| When having a website built, it’s great to think | | | | improve your search engine ranking without providing |
| of how you want your website to look…most | | | | valuable content along with those keywords. |
| designers will appreciate you having a “vision” | | | | Also, think about how you speak to your site visitors. |
| for your site. However, do not let your vision | | | | Your tone and writing style that you choose should |
| overshadow your purpose for building the website. If | | | | fit the overall purpose of your site as well as the |
| you do, the site will could end up falling short of, not | | | | “vibe” you want site visitors to have when |
| only your needs but also, your expectations. So, how | | | | visiting the site. For example, if your website is going |
| do you avoid that pitfall? Well, in order to build a | | | | to be the equivalent of an online brochure, make sure |
| website that works—literally and | | | | that the design and text read as simply as a |
| figuratively—for you, the site must be functionally | | | | brochure would. If your site is geared towards |
| correct first and the visual elements used should | | | | children, use age-appropriate wording. Or, if your site |
| work with the functionality. | | | | is supposed to be a profit powerhouse, generating |
| Functional For Site Visitors & Site Owners | | | | thousands of dollars each month from product sales, |
| It is critical to keep the purpose of the website | | | | make sure that you have copy that sells on every |
| you’re building at the forefront of your mind. | | | | page intended to sell site visitors on your product / |
| That’s to say, what do you want site visitors to | | | | service. FYI: Hiring a professional copywriter or |
| (be able to) do while visiting the website? Are you | | | | working with a website design company that |
| building a community site where you want people to | | | | provides copywriting services can come in handy |
| interact? Maybe you’re looking to sell products. | | | | here! |
| Or perhaps you’re a business owner or | | | | Finding The Right Web Designer For Your Website |
| non-profit organizer and just need an online presence | | | | Once you have determined the basic functionalities of |
| so people can learn more about what you do. | | | | the website you’d like developed as well as |
| They’re all valid reasons to have a website built | | | | some of the aesthetics you’d prefer, the next |
| but the functional requirements for each is different. | | | | step is to find a professional website designer to |
| The community site needs an element that will allow | | | | actually build the website for you. The best way to |
| site visitors to communicate with each other but the | | | | begin is to ask friends for a referral but do not stop |
| product site needs a way to process transactions | | | | there. Website designers have different capabilities |
| and the online presence site simply needs to be | | | | and specialties. The referred website design company |
| informative. | | | | may or may not be the right provider for the job. |
| Seems simple enough, right? Well, sometimes it is and | | | | So, the next step should be to find one or two other |
| sometimes it isn’t. | | | | potential website designers. When selecting designers |
| Many of today’s websites serve multiple | | | | for your short list, keep the following in mind: |
| purposes. Some large sites may even have different | | | | • Budget & Price: Have a budget range in mind for |
| purposes for different sections or pages within the | | | | your website that’s appropriate for the |
| website. That may result in the overall site needing a | | | | functionalities your site requires. Let your budget |
| variety of functional capabilities—search result | | | | determine the designers who you consider for the |
| generation, form submission, multimedia interfacing, | | | | job. However, the designer who wins the project |
| e-commerce, or even customized databases. | | | | should be determined first by their ability to design |
| Therefore, asking yourself, “What do I want site | | | | the website as you envision and second by price. |
| visitors to do / to be able to do on my | | | | • Professionalism: Take note of the |
| website?” may seem like an easy-to-answer | | | | professionalism of the provider during phone |
| question but it really is a question that anyone | | | | conversations and / or email correspondence. It’s |
| wanting a website designed should seriously consider | | | | indicative of what the experience of working with |
| before contacting a web designer. | | | | them will be like. |
| Beautiful AND Smart Design | | | | • Work Samples: Request to see work samples |
| Once you have clearly thought out the functionality | | | | but do leave room for some speculation. Work |
| requirements for your website, then you can turn | | | | samples, unless created specifically for you, are |
| your attention to how you want your website to | | | | always the result of the provider’s client’s |
| look. Here’s a look at some things to keep in | | | | preferences and not solely the designer’s abilities. |
| mind as you’re imagining how you would like | | | | Designers can make suggestions to clients for how a |
| your website to look: | | | | website should look or operate but in the end, |
| • Use The 3-Click Rule Whenever Possible. | | | | it’s what the client prefers that goes. |
| The 3-Click Rule is an unwritten rule that many | | | | • Value-Added Services: If you will be requiring |
| professional designers adhere to when designing | | | | more than just web design to make sure that you |
| website. The rule states that it should not take a site | | | | have an optimal website, consider finding a provider |
| visitor more than three clicks to get to a particular | | | | that offers value-added options. Some value-added |
| function. Translation: Make sure that the | | | | services that design firms sometimes offer that |
| website’s navigational structure you decide on | | | | simplify website operation or improve website |
| for your site is super simple. If it takes more than | | | | effectiveness include website hosting, website |
| three clicks for a site visitor to get to a particular link | | | | maintenance, domain services, copywriting, and |
| or page, it isn’t likely the site visitor will get | | | | search engine optimization (SEM). |
| there. Instead, most will give up and move on to the | | | | When you find the professional designer that you |
| next website in the search engine results. | | | | want to work with, explain what you have in mind |
| • Don’t Fight What The Consumer Has Been | | | | for your website in detail, including your functional |
| Conditioned To Do. | | | | requirements. Then, be prepared to listen; a true |
| Web users are accustomed to going to certain links | | | | professional designer will have additional questions to |
| and locations to find certain information. For instance, | | | | clarify your “vision” as well as insight about |
| most web surfers automatically look to the left or | | | | what else you may need in order to have the |
| top of the screen for main site navigation options; | | | | website look and operate the way you want it to. |
| site users have also become increasingly used to | | | | The final tip for building a website that works: Be |
| being able to click on a company logo to get back to | | | | open-minded to all of the designer’s suggestions. |
| the homepage. Don’t fight these web surfer | | | | You don’t have to go with all of the design |
| design preferences…go with it! The exception: You | | | | firm’s recommendations but you should at least |
| can consider straying from these “norms” if | | | | hear the designer out. Remember: You’re hiring a |
| you’re attempting to create a specific surfing | | | | professional web design firm because of its expertise |
| experience for your site visitors. | | | | and creative abilities! Don’t cripple your designer |
| • Plan To Add Purposeful Content! | | | | by not allowing for at least some free flow of ideas. |
| Don’t just put text on your website for the | | | | After all, the designer is the professional and |
| sake of “having something up there.” Site | | | | there’s always more to beautifully designed and |
| visitors will see right through fluff copy…especially if | | | | user-friendly websites than meets the eye! |
| you attempt to fill the site with keywords to | | | | |