Feb
11
Written by:
Judy
2/11/2010 9:50 AM
The appearance of your website is important because in today’s technology-driven world most people look at a businesses website before taking further action with the business. Websites that create a positive image have:
- Graphics that create a feeling or convey information.
- A color pallet that enhances a business's branding and is consistent with your print media or other marketing materials.
- Consistent styles carried throughout the website
- A unified graphics, color, and font package rendered to create a professional, unique, and appealing look for the website.
- A layout that is natural, logical, and easy for visitors to navigate.
If you do not have all of these design elements working together, your website may actually be creating the wrong impression and driving customers away instead of convincing them to do business with you.
Steps to Selecting a Design Firm that Is Right for You
1. Review the portfolio of website design and print media design. Do the designs appeal to you? Do the designs show a range of styles? Did the design firm carry the design throughout both web and print items?
2. Review the design firm’s range of services.
- Logo creation and/or brand identity design - Firms that can demonstrate creative products will have the ability to create a website design and print media design that is unique to your business.
- Copy writing and editing services - Compelling copywriting is a critical element to any website design or print media design. I will expand on copywriting in a future blog related to Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
- Search Engine Optimization services - Make sure that you understand what will be done and how it will be done. Be wary of guarantees! I will expand on this more in a future blog.
- Print media design and print brokering services - It is important that you carry the same branding throughout your marketing efforts, so choosing a firm that can provide professional website design and print media design will make your life that much easier.
- Domain name management - Make sure you retain ownership of your domain name even if the design firm is managing it for you. If the design firm owns your domain name then they can hold it hostage should you want to go elsewhere. The domain name is www.domainname.extension.
- Web hosting services – Does the firm offer a turn-key solution that includes web hosting? I will expand on things you should ask about the web hosting provided in a future blog.
3. Review the design firm’s design process. Does the firm have a process and does it include:
- Information gathering - You know your business/product best. A firm should listen to you and understand your business goals, your current branding, your likes and dislikes, and your main competitors.
- Formal proposal - The firm should provide you with a detailed written proposal that clearly outlines what they will do, what your deliverables are, and the associated costs. The proposal should outline the technology that will be used to develop your website. I will discuss the technology in detail in a future blog.
- Review process – You should be given ample opportunity to review and modify designs before your site is programmed.
- Support – How can you get assistance during the design and development process and AFTER? Is this a design firm that will be there to support you when there are issues? What are the maintenance rates?
4. Review the website design and print media design customer bases. How many of their customers are referrals from other clients? How many of the firm's customers have come back to them for additional services?
The bottom line is there are a lot of options out there for website and print media design, but before you put your business in the hands of a "too good to believe" offer, make sure you understand what it really could cost you in the long run. An unappealing, hard-to-navigate website and shabby print materials will place a negative impression of your business in the minds of potential customers. First impressions are crucial to client conversion. Negative impressions can be costly and take years to recover from.
Arukor Communications, Inc would be happy to answer any questions related to our website design and print media design skill-sets, portfolio, and process. You can call us toll-free at 1-866-615-5171 or you can call me directly at 774-275-0391 or send me an email at judy@arukor.com
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