It has to do with the images, information and experiences that others have relating to your business. When it comes to your online presence, there is so much more to think about than just your website. Your brand must shine -- and be consistent -- across many platforms and media. Your site/brand should be firmly rooted in why your company exists and what you bring to the table. Along with conveying the values of your brand, your website should quickly be able to answer pertinent questions, like those in my questionnaire.
Consider who your target audience is. Disney's target audience is kids. Their intent is to entertain and involve this young audience in all that it is associated with, and it's use of design does this by wrapping the content in a fun, colorful manner, even at Disneyland. Your brand extends well beyond your website -- and this, in turn, effects your SERP results under Google. Disney reaches out to it's audience with a lot of visual and interactive elements. You can too. Think about how you could make use of YouTube or other social media channels. Your audience is likely making use of at least one social media channel.
If you run a business online, use of social media is important. Ask me how I can help you with your marketing efforts. Never take your audience for granted: Your Web strategy MUST include their use of social media. There are even some who claim that Facebook is now the new "business webite," but it is not something you have complete control over. You need a website in addition to at least one social media channel. What IS your Web strategy? Do you have a website that is meeting all your business needs?
