| Like going on a blind date, choosing the right web | | | | To get an estimation of the amount of traffic, go to |
| designer can be an adventure fraught with false hope. | | | | enter his URL to get the traffic details. You'll see the |
| Unlike a big corporation, a small business generally has | | | | Traffic Rank for his website. As a general rule of |
| a tight budget--especially when it comes to advertising | | | | thumb, if the traffic ranking isn't within the 1st Million |
| and promotion--to engage a big web design agency to | | | | globally (e.g. Yahoo ranks no. 1), then his online |
| serve their online marketing needs. | | | | marketing effort certainly has much room for |
| With the understanding that a cheap-looking website is | | | | improvement, even for his own business website. |
| not the best way to represent your business--or that | | | | Offline Marketing |
| you do not have unlimited funds to throw at web | | | | Small businesses exist in numbers far larger than big |
| designers on the off-chance that you'll get something | | | | corporations. |
| that resembles what you want--there exist good small | | | | It is ever more important for your business to stand |
| design studios and professional freelance web | | | | out from your competition with a professional, |
| designers with reasonable rates, fortunately. | | | | consistent image--your corporate identity, namely from |
| Here are some tips on how to choose the right one to | | | | your web design, company logo, to the offline |
| meet your small business needs. | | | | marketing collateral such as business card and flyer |
| Identify the Fake Web Designers | | | | designs etc. |
| Check out their portfolio! | | | | Having the same company to design both your online |
| Do they look professional? Is the style of the designer | | | | and offline marketing collateral have significant |
| something you would like to have on your own site? | | | | advantages of consistency and cost. |
| Are they logical, easy to use, and provide what's | | | | Word of Mouth and Testimonials |
| needed to help customers achieve their (and the | | | | Word of mouth is a good indication of someone who |
| clients') goals? That means that a lot of business | | | | knows his stuff. |
| development has gone into them. | | | | If he comes strongly recommended by trusted friends |
| Web Designers vs Web Programmers | | | | or family members, chances are he's created design |
| There are many web designers who are actually | | | | solutions that work for their business quite well. Ask |
| programmers who know little, if at all, about design. | | | | them whether it was a good experience or not. |
| They use templates that are created by other | | | | Most designers will have testimonials from previous |
| professional designers. Unfortunately, templates aren't | | | | clients on their website. It's a good idea to see what his |
| customized to your unique business. | | | | customers are saying about his services. Follow the |
| Moreover, with advances in software applications, it is | | | | web links and try contacting some of them. You |
| easier than ever to create and build a website. These | | | | should have a feel after talking to one or two. This |
| software can help anyone build a website without | | | | also ensures the testimonials are not fake ones that |
| knowing a thing. However, there is a distinct difference | | | | were simply "made up". |
| between creating and designing one. | | | | Chemistry is Key |
| Design, be it web or print, is about communication. | | | | You are going to have to share aspects of your |
| Without the necessary design knowledge how could | | | | business, from visions to operations to preferences to |
| the programmers do an effective job communicating | | | | competition, with this person. |
| with your prospective customers? | | | | So it's important that you feel comfortable enough with |
| How Can Good Design Help Your Business | | | | him to be honest about your business details and goals, |
| Design is about you--what you know, what you see, | | | | as well as ask as many questions about his advise as |
| and what you have to say. Behind every design is a | | | | you need to. Does the designer seem friendly and are |
| vision, a purpose, a reason to be. Web design is not | | | | they willing to answer all of your questions? Does he |
| about decoration but communication; about making | | | | respond promptly to your emails and/or phone calls? |
| your words and vision visible, giving it form and body | | | | A good designer will keep in touch with you every few |
| for all the world to see. | | | | days, at least. You don't want to get down to the final |
| While the sales copy of your website remains vital for | | | | days of creating the site only to find out you don't like |
| the effective selling of your products or services, the | | | | it! |
| use of typography, color, graphics and layout help lead | | | | Look out for his modus operandi during the first |
| your prospects read and navigate your website. | | | | meeting. He should be asking you extensive, detailed |
| This makes your page a pleasure to read and | | | | questions about your requirements and goals, in order |
| increases their overall user-experience. | | | | to analyze your needs. |
| A professional, well-designed website has been | | | | Someone who is more interested in telling you the |
| proven to increase sales! | | | | different design packages he can offer you is |
| Web Design Process | | | | probably more concerned about making a quick buck. |
| The web design process is also a matter of planning, | | | | Website Maintenance |
| what to include and what to exclude, good design, | | | | A common issue with most small business is a lack of |
| appealing text, how to sell, what business plan to | | | | technical skills. What happens if you want to update |
| follow, and more. | | | | the content after the project has been completed? |
| Like any other marketing medium, it requires a lot of | | | | Can you update it yourself without any HTML |
| work by individuals who understand what visitors and | | | | knowledge? |
| the search engines like to see: properly organized text. | | | | Content Management System |
| Combining a nice layout with SEO isn't easy, make | | | | Would your website be built on a content |
| sure the designer understands both the human and | | | | management platform such as Wordpress or Joomla? |
| search components. | | | | This will allow you to update, edit and add pages on |
| The result is pages that perform well for visitors and | | | | your own without going back to the web designer. |
| rank high for specific keywords. | | | | Thus saving time and cost. |
| No doubt, there are many who can turn out | | | | Engage your Customers via Blogs |
| professional websites, but few who will volunteer to | | | | If you are marketing your business on the web and |
| spend dozens of hours consulting with a client, | | | | you don't have a blog, you will always be beaten down |
| designing a clear and unconfusing website, and | | | | by your competition. |
| sweating over ad copy, pictures and all the major and | | | | A Blog platform allows you to do things no one else in |
| minor details -- in essence, creating a online marketing | | | | your market can do with static websites. This means |
| vehicle. | | | | you don't just have a web site, you have a search |
| Online Marketing | | | | engine magnet and an interactive community builder |
| The number one mistake that most first time web site | | | | that will drive targeted, willing-to-buy visitors to your |
| owners make is that they don't know what to do with | | | | site. |
| their site after it's designed. It is very possible to have a | | | | Price |
| beautiful site designed for you and no one ever sees it. | | | | This is an important factor for any small business to |
| A website is merely another means of marketing your | | | | consider. |
| products or services. With hundreds, if not thousands, | | | | Although there is no clear-cut rule as to what an |
| of websites sprouting out everyday, competition is | | | | "average" price for web design is. In most cases, you |
| fierce. Having a "web presence" for your business has | | | | get what you pay for. You are paying for this his |
| virtually become an understatement. | | | | expertise, time and experience. |
| A good designer will not only help you create a | | | | Be realistic about your budget. You may not have all |
| professional looking site, they will also ensure that your | | | | the bells and whistles such as animation and special |
| site gets a good ranking with the search engines so | | | | effects. |
| that your site can be easily found online. Make sure | | | | It is more important to create a successful website |
| that your designer will optimize your site for the search | | | | that has a good position in the search engine and one |
| engines and submit it to the major search engines. | | | | that you are very happy with the look and function of |
| Your website need to rank reasonably well in search | | | | than to save a couple of bucks. If you get a good site, |
| engines. | | | | your site will be able to grow with your company and, |
| Moreover, small business should seriously look into | | | | hopefully, that's for a very long time! |
| harnessing the power of the social media and sound | | | | The savvy, experienced web designer can implement |
| web marketing design to increase the exposure of | | | | your ideas and enhance them, spotting possible pitfalls |
| your services and products to extend your reach. | | | | and making recommendations along the way--and he'll |
| Is a Website Just a website | | | | help you to understand the procedure and give you |
| In the online world, traffic and targeted prospects is the | | | | the benefit of his experience and understanding of the |
| life blood for you website. A pretty website becomes | | | | Web, so that you come away not only with a website, |
| a white elephant if no customer visits it. | | | | but with an enhanced understanding of the Web and |
| Does the web designer practice what he preaches? | | | | online business. In short, he'll work with you and be |
| How much traffic is his website receiving? | | | | effective. |