Thursday 13 November 2008

Website Design Tips and Guide for a Company

Websites play a very important part in the success of a company today. Every company may want a perfect website, however there is no clear definition of what a perfect website is.

Across the world Website design companies apply a different approach to website design. Every web design company has its own method and they agree on key principles that make a successful website. When a company is looking to design or re-design their website, a question that often comes to mind is how to design the perfect website for your company? Of course there is no straightforward answer to this question. The needs of every company are different and website design should reflect the unique needs. Nevertheless certain web design techniques can be applied generally across any website. Some of the key design tips offered by website design companies are discussed below.

Web Design Tip 1: Modern, Professional design.

There are more than 40 million websites in the world and the chances are that all your competitors have their own websites. A professionally designed website is essential to present your brand over your competitors. There is nothing worse than an out of date website for your company and it can drive customers away. A professional, modern website on the other hand is vital for customers to have confidence in your company.

Web Design Tip 2: Clean-cut design and simple site navigation

The current trend in website design is for a clutter free simple website with a clean cut layout. Websites which are cluttered tend to draw users away. It is important that the website not only looks pretty but that the information is easy to read and understand. Navigation and menu on the website should be prominent and descriptive. A simple but clear menu is often more effective than complex navigation.

Web Design Tip 3: Consistency in design
You r website’s design, layout and colour scheme should be consistent across the different pages. Whilst It is OK to have slight variation between various sections of the website, the overall look and feel should be consistent.

Web Design Tip 4: Browser compatibility

Make sure your website appears consistent across different platforms and screen resolutions. Prior to launch your web design company should test the website thoroughly on all major browsers such as Internet explorer, Firefox and Opera. At the least.

Web Design Tip 5: Focus on website content

Content is the most important aspect of your website. A professional design for your website is essential but it is the content which will ultimately generate enquiries and leads for your business. All website content should be professionally written and proof-read. Additionally new relevant content should be added form time to time.

Web Design Tip 6: Effective use of ‘Call to action’ on your website pages

Call to action statements on all your website can greatly improve your website’s effectiveness and increase the chances of customer enquiries and leads. ‘Call to action’ can be anything that encourages action or participation from website users e.g. Click here to Enquire or Register for our free newsletter. Many Marketing studies have found that call to action to greatly improve the chances for enquiries and leads.

Web Design Tip 7: Your website should be quick to load

No mater how small or large your website is, it should be quick to load. Many users access internet via slower connections or on mobile devices where bandwidth and speed is limited. Studies show that a website that takes longer that a few seconds to load can drive customers away to competing websites.


Web Design Tip 8: Get Ideas from other websites

Analysing and learning from competitors is probably the best way to find how you can improve your website. It is easy to search for websites in your industry using search engines. Researching leading websites offers inspiration as well as helps identify areas for improvement.

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