Small business Web sites blog

Business skills (choosing a Web designer)

Some Web designers spend a lot of time on the appearance of a Web site, but not much time thinking about the business objectives. They are more interested in creating award winning Web sites than business winning Web sites.

Award winning Web sites

While it’s nice to win an award for a Web site, for most small businesses (in fact most businesses) the main purpose is to increase sales.

I was talking to a potential client this week about Web sites that focus on appearance over business objectives and he said:

Yeah I don’t want a cup, I want a commision.

Many small businesses have a limited budget for Web sites. This budget is better spent on a clean simple Web site that helps them make more sales (or get more business). Simple clean designs don’t have be to ugly or boring.

Business winning Web sites

An important part here is to decide want you want your Web site to achieve. Too many people build Web sites without any idea what it is there for. Your Web designer should work with you to set out the goals for your Web site.

There are many different goals your Web site could have such as:

• providing information to potential customers
• selling your product to potential or existing customers
• after sales support to existing customers

There are many more goals, but these are the most common general goals. Each requires a different Web site approach, and a larger site might include 2 or even all 3 of these goals.

Without deciding what your Web site should do though, it’s hard to make it effective.

All flash and no trousers

How many times have you visited a site that looks fantastic but doesn’t have the information you are looking for. I’ve blogged before about why content is so important, so I won’t repeat myself here.

These sites seem to promise so much, and yet leave you disappointed. A simple, clean site with clear information promises little but delivers much.

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Tags: Choosing a Web designer, Small business Web sites, Valuable content

This entry was posted on Friday, August 21st, 2009 at 7:22 pm and is filed under Small business Web sites.