There’s always discussion as to what is the best way to present your product or services to prospective clients. A company without a web site is rare. Only the smallest of main street businesses can survive without a web site… possibly. As people turn to the web, rather then the phone book to find the service they need, an online presence seems to be necessary to survive. From haircuts to juice bars, unless you are in a great location that guarantees constant foot traffic, you need to be found by other methods.

With newspapers and magazines dwindling, not to mention the cost of ads and television advertising, the web offers free marketing for any firm. The question is; what is the best venue? The answer is; what does your company need?

What Is The End Product/Result?

Recently a friend of mine needed help for an event he was holding. He wanted an eFlyer, web site, Facebook page, Twitter account and anything else I thought would help get the word out about the event and aftermath.

After a discussion of his needs and desired results, I sent him a creative brief that suggested a digital flyer that could be posted to sites, Twitter and emailed to his mailing list. It made sense, as this was a limited, time-sensitive project. It would have the build up to the day it was held, occur and then have some photos and comments. After that, it was a dead issue. I suggested a Facebook page to reach more people within the demographic, a Twitter account to keep people up on the event and undisclosed location as well as reach more of the demographic through the use of hashtags and I told him to forget a web site.

For this need, a static web site, even one updated regularly, including a blog section was just a waste of time and effort vs. what is available through Facebook. He insisted on both but his ability to dedicate the time needed to keep all accounts updated and fresh was limited, so the idea of the web site and blog was dropped.

The eFlyer was designed and he had friends and contacts post it on their Facebook pages, pointing people to the fan page of the event. The eFlyer was also posted to his Twitter account with the appropriate hashtags and the Facebook page garnered close to 4,000 hits in the first week.

It was easy to keep up with the two basic accounts, Twitter and Facebook, for news and blurbs leading up to the event and within the month leading to the event date, the fan page had over 10,000 hits.

Would a web site draw the same attention? Possibly but it would have to draw on the addition of the Facebook page, which would be an extra step in his daily posting schedule. For one person servicing all of the social media needs, it was a time drain he couldn’t handle.

This fit his needs but what fits YOUR needs? If you are a Fortune 100 company, you have a team of marketing/social media people to post all over known creation and that is where you need to be. If you have a small service-oriented company, such as being a freelance designer, hair dresser, house painter, plumber or limo driver, just to name a few, you certainly don’t need both a Facebook page AND a web site. A web site alone will do better for you with the proper SEO so customers will find you easily.

With Facebook…

A Facebook page will allow a small business to update information quickly and has tie-ins with Twitter, Foursquare, Pinterest and Instagram. If you want to announce daily specials to your followers, show new product offerings or encourage inbound marketing and interactive response, a Facebook page is ideal for businesses that don’t have a lot of time for social media management or paying a web master to update a web site.

Facebook also has a “close proximity” factor for gathering and tracking followers.  This means that people are logged in and concentrating on their timelines. If your information is viral on Facebook, you are part of these figures:

• One in every nine people on Earth is on Facebook (this number is calculated by dividing the planets 6.94 billion people by Facebook’s 750 million users).
• People spend 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook.
• Each Facebook user spends on average 15 hours and 33 minutes a month on the site.
• More than 250 million people access Facebook through their mobile devices.
• More than 2.5 million websites have integrated with Facebook.
• 30 billion pieces of content is shared on Facebook each month.
• 300,000 users helped translate Facebook into 70 languages.
• People on Facebook install 20 million “Apps” every day.

The use of viral images and information, you can grab a part of Facebook users. With the tools that are a part of Facebook, as well as those that have sharing integration with Facebook, you can keep your social media marketing organized with a minimum of time needed to use multiple channels of social media marketing.

An interesting use of Facebook marketing which actually relies on Twitter for the main social media element. A local food truck announces its daily location via Twitter and then Facebook and allows for recommendations and reviews, along with fan interaction via a Facebook fan page. They have no web site and probably won’t need one unless they decide to park in the same place every day.

So, Why Use A Web Site?

There were an estimated 2,459,646,518 internet users worldwide as of February 2012 (representing about 30.2% of the population worldwide), according to Internet World Stats data. The figures grow every day as technology allows more people to gain access to the internet.

Those figures aside, there will always be a need for a company or individuals to have a web site. Again, it depends on your needs.

When you have a web site, aside from the morals and taste factor of society, which isn’t really much these days, Facebook has rules and privacy settings (although no one seems to be able to figure those out) and will place ads on your page which may very well compete with your product or service, so owning your own web site gives you complete control over content (although you need to read the terms of service of your web hosting provider).

©GL Stock Images

When planning a web site, the first thing to consider is how it will be built. Will you use a ready made template, a WordPress theme or hire a web designer to build the site from scratch to your particular specifications. All will cost money but make sure it’s money well spent. When hiring a designer, it’s best to let them use their expertise at understanding your needs and then allowing them to design your site without interference.

If poorly designed and developed, your site won’t work very well with your users and search engines. Getting involved because you believe design is simple or you need to control the process or, worse yet, you want to brag to friends that you helped design your own site, you will end up costing yourself prospects via lost SEO and a site with bad navigation or designed poorly so people surfing the site won’t stay to view your products or services.

A no-nonsense site is best for a business that offers a product and pricing information that is available to the casual shopper, 24/7. In this case, a well designed website will help you sell more. The website can become a powerful visual aid for your business and a knowledgeable, convincing and tireless virtual salesperson who will always be there when your clients want more information to make the buying decision.

Because of this 24/7 digital salesperson, you will save time and money. Your website will be always available online, even after hours, so won’t have to answer the phone as frequently because now people have another way of getting the information they need about your business: through your website.

With a digital presence, you can reduce or even eliminate the costs for printing and distributing flyers, brochures, newsletters, etc. Including a digital PDF on your site allows prospects to download all of these at no cost to you and they can be updated at any time.

With a website, your business can be listed in various online directories including the web directories of Google, Yahoo, Bing and other business-specific online directories. For your customers, these are like on-demand phone books that will come in handy. Specific searches from local prospects can bring customers right to you.

Show Your Work Process And Successes!

Facebook allows for quick updates to show projects and how they turned out. The same can be used on a web site and will boost customer confidence. With a web site, you can place reviews where they will be the most effective. A big project for a big client will bring big SEO for your site.

One way to encourage a new customer is by showing the transparency in your work process. Tough economics, competition between companies and the cost of services has clients worried…not that they weren’t worried before but now it has become imperative to waylay the client’s fears with a lot of “hand-holding,” explaining what will happen when, how, and why. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it makes perfect sense.

By showing the process, in detail on your web site, before a project even starts, both parties should understand the milestones and what can and should be expected by BOTH the client and the supplier. By simply stating, “this is what my company does, and this is what it typically costs,” it eliminates a lot of the needless bartering and wasted time crafting custom proposals for clients. By defining what you do for a client, and what you don’t do, it’s become easier for you to determine costs.

When prospects see examples of your successes, they will also be inspired for their own projects. Often, if they see what they like, they will ask you to repeat the same project. They may see a style or process they like and ask you to provide the same for them as they now have confidence you will deliver their vision without guessing at the end results.

Yes, these can be added to Facebook, too, using the photo album function but, once again, on your own web site, you can control placement and impact.

What Price For Fame?

There’s been endless discussion about price lists on web sites. The internet, technology itself, has changed the way we all do business. The rise of Amazon.com and the effect it has had on certain retail sectors (i.e. retail toy and book sales). We have gotten use to the ease of point-and-click buying. Personally, I prefer to hold the product in my hands before buying. I like looking at the package, flipping through pages, trying on clothes and shoes BEFORE considering the purchase. Unfortunately, that option is disappearing.

Some would say that’s a con and not a pro but apparently society doesn’t agree as evident in the bankruptcy and closing of retail stores and chains. There will always be the projects that need the personal touch. The meetings, the briefs, the back and forth and the negotiations for the fees involved…followed by the arguing and non-payment thereof. With a posted price, the prospective client or buyer knows what the product or service will cost and is more likely to pony up the entire cost up front. If not, payments split into two or more with milestone payments are still acceptable to internet shoppers with a final payment due upon delivery, which, thank goodness, will erase the “30 day” payment period. As a friend once said, “30 days is a jail sentence and not a payment term.”

©GL Stock Images

People argue the notion of price lists on a web site as “too rigid” and “unchangeable.” Companies that post products would scoff at that. If you are in a product oriented or service industry that can post a flat fee or price, they can be changed albeit by a person who can handle the web site and needed changes. You have to ask if there will be frequent changes to your prices and costs. If not, placing prices on your site may put you ahead of competitors when prospects are shopping around the web.

As mentioned in the opening of this article, it’s up to you to know your business plan before jumping into social media. Your business plan has to consider the demographic of your targeted consumer and what will reach their needs when marketing your company. Jumping in blindly is a bad business decision and a savvy businessperson will know that planning is the first step in execution.

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The worst argument I ever heard from a student in response to my talk on steps to market oneself was, “I thought I’d just get an agent.” It seems the teacher of the class gave the students that sage advice. I wonder how many took my advice and how long it took the others to realize that advice was sound. How many careers, I wonder, never took off at all.

It doesn’t matter what business you’re in – marketing is as important, if not more important, as what you know and how well you do it. There are horrid incompetents who do extremely well and talented people who go nowhere due to their marketing efforts, or lack thereof.

Some people believe that search engines will help people find them on the web and that’s true to a certain point but at its best, it won’t replace marketing. In any business, you need to encourage growth and new customers. Don’t wait for prospects to find you – go out and find them!

The question is – what kind of marketing tools do you need? The answer is not what tools are out there but what tools fit your business. Social media is free or costs less… well, can be cost effective in most cases. As with fresh, young students setting their first step into the business world, the challenge is knowing what to use, how to use it and what NOT to use.

Is Your Site Really Ready To Promote?

No matter what business you are in, you need to show your services, product(s) and in some cases, the price(s). What’s more, you need to do it quickly as people will spend less then a minute on your site if they are surfing several different competitors. Make sure your site has the most important information in the space that will come up when your site loads. If people have to scroll excessively or your navigation is difficult, then your site is weak and marketing will be a waste of time. Your site is the foundation of your marketing and it has to be strong and reliable.

Let’s say you have a great site and you’ve allowed a seasoned and talented designer or design team to create something great for you without mucking up the design by asking your 12 year-old niece, who won a fourth grade art contest at her school, for her opinion on the design and then forcing the designer to put in prancing glitter unicorn gifs all over your site. In other words, don’t tell your doctor how to remove a malignant growth by telling him/her that your seven year-old son plays the game, “Operation” and will be assisting during the operation. You will die! Have your niece help with design and the site and your business will die!

Aside from that, design blogs LOVE to spotlight the best and worst of web design. Under which label do you want your site appearing? It won’t help when people search out your site. Let a professional design and code your site. They want to do their best so you’re happy and keeping coming back for more as technology changes web applications and technology.

Do You Sell, Process Or Manufacture?

What is it your business does for customers?  Do you sell hard goods through a store and an ecommerce site? Even if only through an ecommerce site, be sure, once again, to listen to your web designer so the proper SEO (Search Engine Optimization) will allow people surfing for your type of products will show up and best if they show up within the first page of a search and even better if they show up within the top five.

What else can you use for selling hard goods? By having a tight and focused Twitter following, you can announce new products, sales and specials. Twitter is your billboard and even though it’s free, you have to know the optimal times to post your tweets to catch peoples’ attention without multiple tweets to the point of aggravation to your followers.

When are the best times to tweet? According to an article in Forbes.com, “Twitter gets busiest between 9am and 3pm Monday through Thursday (EST).

An article on Mashable.com also uses the same information compiled by bit.ly (URL shortener and link tracking), writing, “the company revealed that posting links to Twitter between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. ET (or 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT) will give you the highest click rank, especially on days earlier in the week. Meanwhile, sending a tweet with a link after 8:00 p.m. should be avoided — as should posting links after 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.

I disagree only on the basis of what they point to as “peak times.” I deal with a global clientele and followers, so I have to plan tweets for the same working hours in different time zones. I have noticed that even tweets at 2:00 a.m. (EST), have drawn responses from people in (PST) as well as those just starting their work day in western Europe as well as eastern Asia.

The key is to know your targeted audience, tweet at times they are most likely to see your tweet in their feed, which can fill up with 500 tweets within a minute, pushing yours far off the page. Tweet at optimal times, but not so much that your own tweets sent page looks like an endless list of the same tweet. Bit.ly, to its credit does note, “by understanding the simple characteristics of each social network, you can publish your content at exactly the right time for it to reach the maximum number of people.”

This also brings up the practice of mobile marketing. Have you made your site mobile friendly? If not, you are sorely behind the times and being left behind quickly. Think of it as jumping off a speedboat at night. Within 60 seconds you will be lost and either drown or be eaten by sharks… the sharks being your competition.

With a mobile site and mobile marketing to smart phones, an opt-in list will give you a willing audience who will read your messages sent directly to them. Better then a tweet, more ROI then email marketing and simple to maintain an active database.

SMS (Text) Marketing is the popular way of using mobile marketing as almost every single person is an active text user. Many of these people prefer texting to most other forms of communication and most people carry their mobile device with them at all times. With text marketing, you have the opportunity to contact multiple customers at the same time and they receive the message in real time. SMS message delivery can be guaranteed which makes it a preferred method to email in many instances and there is a greater open rate for texts as opposed to emails.

SMS marketing can also be “location-aware,” so that if a potential consumer is nearby, you can send them a coupon or make them aware of time-sensitive specials. Foursquare is a site/application that you should check out if you want to offer pop up specials and sales.

Developing an application that promotes your business to a mobile user is another great way to harness the growing power of mobile marketing. Mobile apps are one of the hottest items available and you could apply the same concept to mobile games as well. Any application that builds your brand into a potential buyer’s mobile experience is a great way to increase your business.

If you manufacture products, the same techniques apply. The main difference is you are marketing business to business. Mobile marketing will not fit your efforts as well as email marketing and print catalogs. If you specialize in small runs in, say a firm that manufactures promotional items, having a fan page on Facebook with Google ads (which are also good for retail sales) is quite effective.

If you sell services based on intellectual properties, such as web design, consulting or copywriting, there are different choices that must be made. Your site, naturally, must show samples of your work and contact information. Unlike ecommerce sites that show a product and the price, most freelance designers and photographers would rather field requests from prospective clients and price projects accordingly. There has been some discussion if it’s a good idea to actually offer a price list so people surfing for design services can see costs upfront. By the same token, although it commoditizes design work, it also offers upfront payments of 50% or higher before the work begins and terms of sale the customer must accept before the project proceeds.

A design firm in England has found a unique middle ground to this question. Promo Design hits the “process,” “value,” and samples of their work right up front on their home page. Their contact page asks the PROSPECT to layout all of their needs AND budget before the first contact is ever made. The pull down menu of budget will act to weed out the clients looking for a bargain but it still gives the salesperson at Promo a chance to negotiate the work and fee.

But how do you bring prospects to your site in the first place? Creatives tend to be drawn together in life and on social media. We follow other creatives, connect with them and spend an inordinate amount of time-sharing our work, dreams and disappointments. Misery does love company but how much time is spent on this commiseration as opposed to searching for solid business contacts?

When it comes to business, other designers aren’t the number one source of work for us as freelancers or referrals. The dark side of relying too much on connections with other designers is that they can sabotage others. People can be petty and the current financial and competitive environment is fierce. Learn to trust your own efforts!

While your trusted friends, whether designers or “normal” people, are great connections and should be treasured and nurtured, you need to seek out those who BUY your services.

LinkedIn is a purely business site for networking. It allows you to connect with some legitimate heavy hitters who buy creative services.

Build a list of a hundred dream clients. Search companies, identify the right people (not the CEO; try people who are in a position to book design projects) and build a list. Make sure you respond to every accepted connection with a personal note (via LinkedIn) to thank people for connecting with you and include your site URL for “more on me.”

LinkedIn has thousands of groups you can join and even more “questions” that you can answer for awards for “best answer.” Search for questions on marketing and answer how design helps marketing initiatives or advertising. Become an expert in the eyes and minds of possible leads who will need your services. There are some members of LinkedIn that like to give one-sentence answers that usually make no sense or don’t even address the question. They like to have the “most questions answered” title for all to see. Their reputations aren’t the best on the site so think quality and not quantity! Good, sound answers show others you are knowledgeable about your field. Building trust with prospects is an important step in gaining new clients.

Groups allow you to create closer connections with prospective clients. Are you going to join the “Lovers of Joomla” site or the “Small Business Marketing Ideas” group? The latter is filled with people who need your services. The idea of marketing yourself is to reach out to prospective clients, not to be friends with other creatives. Leave that for local design group bitch sessions. The biggest mistake a creative makes is failing to network which, in its most simple state, is sales or selling yourself and your service. If you attended a college or university for the art program, you will have an alumni group that will contain members that were not art students and they have businesses that need design services. So, why not urge them to use a fellow graduate? Surely you talked to other people at that school… right?

Were you a member of a fraternity or sorority? Your brothers and sisters are no doubt members of a LinkedIn group. If not, then start a group. Starting a group puts you in charge and number one in the spotlight.

Both LinkedIn and Twitter have intuitive feedback that help you connect, join groups, hashtag to hot trends and see who is following you or viewing your profile. Use this information to connect with the right people who will become clients and customers.

Blogging is a great way to reach prospects but very labor intensive. This is why many firms start to ignore their blogs – they don’t want to have an employee using their time to update the content or pay for someone to dedicate the time and effort. I have several clients that pay me to write blog posts for them. The big danger with a blog is having it show that it hasn’t been updated for months or over a year. It reflects badly on you and your company. Update it at least once a week, even if it’s just one little blurb. Ignore it and it is a blot on your company’s ability to keep up with marketing, which is not a good sign in our business.

We are in a Googled world of information flying left and right. With sites like Stumbleupon and Digg, just to name two, and aggregators by the hundreds, your blog will cross someone’s path at some point, either via a shared link, Facebook “like,” or just showing up in a search for some odd term. The key is to bring that person BACK to your blog again and again.

While the internet offers many ways to connect with other people, don’t forget another effective marketing tool – face-to-face networking. You are more likely to do business with people who have met you in person then any other way. The old tried and true firm handshake and confident smile still works.

What Fits Your Needs?

All of the avenues mentioned in this article are dovetailed to work together. One is not better than the others and some just may not be necessary for what you want to accomplish. Any small business needs to advertise, market, brand and reach out to prospective clients. Target your clients and go after them. The idea is to use what works best for your needs, keep at it and make everything count towards gaining clients and business. When using social media or any active marketing solution, be sure you can dedicate the proper time and effort to keep at it. It’s better to have one active and effective marketing outreach then to have six that go nowhere.

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First, you need a simple and sensible web address. It should be something like www.mycompany.com (or yourcompany.com.tr, yourcompany.ru depending on your preference) and not something like www.PleaseBuyFromMyCompany.com. People call you with your name in real life and with your Internet address in the online life, which means a web site is your name, your brand on the Internet. Once you decide on the name, decide on the domain: will you choose com, net or org domain? If your company is a commercial entity, go with the com domain. If you are an organization, then org domain will be a better choice. A friendly note: avoid dashes and numbers unless they are part of your company name.

Next, define the content of your website. Ask yourself some basic questions and make sure that you find the answers on your site:

• Why would I come to your website? I am coming to your website because I want to know your products/services better. That means, when I hit your site on the web browser this information should be readily available. Don’t forget: the average attention span of a web surfer is less than 5 seconds. Make sure that your website does not make people trying to find information.

• What do I do now? If I liked your products/services what do I do next? Place a visible action call to your website: “Call now for more information”, “Call now to schedule a meeting”, “Leave your phone to allow us to call you back” are examples of action calls on your website. Psychologically we, human beings easily respond to this simple calls. Use it to your advantage, but don’t overdo it. Making excessive calls will make you look like a spammer.

• How can I contact you? Would you feel comfortable if a visitor is happy with your products/services but she is leaving because she could not find how to contact you? Make sure that there is at least a clear “Contact” link visible on your website (friendly note: make sure it is either in the top right corner, side bar or footnote). In the contact information make sure that you include e-mail addresses, telephone, fax numbers, address and an embedded Google map showing your location. Make sure that the visitor is able to contact you from wherever place on your site and she can contact you with whichever channel she chooses: e-mail, telephone etc..

• OK, I learned about your offerings, so why should I come back? This is an often missed point on the websites. Everything is clearly presented and there is no point in visiting the website again except for the contact information. You can change this by offering fresh, up to date and quality content. This not only gives your website a personality but also will make you benefit on the SEO side, which we will see in the next section.

• I am a social creature, are you? Facebook, Twitter and Google+, when used properly will magically work to your advantage. First, it will make your customers your “friends.” Second, it will dramatically decrease your response time, which will make your “friends” even happier. Third, any announcements you put on the social media will travel faster than the speed of light on the Internet. Fourth you can feel the pulse of the market in real time, which will place you steps ahead in the competition. I definitely advise you to appoint one person in the company whose job is primarily working with social media.

• I am still not convinced? Customer testimonials is the answer. The experience of the previous customers, honest feedback will build trust way quicker than you can imagine. Just think about yourself: if you are planning to buy a car, and if you have narrowed your choices to a few brands, then you will speak with your friends who own cars of those brands. A good feedback about a particular brand will shift your thoughts to that brand. Your small business website is the same; customer testimonials about your products/services to your visitors are what your friends’ positive thoughts about a particular brand to you. Plus, they tell your customers things that you haven’t said on your website.

Then comes the technical part. Unless you are an enthusiast or you are a high-tech company, you might be hearing the following for the first time:

• Site navigation: This is crucial for your website. You have to provide the visitors an easy, visible way to find the information they are looking for. At the very least, you can do this with drop-down menus, but there are lots of very creative sitemap and navigation examples you can find. I also recommend using breadcrumbs so that the visitors can see where they are at a glance.

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): In a world of Internet search, the ranking of your website in the search engines is particularly important. You do not need to employ various twists and ninja techniques to rank higher. Make sure that at  the very least your website is developed and coded correctly, correct keywords are used, links are properly put and tags for the images and videos are correctly used and you provide fresh and up to date content as I have just said. These all will add to your positive marks in the search engines, helping your small business website to receive higher ranks in the searches.

All these boil down to your website design: how your identity, your company’s products/services, contact information is presented to the visitor. Since your website visitors have an attention span of less than 5 seconds, the following items are especially important to deliver them the information about your company:

• Slow loading website: Nobody will wait for minutes for your website to load. Make sure that it loads quick, preferably in a couple of seconds. If not, your visitors will leave your website and will not come back.

• Complex website: If they cannot find the information they need in seconds, know that you lost them. Make the information visible, let them go where they want to quickly.

• Broken links: If you have a link that does not work, either delete it or correct it. How do you feel when you click on a link on a website and see “Error 404: Not found” error? Don’t frustrate your users the same. There are various tools that check broken links. Use them.

• Fully functional elements: After the “not found” error, I think the second most frustrating thing on a website is some element not correctly functioning. If that small application is looking good but not working, either remove it or make it work.

• Poor design: This is the most obvious of all but still worths mentioning. There are two sides to this item. First, your website should be designed friendly, allowing easy access to content. To accomplish this, you can present information in small paragraphs and/or bullet points, highlight important elements (words and phrases) or present them with graphics. Second, your website should be easy on the eyes. Your visitors want to focus on the information they need, so that dancing cat at the side or the music running in the background will not make your website better, it will make hundred times worse. Use simple and basic colors. Even paint companies do not employ lots of colors in their websites. I strongly recommend working with a professional web designer; you will have a very quick return on your investment.

Now comes the deployment. Make sure you have a secure host to deploy your website; the top 10 companies that we mention on our front page will be a good starting point. Not only you want to be your website to be available all the time (about 99.9% availability) but also you want your website to be secure. Cheap providers will offer you very good prices but you need to consider think about the future: what prices will they quote for additional storage space? What prices will they quote for the additional bandwidth? Will they be able to handle the traffic? How about the support? A cheap provider can easily turn out to be more expensive then a trusted host.

After all these steps, you have successfully brought your site online but you are not finished quite yet. You need to follow your web analytics. If you are an existing Google user, you can check Google Analytics and see which keywords point to your site, which page visitors land, from which page they leave your site, how much time they spend on your site, what is the rate of the returning visitors etc.. These all will help you analyze, change, improve, reevaluate your website and in turn your online “identity.” And it is not only Google who offer Google Webmaster Tools, Microsoft also has its own Bing WebMaster Tools and probably your web host will also offer you some tools.

I agree that all these is hard, sometimes non-ending, oftentimes tedious but it is your business, your website, your online identity and it is you (and your employees’) duty to keep it in top shape in today’s online world.

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In art school and certainly in my professional career, I have been constantly reminded that it is the client as the end user. Please the client, make it easy for them to see the message and get it right away. When I worked in magazine publishing, the desire to use grunge fonts was compelling but, as driven by the choices of editors and marketing people, grunge was unreadable and although pleasing to designers, it was quite true that the average person would not like something hard to read and skip over that article or advertisement. It’s not easy to separate one’s creative desires with what is needed for marketing reality. Often creatives fight the advice or direction of marketing people’s suggestions – and yes, they can be power-plays and ego trips at times but often there is a vision that is more that of the average consumer/reader/user then it is of the creative vision of beautiful design.

Jim Carrey’s site is wild, wacky, high tech and really hard to navigate. Does he really need to be sold as a product?

It is of the utmost importance to learn, “what will sell my work to the client?” All the kudos in the world from your peers will not help your career or increase sales. Having your web site spotlighted on a design blog or magazine will not reach clients. The saying, “living well is the best revenge” is akin to what you must do with your site – please those who are NOT creative – the clients.

If you’ve ever posted a creative piece and asked fellow creatives what they thought, you’ll get as many different opinions as there are voices giving them. Ignore it all.  What makes other creatives right? When a prospect contacts you and says, I saw the work on your web site and want to hire you, that is the mark of a successful web site.

Why WordPress Themes Have Become Popular

People find the familiar comfortable. Why are the best selling electronics similar in how their controls are engineered and laid out? Because the consumer wants something they already know how to use. Electronic and car manufacturers found this out a long time ago and that is why you know, almost by second nature, how to turn on your TV and start your car. You can do it with your eyes closed.

WordPress, just to get the technical jargon out of the way, is a free (although many themes are for sale, too – some are free but charge for support) and open source blogging tool and publishing platform powered by PHP and MySQL. It is often customized into a content management system (CMS). It has numerous features including a plug-in architecture and a template system. WordPress is used by over 14.7% of Alexa.com Internet’s “top 1 million” websites. If you doubt the popularity, figures claim that as of August 2011, it powers 22% of all new websites and is currently the most popular CMS in use on the Internet.

WordPress has a rich plugin architecture, which allows users and developers to extend its functionality beyond the features that come as part of the base install. WordPress has a database of over 17,000 plugins with purposes ranging from SEO to adding widgets.  It has native applications that make it mobile friendly as well as search engine-friendly with a clean permalink structure. You may have noticed that the popular design blogs all use WordPress.

Hundreds of WordPress themes are available and fairly easy to build with a little coding know-how. Many sites, being blog-centric opt for these themes.

Generally, WordPress themes are clean and well designed but it has, as mentioned, familiarity of use and is easy for designers, photographers, illustrators and web developers to use for personal sites. The ease of use as well as the ability to update information, new samples, link to Twitter and RSS feeds is very attractive to creatives who also use social media for marketing purposes.

Once you’ve plugged a WordPress theme into your hosting site, it’s easy and intuitive to change the preset widgets, headers and other elements.

All of this, of course, is why WordPress is also attractive to small businesses as it negates the need to hire a web designer (although professional design is still needed to arrange columns, widgets and to keep prancing glitter unicorn gifs off the web).

The Downside Of Themes and Templates?

There are only so many themes in the WordPress library, so you will share the same theme as a million other people. Most are simple enough that it won’t matter but some of the more unusual themes stand out and people will recognize that you have a pre-designed template. Only you can decide if it truly matters to you. The content on your site will differentiate your site from others; so don’t fret too much about using one of the more popular themes.

Despite the user-friendly nature of templates, some people just can’t manage the simple HTML to fill out fields and make them look good. As a creative, this will not inspire prospects to trust your abilities.

The Delicate Balance

The challenge in creating your own site from scratch is that you must have many strengths. You can be the greatest programmer but not very good at designing type. Like the best team environments at any art studio, the best teams play to the strengths of each team member. Put together a team of a designer, programmer, type designer, someone with a great color sense and you can have a web site that will grab attention. There are too many examples out there of really bad web sites created by people who have one or more strength but not all needed for an impressive site. Starting with a theme or template can inspire you and, most of all, give your prospects an easy to use avenue to view your design samples with links, your own words on the project (many prospects and art directors also want to hear/see the stages in developing a design and the thought process behind it) and sections to divide different types of work you can accomplish.

Another great thing about WordPress themes is that if one isn’t working for you, you can replace it with another and most of your content will automatically fall into place. Sometimes you just need to test a theme or two until you strike a cord with clients.

Only you, with some honest soul searching, can decide what is best for you. Think about how you feel about your own site. Do you have doubts? Are you REALLY proud of it and feel it’s your best work? Sometimes, you just need to use another avenue to show the work that you have created – the work of which you are really proud. As mentioned before, other creatives might turn up their noses at the use of a template – as they might do for a site you created from scratch, but in the long run, they don’t pay your bills and they don’t lie awake at night, worrying how you’ll be able to sell your work to the clients who help you pay those bills!

Some sites that have free themes for you to download.

http://www.wordpressthemeshock.com/free-wordpress-themes/

http://wordpressthemesgallery.org/

http://www.fabthemes.com/

http://www.wpskins.org/

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What is Crowd Sourcing, Anyway?

To begin with, you may be wondering just what in the name of all things holy crowd sourcing actually is. (By the way, we’ve also seen it spelled “crowdsourcing” but to avoid any jargony turn-offs, we’re going to opt to spell it in phrase format. No matter the orthography, though, the idea behind the concept is relatively simple: In times gone past, you would hire a specialist to deal with your problems. Do you have a pipe that needs fixing? Hire a plumber. Have to buy a house? Get a realtor. Need a new logo for your business? Find, hire, and coax a graphic design firm into giving you what you want. But what if we took this idea of need-and-purchase and stretched it out over the entire Internet? What if it were possible to use a mountain of producers, instead of a single firm?

Essentially, this is exactly what crowd sourcing does. The whole idea is that a business can access a crowd sourcing site, start the contest of its needs (logo design, website design, t-shirt design, banner design, etc.), and then accept bids and proposals from a sea of Internet-based designers. From this slush heap, the original purchaser can select the best deal, send out a single payment, and then receive the goods. This cuts out entirely the need for complex contracts, messy payments, and long waits at the firm. It’s a beautiful system, but DesignContest.com makes it even more appealing.

How Does it Work?

By nature, DesignContest.com works in the same format listed above, but with a few important distinctions. First and foremost, not just everyone can apply and begin posting on DesignContest.com. All contributing designers must first be pre-qualified for quality, ensuring that the proposals users acquire are professional and of the highest caliber. This is hardly a problem for you, we’re assuming, as we’d be willing to bet you create truly top-notch stuff on a regular basis. If you’re interested in joining DesignContest.com, simply bring along a few choice portfolio pieces, and you’ll have no trouble at all.

Also in direct contrast to other sites, DesignContest.com does not work off of bids and proposals, but finished projects. The company in need posts a project and monetary reward. Then, designers create the project in its entirety, and submit the results. The company then selects the one they feel best fits their needs, and the designer is instantly thrown the reward money. In essence, DesignContest.com takes crowd sourcing and turns it into a contest—it’s like that’s in the name somewhere, you know? And, of course, with each contest there’s only one winner. So what does that mean, you might be asking. If so, you’ve come to the right place:

What if I Don’t Win?

Sadly, not everyone wins all the time. In fact, it is but one lucky designer who happens to pump out the winning design. Thus, what happens to your submitted work when it doesn’t succeed? In essence, nothing! It’s yours to keep, and as the piece was not paid for, there’s no legal implications or issues. In a sense, it’s like you never even submitted it. However, there is an upside to all this, and it has to do with your portfolio.

Every piece you create is worth something, even if it’s just as a showcase of your talents. Theoretically, every piece you submit on DesignContest.com is a testimonial to your prowess, and as each unsuccessful bid is your property, why not throw it in your book? You’ll quickly flesh out your portfolio in no time, and best of all, you may find working on DesignContest.com quickly stretches your creativity and limits in ways you never thought imaginable. Think of it as boot camp for your designs, creating stronger muscles, finished works, and honed skills.

What Else is Essential About DesignContest.com?

There are a few other important features worth noting about DesignContest.com. For example, the company manages a dedicated knowledge-base of design information for you to troll through, expanding your horizons with a better education. Likewise, there’s also a dedicated design forum used by other designers like you. It’s a great place to talk about contests or get feedback from your last project. Add to this superior moderation, a fully updated design blog, and the aforementioned pre-qualification, and you’re looking at a first-rate community of nothing but designers.

All in all, DesignContest.com is an incredible way to hone your skills, expand your creativity, experience new projects, and potentially win a lot of money for your efforts. You never know what doors will open with the site, making it an indispensable tool in our eyes. If you haven’t been already, consider using DesignContest.com for your next design project.

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1. Introduction

All websites, especially sales websites, should include an introduction. The introduction is a necessity because it describes what the website is about, what types of products are being sold, and how the consumer can go about getting these products. An introduction should be informative with just the right details but should never be too long or too short. You should always stick with shorter sentences that get straight to the point instead of lengthy sentences with too much unnecessary information. The introduction on your sales website is what will interest the consumers in your products so it is important to make it sound good and convincing. Always run the introduction content through a spell checker before you post it on your website. Misspelled words never look good, especially on a sales website. Once you run your introduction through a spell check, you can place it on your website. Make sure that you use catchy phrases and write in a way that will grab the consumers’ attention. You may want to use bold text or even bright colored text for parts of your introduction. Creative introductions are appreciated and easily remembered by the customers, here is the example:

2. Graphics/Images

A good sales page should always have graphics and images available for the consumers. The first reason for having these images is because consumers what to know what they are buying. A sales website is designed to display items that are being sold. This is why it would be pointless to not have graphics and images on a sales website. The consumer wants to know what the product looks like before they decide to spend money on something which is quite understandable. Another reason why it is very important to have images on a website is because it makes the website look more professional with an added personal touch. You should include images of all the products you sell and the products should be taken with a quality camera so that the consumers get the best possible image of the items or product being sold. If you cannot take pictures of the products yourself with a high quality camera, you may want to hire someone else to do it for you. As a last resort, you may be able to find stock photos online of the same exact products you sell. Here is an example:

3. Personal Information

As the creator of your very own sales website, you should include some personal information about yourself. You do not need to provide your personal telephone number or address. However, you should include information about who you are, what you do, and how you first got started with selling the products that you are selling. This adds a personal touch to your website which many consumers will be able to relate to. Consumers enjoy knowing exactly who they are doing business with before they decide to spend money out of their own pockets. You should also leave an e-mail address on your website for which you can be contacted. Consumers appreciate having the creator of a website answer questions and address concerns on a personal level. It shows that you don’t just care about making sales but that you actually care about the consumers and what they have to say or ask you.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions are very much needed for a sales website. When creating your website, you should always include a section for frequently asked questions. In this section, you will provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the type of product(s) you are selling. Having a section like this is mostly convenient for the consumers but it can be convenient for you, as the owner of a sales website, as well. It is convenient for the consumers because they will receive answers immediately to questions that they may have without having to send you a message and wait for a response which could end up taking several hours. It is also convenient for you because you can avoid having to answer repeated questions over and over that are often asked since the answers to those questions will be featured in this section instead. Most sales websites offer a frequently asked questions section.

5. Layout

The layout, also known as a template, is an in important aspect of a sales website. Having a professional layout will draw in more consumers. If your sales website is a mess, all over the place, and very unorganized, consumers are not going to want to buy what you are selling. In fact, they will probably be skeptical about paying you for anything. If your layout looks professional and is neatly organized, consumers will more likely buy from your website. You can make your own website layout if you know the basics of HTML and CSS. However, if you have no idea how to create a layout or template, you may want to search online for available layouts that you can buy or receive for free.

Conclusion

As an individual who owns a sales website, it is your responsibility to make sure your website has everything it needs to truly catch the eye of the consumers. These top five features can make a difference between an average sales website and a superior sales website. In fact, after following these steps and making the necessary changes to your sales website, you will probably notice more traffic which will equal more sales on your part.

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1. Dysfunctional Search Engine

All websites should include a small search box on the page because it is most convenient for the website viewers. If they are looking for something in particular throughout your entire website, they can easily click into the search engine box and type in the words for what they are looking for. Without having a search engine, the website viewers may get annoyed and possibly even frustrated which will lead them to venture off onto another site. What is even worse than not having a search engine on your website is having a search engine that just does not work probably. You must make sure that your search engine is something small and easy to use for all viewers of the website. It should also be compatible with the layout of your website. Having a complex search engine box on your website will only further confuse website viewers which actually defeats the purpose entirely. Avoid this common mistake.

2. Too Much Text

Who would think that too much text could be a turn off for viewer? While website viewers want to find out important information when they head to your site, they don’t want to have to read through several pages just to get to the point. Paragraphs on the website should be short and to the point. All sentences should be short as well.

Most importantly, the website designer should make sure the text speaks to the reader and catches their eye. How can you do this? Use bold or italic text to highlight some of the most important parts of the content that you are displaying on your website. You can also use bullet or numbered lists for certain information because it breaks down all of the different types of information and makes it so much easier to look at especially for those who prefer to just scan over the website. And the truth is, most people prefer scanning over a website instead of reading all of the content. Here’s an example of how to use a bullet list so that the content will be easier to read:

• Use Bold and Italics for IMPORTANT keywords
• Use bullet or number lists to sort through important facts
• Avoid lengthy sentences and huge paragraphs
• Keep sentences short and to the point

3. Small Text

As a website owner, it is important for you to remember that people of all ages will likely be checking out your website. Keep this in mind when you choose a font size for the text o your website. Small text, size 12 and under, is often too small for senior citizens as well as people who have vision problems. Keep the text at a size where it isn’t too big to look ridiculous but it isn’t too small that some viewers cannot read the important information that you are listing on your website.

4. Not User Friendly

The problem that a lot of website owners face is making their website user friendly. When a website is designed, the sole purpose is usually to receive as much traffic as possible. However, many people forget this when they are actually in the process of designing their website. If your website isn’t user friendly, viewers will be turned off and you will likely receive less traffic. There are several ways that you can make you website very user friendly and best of all, it does not really take much effort to do this.

• Add a search engine feature
• Create a navigation system that allows viewers to navigate through your website quickly and easily
• Create an FAQ section that answers questions that viewers have
• Use a decently sized font
• Provide detailed information and add pictures when necessary

These are just some of the ways that you can make your website user friendly. In fact, you may even want to create a section that allows viewers of your website to send in comments and suggestions on how you can continue to make your website user friendly. When you have a website, it is important to put the viewers first because they are the ones who can make or break your website.

5. Too Many Advertisements

We understand that as a website owner, you will need to advertise for other people and you may have affiliates whose advertisements you are placing on your website. It’s not that you can’t place advertisements on your website but placing too many of them all over a website can definitely be a turn off for most viewers. For example, if you use the Google Adsense program as a means of making money with your website, you will have the option to place advertisements on different areas of your website. If you place advertisements on the top of the page, bottom of the page, and on both sides, your viewers will feel surrounded by advertisements which definitely isn’t very user friendly.

Place advertisements on your website but do it in a tasteful manner. Sometimes, less is more and in this instance, that is definitely the case. Do not do yourself a disservice by placing tons of different advertisements on one page of your website. You can spread the advertisements out evenly through the different pages of your website. This will still allow you to display the advertisements that you want on your website without scaring your viewers away.

Conclusion

Avoiding these common web design mistakes is actually quite simple especially if you know how to prevent these mistakes in the first place. To run a successful website, you should make sure that your search engine box works properly, you sort through the text and use bullet points and numbers, keep everything user friendly, and avoid overdoing it with the advertisements. If you can avoid these mistakes, you can run a successful website.

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With the use of Adobe Dreamweaver, companies and individuals can create outstanding websites that have a professional look and feel and engage users which draws more attention and traffic. Adobe Dreamweaver has been around for quite some time and the CS5.5 version is just an upgraded, user-friendlier version. Those who already own a previous copy of Adobe Dreamweaver can easily update to this newly upgraded version with absolutely no hassle at all.

This software can truly make your website so much better than it already is which means it is definitely worth upgrading to the latest version. If you want to see what types of features the application has to offer, you can even download a free trial of Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5 just to see what you will be paying for in the future. You get to decide whether you like it or not.

Subscribing to Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5

If you already have a subscription for a previous version of Adobe Dreamweaver, you can upgrade to the latest version without having to pay a single dime. With your prescription, you are eligible to receive all updated and upgraded versions of this system for no extra charge at all.

This is just one of the many benefits of having a subscription in the first place. You can buy this system from the Adobe website and once you pay for it, you can download it immediately which is most convenient for users. If you are a student or a business owner, you can receive Adobe Dreamweaver at a discounted rate.

Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5 Features

The application comes equipped with software that can be used for all of your web design needs. The software will help you design and develop everything you need to ensure that your website looks professional. The software also helps you with mobile applications as well. You will be able to use HTML5 and CSS3 with the Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5 application. If you need the right tools to build an interesting website or mobile application, this is the application for you. All tools are useful and will help you create some of the best websites and mobile applications with the HTML5 and CSS3.

The new and adjusted coding gives you the necessary support you need to design websites and applications that are decent and usable. Updates have been made to the interface as well as Live View. These updates will help your productivity levels increase dramatically. Live View is a program that helps to make your designs more enlightening which is essential for engaging viewers. The CSS panel has also undergone a few changes. With the new changes, you will have a much easier time with editing and using codes on your website.

Adobe Dreamweaver for Website Productivity

Avoid wasting time with junky designs and programs that are not advanced enough to give you what you need for your website or applications. Adobe Dreamweaver gives you the professional design you need to get your website and applications the well-deserved attention that it needs. Your website can become so much better because Adobe Dreamweaver has the potential to help you make the best changes for your website or application.

Along with the software, you can buy an Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5 manual. There are several different manuals, all of which can be beneficial on teaching you how to properly use the system to the best of your ability in order to reap all of the benefits that come along with the use of this product. This manual is perfect for web designers and webmasters who need help building and designing a website. The manual will teach the ins and outs of the program along with explanations to some of the trickier parts of the system.

The one I recommend is “Dreamweaver CS5.5: The Missing Manual” by David Sawyer McFarland.

Advantages of Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5

1. Updated and Upgraded Version

2. Powerful System

3. Helps with HTML5 and CSS3

4. Fully Functioning

5. Perfect for Web Designers

6. Not Too Complicated

Disadvantages of Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5

1. The product is best used by web designers and people who already have experience with the technological side of designing and building websites. It is not necessary ideal for people who are clueless when it comes to building and designing websites and applications.

2. The cost of this system is quite expensive. The entire system costs more than $300. You may be able to get the software for a discount if you are a student or business owner, but it will still be costly to most people.

3. Using the system and building a website can be quite time consuming. You will need to have plenty of time to devote when using this system and working on building and designing your websites or applications.

Conclusion

If you are an individual with an interest in web design and building/designing your website and you have some experience with web design in general, this software would be a great choice for you. Here is why. The software is perfect for people who already have some experience with web design but are more so looking for a system that makes building and designing websites and applications much easier and less time consuming.

This system is great for people who already know what they are doing. If you have no idea how to build and design a website, this software may be too confusing for you. However, you can always buy a manual which will break down everything for you and can help you along the way with your website building and designing. Either way, buying this product is definitely an investment because it is so costly which is why it is important that you know what you are buying beforehand.

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1: Concise content

The content of your website is obviously the most essential part of your website. However, it is important to keep your content concise. Most viewers of websites are turned off by tons of words and paragraphs placed all in one page. Your content should be detailed and informative but you should also use short sentences and avoid repetitive information as well as fluff, which is information that isn’t really needed. While your content should be concise, it shouldn’t be too short to the point where the viewer has no idea what message you are trying to send. Your content should display information that covers some of the most crucial points of your website.

2: Set up a navigation system

A navigation system should include links to different pages on your website. An easily accessible navigation system will come in handy for viewers of your website because it helps them figure out where they need to go to find the information they are looking for. Placing a navigation system on a website is quite simple; it is a very basic step when designing a website. The links for your navigation system will probably look somewhat like this:

About

Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Products

Portfolio

Contact

Of course, your links may vary depending on what type of website you have. If you have a website that is designed to sell products, you would typically want to include links for information on those products, pictures of those products, as well as contact information and how the viewer can buy the product. If your website is designed to display some of your work, you would create a portfolio link which will include pictures or downloads to some of your work.

3: Include images

A website should always have some sort of images. The images should be crisp, clear, and professional. Using actual images instead of clip art images is highly recommended. In many instances, an actual image will give a much more professional look and feel to a website when compared to traditional clip art images which are definitely not as professional. If possible, using your own images would be the best thing to do. If you cannot use your own images for your website, check out stock photos on different online websites.

4: Use a professional template

A template is basically the layout of your website. You can create your own template if you know how, you can hire someone else to create a template for you, or you can buy a pre-made template for your website (Some pretty cool WordPress themes can be found at FabThemes.com or TopWPThemes.com). Regardless of what you choose to do, it is important that you have a professional looking template on your website especially if you want your website to receive positive attention.

5: Run your content through a spell check

Nothing looks worse on a professional website than having misspelled words and dysfunctional grammar. It is in your best interest to run any content you create through a spell checker and even through a grammar checker just to be on the safe side (Also tools like Respelt.com can be used). If you hate writing, you may even want to hire a freelance writer to do the job of writing your content for you. Remember, the content on your website is most important and, if words are misspelled and not used properly, it will reflect poorly on you and your abilities.

6: Give out your contact information

If someone wants to get in touch with you after having a look at your website, they should be able to do so with ease. After you have created a navigation system (as seen in tip #2) you should have a contact link on your website. The contact link should take viewers to a page with your information so that they are able to get in touch with you. You should provide your name along with an e-mail address. If you want, you can also add your phone number but that is ultimately your decision.

7: Have a hit counter

You should have a hit counter so that you can find out how much traffic you are receiving to your website on a daily basis. However, you should not have a hit counter displayed directly on your website. It is a disservice to have a hit counter displayed on your website because most viewers find them pointless and pay little to not attention to them. It is also important, if your website is new and you aren’t receiving much traffic, because you wouldn’t want viewers to think your site is too boring to receive high amounts of traffic.

8: Avoid pop ups

The truth is, most website viewers hate having to deal with pop ups. If you can, avoid placing any of them on your website at all costs. Some viewers find pop ups so annoying, they will leave a site almost instantly after a pop up appears.

9: Keep things organized

A primary rule of keeping a professional website is actually keeping things organized. Once you have all of your content set up on different pages, it is important that you keep up with the website to keep it organized. Do not keep adding stuff in random spots every time you think of more content to add.

10: Introduce yourself

Introduce yourself and what you stand for on your website. This will offer website viewers a sense of comfort because they get to find out more about who you are as a person. However, as with the content section, keep it short and sweet so that you are not gloating about yourself.

If you follow these ten web design tips, you will likely have much more success with your website. Remember, following these tips can change your website for the better and can end up truly benefiting you in the long run. If you want a website that receives high traffic, these little adjustments are easy to do and can make a huge difference. If you need a custom logo design for your website, visit a DesignContest.com.

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History of Web Design

The very first website was designed in 1991 and was a far cry from the types of websites you would see today two decades later. The interesting thing is that this website was nothing special, but it was still usable.

In 1991, no one really cared about HTML and all the unique tricks that make a website stand out and look good. When more people started creating websites for their companies and businesses, they didn’t go all out like how they do now. Most of these companies were using simple text with no picture or clip-art. Things have definitely changed within the past twenty years.

The first major change was the use of templates. Templates were designed to add a specific color design or theme to a website. Businesses and companies flocked to this because it made their websites look more organized and neat. Templates were free and easy to use, which is why people didn’t mind using them. Templates are still used for websites these days as well, but templates have come a long way and are much better looking.

Changes Being Made

Many different changes that were made have attributed to the way web design is today. Over a period of time, computer design programs were made available for users. Users could purchase and download these programs and create unique designs and graphics for their websites or for their own personal use.

Some of these programs include Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro and many others. People who started using these programs learned the basics on creating graphics and how important that could be to a website. Graphics look good on a website and add something extra besides just plain text. Being able to use these programs allowed web design to continue and advance. Businesses and companies liked having something extra on their website that would really catch the viewers’ eyes.

Giving Credit To Apple

The Apple incorporation deserves a lot of credit for the advances that have been made to web design and technology in general. In 1996, the Apple website looked fairly basic, just like most websites did at the time. The website appeared in black print on a white background with a clip art image of the Apple logo. Anyone who views what the website looked like today would have a hard time believing that the site for Apple.com ever looked so, well, ridiculous. However, it proves that technology and web design have not always been what they are now. Even prestigious companies, such as Apple, started from the very beginning with their web design basics.

Right before the millennium, Apple.com made some changes to the website. It looked more futuristic than before. It still wasn’t what it is today, but it was definitely better than it looked in 1996 with all plain text. In 1999, the website for Apple had nicer pictures with less text. The text that was displayed was more organized and didn’t look so awkward.

In 2000, the website changed for the better and displayed pictures of the new iMac that was produced by Apple. In 2001, the iPod was introduced and at that time, the web design changed again. This time, the web design focused solely on the iPod. In 2004, the main focus of the web design was still on the iPod, but this time it was all about the changes and advances that had been made to the iPod over the span of three years.

The web design for Apple.com continued to change and grow. Each year, changes were made and the website looked better and better. What people found out and learned from Apple.com is that simple web design was better than over the top craziness. Simple web design that looked decent and was organized would catch the eyes of Internet users.

The reason that Apple deserves such credit is because they opened the doors to other businesses and companies and their websites. Many of these companies chose to follow the direction that Apple.com too with their web design, which has taught people a lot about how their website should look.

How Has Web Design Changed?

Web design has changed in so many different ways. Primarily, it has changed in the way that it is set up. What most have learned along the way is that less is definitely more with web design. In the beginning, companies would display tons of information in text and packed it directly on a web page but now, the less is more feature is so much better for viewers.

Web design has also changed because it is much more organized than it was in 1991 and it is even more organized than it was five years ago. It seems as though web design advances each year, so who knows how web design will be in 10 or 20 years. It will continue to progress each year and that has been proven already.

Another change that has been made to web design is companies that are selling a product typically display a picture of each product being sold. The picture allows viewers to know what they are buying before they actually pay for it. Viewers can look at the picture and read product information before deciding whether it is right for them.

Overall, quality web design is essential for any business or person who wants to spread the word about something and get their point across. Web design has come along way and with advances being made with technology, it will continue to grow and expand. Website owners will have to keep up with their web design on a regular basis if they want to be successful.

Make sure to check out this cool infographic by Sean Work from KISSmetrics.

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