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Choosing a professionally designed web site...
In all honesty, the answer is No. This is a 'technical' answer. You may choose to design and build your own web site from scratch, research your audience, teach yourself a design tool, a graphics package, use of ftp and Telnet programs, source your own web space, learn JavaScript, Perl and Shell scripting; lets not forget browser differences and optimizing graphics for the web, now your ready to jump in the deep-end and do it yourself. This can be a very rewarding process, and we wouldn't like to discourage someone from trying this route. But please bear with us for a few minutes longer... as there are a few drawbacks which must be considered. Alternatively, you could get a professional to draw on their experience, libraries of graphics, years of computing and Internet experience, and the site will inevitably get put together a lot quicker. The chances are, it will look a lot better, and be more compatible too! If you have the time and resources, take this little test... we're sure that you will be surprised at the results. Of course, some steps are optional, but the full effect will only be seen if you don't skip steps! Did you see any differences? Did all your favourite features work? Behave the same? Now, here are the results we would expect you to find... Now, I'm sure that you considered these sites 'good' sites. We're sure that they perform their duties well. We're also sure that the designers took SOME of the things we're pointing out to you into consideration. What we're attempting to show, is that for each incompatibility you find, you have alienated a large number of site visitors. For each large graphic which takes longer than 30 seconds (MAXIMUM) to download, you have lost 20% of your browsers. Not everyone in the world is fortunate enough to live in a country where Internet browsing has a negligible cost. Most of Europe pays for telephone calls either by the minute, or SECOND! "So what? My audience is all corporate with well specced PCs and fast Internet connections, or US based, and don' t care about download times!" Fine... we suggest that you think carefully before excluding ANY potential customers. What business can afford to throw customers and potential customers into the arms (or web site) of a competitor? You can? Ok, click here. Let's not waste another minute here... there are more useless sites to explore. If you can see the sense in what we've just highlighted, then we are on approximately the same 'wavelength'. Welcome to our World! "At all cost, work hard not to exclude ANYONE." Of course, design briefs for a web site sometimes call for pages which rely heavily on certain plugins, or must have JavaScript... in which case, the person browsing should be warned, and given an alternative page, or link to a less feature rich page. Excluding any viewer to your site without
This page is to give you some helpful information about things you should consider when considering having a business site on the web. Try not to become overwhelmed by all the information. Keep in mind, that creating an effective business web site can be frustrating at times but also very rewarding. If you would like addition information or help, please contact us. We would be happy to help you with any areas that you would like additional information and or create your site for you.
Step 1 We will work with you to determine the overall layout of you site. You will select which areas are important to you and the timetable for their roll-out.
Step 2 This is a Collation of Information stage, This breaks down the various pieces of information we will need you to prepare and collect. Much of this information you will have already, in printed materials you already produce.
Step 3 We take your materials, either in computer format or as printed matter and convert them into a World Wide Web ready computer format. We will also handle graphics and pictures for your site in the same way. Where material is available in computerized format this saves significant time in site preparation.
Step 4 While this is going we are also arranging a location for you Web site, that is the computer upon which your Web site will be held. If required we will register domain names and handle other technical details at the same time.
Step 5 Against the agreed timetable we launch the first pages of the Web site, We feel it is important to establish your presence early and then keep building upon it. Additional information is applied quickly after the initial launch.
Step 6 As the site is launched we provide you with Press and Marketing materials to help you promote the Web site. These materials will also tell you how to refer to the site in printed matter and how to maximize its potential in other media.
Step 7 The Web site is registered at the main search sites. These are the on-line equivalent to telephone directories. They are used by web users as road maps and locators to sites around the world, By being registered at these sites, they can find your region, or even individual services or businesses within your region. Advertisements are also places in the relevant newsgroups, and posted to the most appropriate e-mail mailing lists. Your web site should be an ongoing, growing and developing place, As you have new information it should be made available. Old, redundant or inaccurate information should be removed. The Web site will need 'housekeeping' ensuring that it is running effectively and productively without failures.
Step 8 As time goes on we work with you to develop the next stages in the Web sites development. We will ask you to review the site and agree new information updates at regular intervals. This ensures the material is current and accurate.
Step 9 We will introduce new options to you. We will continue to develop new Web features, applying new technologies in the very fast moving Internet environment, as and when appropriate to your business. These can be applied to your own Web site, without you needing to fund the research and development.
Step 10 We will provide you with regular reports detailing the success of your Web site. We will be able to show the number of visitors and their geographical location. We will be able to see which parts of the Web site are most frequently visited and returned to.
At this information, we can begin to identify any potential weak spots which may need work, as well as strong points from which we can engineer the success of the whole site. Now, what about a Professionally Designed & Programmed Site? Click HERE to learn more about our Products & Services, and how we can help you achieve your goals in producing your web site!
"Do I need a professional?"
good reason should be a last resort.
How do we continue?
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