The first lesson in design is that simplicity is the best design rule. But sadly the first lesson is often ignored by web designers just because their clients want them to add a little something extra to their web design. Small businesses in particular who hire web design firms to create their business websites want to get a web design that is worth their money. They think that adding more and more elements, widgets and things into their web design is the only way to get the service worth their money and time.
The main goal of a web design, specially for a web design of a small business website is to make information available on the web. Additional goals that make a web design truly great are to make the access to this information easier and useful for the website visitors.
Achieving these goals by a web design is not as simple as it might look. On the tech front where the information flow, social connectivity and different mediums to access this information are increasing on a daily basis, it is hard to decide how to keep things simple. From a world clock to a java chat applet, there is nothing you can’t add to your business website. But, what benefit it brings to your business is the question that you should ask yourself.
Design is like a plan to do anything, so before you ask a website design firm to create a business website for you it would be wise if you prepare this plan on your own. Of course not all small business owners have the ability to make websites and I am not suggesting that you make one. Instead, just pick a pen and a piece of paper and make a sketch of how you want your web design to look like. What pages you want to be created and added to the main navigational menu of your website. How your site’s navigational structure should be presented. What format you would choose for your website design and what useful widgets and tools you would like it to have.
Analyzing competitor’s website is a good starting point, but make sure that you are not copying someone’s web design. You would definitely want your web design to be unique so that it becomes memorable to your website visitors. While looking at your competitor’s website, browse them thoroughly to find out what kind of information they are providing on their websites. You may also want to check out how they are presenting their products and services.
A website is not a brochure so it can be made interactive with forms, integration of social media tools, multimedia such as presentations made in flash videos, audio podcasts, images and much more. An important quality of a good website is that it offers the website visitors something to do on the site. Make sure there is something to do for your website visitors.
Keep the clutter to a minimum level and stay focused on achieving your business goals throughout your website design. This strategy will not only make your website design simple but it will also make it look more professional and trustworthy.
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