A Website Can Help

Website Benefit

Websites can serve you in many ways. You do not have to commit huge resources, or be number one on Google to benefit.

A small site with a clear picture of what you offer and contact details is a focus for marketing. If you create this in a way that adds to your business, not adds doubt.

Being Found

Whether you are looking for search engine traffic, or just to be found easily for your name, how you build the site counts. Choosing to make a site accessible and compliant is not just a good thing to do, your build needs to be understood by search robots as well as people.

A Friendly Site

Avoid dark backgrounds, clashing colours and distracting widgets.

Copying is not a good idea but well built sites can be an inspiration.

Poor spelling and bad grammar stop visitors seeing the good aspects.

Breaking text up into readable chunks can make life easier for readers.

Page or section headers will help visitors and search engines.

Using related text in URLs and internal links can inform visitors and search engines.

Guide people to do what you want them to do and avoid creating barriers or dead ends.

Creating a Website

The children above see the internet as the heart of the world, allowing them to share a game of football. Not possible yet but much the web can bring is only limited by imagination. Creating a website can allow this to flow but use a little caution.

Your website can be more important than your phone number and is seen as the face of your business. Try to avoid personalisation, the site is not for you and if in doubt, avoid creating elements which are more driven by effect than content.

Even large, primarily online businesses have taken that road and often required an about face. People visit a website for a reason and if that is primarily a business reason, let them concentrate on what you have to offer.

As with any project, making good decisions at an early stage is valuable and worth as much time as this takes. An experienced developer can help but whether you are using one or going alone, put together a design that serves your business purpose and that of your users

Elements of a New Website

  • Define the practical method you will use at an early stage. Launching a website is a learning curve but the earlier you establish needed skills and resources, the more you concentrate on going forward.
  • Website planning to the point of defining a detailed page and category structure should happen before you start. All the better if this allows for the site growing to suit long term requirements.
  • Create a website you are proud of. This may mean the process moves more slowly but is quicker and far more satisfying than a constant urge to rewrite or redesign.
  • Represent yourself in a professional way which suits what you have to offer, is open, honest and creates trust. If your website fails to do this, technical wizadry will not help.

Building a website is a subject that can and has filled many books yet the principles are simple, purpose, content and ease of use. If they are in place your site has a good base and may not need massive embellishment.

If you would like any advice on creating a website, particulary from the usability and search engine perspective, you are welcome to contact us. There are also a few related articles if you wish to look at the process in more depth: