Basic Steps For Building A Web Site That Works
1. Assemble a website development plan that is integrated with your overall marketing processes; the content should be consistent with offline materials, the graphics/images don't have to be identical with traditional media but should be consistent with your overall branding, style guide, usage of colors, etc.
2. Hire a website design firm that understands your market position and one that won't get "geek crazy" - meaning they are so in love with their own design capabilities, your site gets bogged down with graphics, plug-ins, GIF garbage, etc. But, conversely, check your ego at the door when you work with your design firm - I've seen so many good website designs get ruined by clients who can't or won't listen to what we tell them!
3. Pay attention to "load times," how long it takes a website to load on a 56 KBPS modem (this is an industry average), if its more than 12-18 seconds you may experience the "click of death" - the site doesn't load quickly and the surfer is gone.
Of course, if you targeting broadband customers who are reaching your site via ISDN or DSL then you can build a site that incorporates multimedia-ready content that may include streaming audio or video, or Shockwave or Flash capabilities - go ahead and let those digital geeks get carried away with cutting edge content!
2. Hire a website design firm that understands your market position and one that won't get "geek crazy" - meaning they are so in love with their own design capabilities, your site gets bogged down with graphics, plug-ins, GIF garbage, etc. But, conversely, check your ego at the door when you work with your design firm - I've seen so many good website designs get ruined by clients who can't or won't listen to what we tell them!
3. Pay attention to "load times," how long it takes a website to load on a 56 KBPS modem (this is an industry average), if its more than 12-18 seconds you may experience the "click of death" - the site doesn't load quickly and the surfer is gone.
Of course, if you targeting broadband customers who are reaching your site via ISDN or DSL then you can build a site that incorporates multimedia-ready content that may include streaming audio or video, or Shockwave or Flash capabilities - go ahead and let those digital geeks get carried away with cutting edge content!
