PRE-Website Design 101

Not just another pretty face/space. You need a website, or you need to "spruce up" your existing one. What should YOU do first to ensure that your website will portray the web image you want?
1. Research your competition.
Sit at your computer and type in the key words and phrases that you personally would use to find a product or service similar to your own. Study the results on the first 1 or 2 pages. This IS your competition that you will be trying to beat with search engine ranking. Click the "view source" tab from the View menu at the top of your browser. Notice the TITLE, DESCRIPTION and KEYWORDS these websites have in place. Take note of which sites you like and dislike, the style, the tone and the content.
This research is the foundation of your website presence, and must be considered prior to thinking about design.
2. Now it's time to get 'physical."
What type of designs please you? Simplistic, complex, straight forward? Modern, retro, technical? What colors best suits your image. It is best to stay with no more than 3 or 4 main colors. Do you like horizontal or vertical menu navigation. Do you like a lot of white space?
3. Words, words & more words.
In most cases you will be responsible for writing the content of your website.. it is your business after all, and you should know it best!
Do you prefer the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person? Do you want to be more conversational or informative in your tone. What writing style best suits your image? When writing good web content, remember to answer the users question of "so what?" Remember the rules of "who, what, where and why." Involve the user.. don't go on and on yourself. The "me-me" approach is most always a turn off. What can you do for THEM? Remember those keywords and phrases noted earlier.. use them, but only in the correct context.
4. Every picture tells a story.
Photographs, graphics and images give your website "personality." Do you have good quality images? Is your logo and branding material up to date and appropriate? You can purchase affordable and quality images for your website. Be very selective in your images. I personally like Stock Exchange or DreamsTime

5. Now you've got it!
After this careful consideration defining your website marketing and presence goals, you are now ready to select a web designer that will listen and respond to YOU. I take my clients vision very seriously and then through communication we come up with a smashing result!
Give me a shout so we can talk about it!