What your website says about your business.
As professionals within the business community, image is crucial. If you provide a quality service this should be reflected in your branding. Getting the right image is essential because it reflects your values, skills and talents. A lot of work goes into creating your business’ image, from the layout of your premises to logos and advertisements. An increasingly important part of any advertising and branding campaign is a website.
Websites give important practical information to potential clients, such as opening times, products and prices. For many customers the first point of contact with your business is your website. This is where they get that crucial first impression. If you have a website that is stylish and easy to use, this will reflect well on your business. A good website can be a real business asset. It can project a professional image, attract customers and bring in additional revenue.
Unfortunately there are also many websites out there that look old and tired. This leads potential customers to the impression that your business is neglected, out of date and disorganised. I always find it especially disappointing when people put a lot of work into their business, but then cut corners trying to get a cheap website. A cheap looking or poorly constructed website can give would be customers a terrible first impression of your business and lose you a great deal of money.
If you have a website or are thinking of getting a website, this little bit of advice may help. Remember, your website is an extension of your business and its image. This image and your branding have to carry through to your website to give potential customers a good impression of your company. Getting the right look for your website is essential. It takes time and expertise to create a website that is functional, stylish and that works well. I have seen a lot of websites designed by amateurs that cost buttons and this is more often then not reflected in the finished product.
Content is equally important in the design of your website. Most websites are packed with irrelevant content. On average people spend less then 30 seconds looking at a website for the information they want. If they don’t find that information quickly they will look elsewhere. In order to keep your visitors interested, keep your written content short and to the point. You should also put some extra effort into making your images as professional as possible. Amateurish photographs and images will reflect badly on your business. If your website does not look professional, the assumption will be made that your business is not professional.
The performance of a website is something that is often overlooked. A website that is designed using badly compiled or outdated code can cause a number of problems. These can include links not working, images or web pages loading slowly or not at all. If your website doesn’t work properly, customers may wonder whether your business runs the same way. A good web designer should adhere to the quality standards set down by the World Wide Web Consortium. This is a body set up to implement quality standards in website coding.
When someone visits your website they will make a snap decision about your business from how your website looks and performs. It needn’t cost the earth to get a good website. Shop around to find a good professional website designer, but don’t make a decision based on cost alone. Before you pick a web designer, look at the quality of their portfolio. In business, first impressions are priceless so putting in a little extra effort into your website can reap huge dividends later on. (Back to Web Articles Page)