As you think about web marketing, there are some key considerations for your online presence.
Here are the top 10 things that I think you should make sure that your website design and marketing strategy includes. If your web developer can't provide all of these things... make sure that you find one who can.
I hope you won’t be surprised when I tell you that, as a web designer, I like it when things look really, really good. What was that cheesy ‘80s commercial quote?
“If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.”
And since I have been a designer specializing in web design for more than a decade, I also really, really care that your site works well and makes sense for the end user. So when I say these things make me sad, I don’t mean I’m personally offended; I’m just bummed I don’t get to give you the best design to meet your objectives.
Here are a few things that will stand between you and the best possible web design, or at least prolong the process:
We've all seen those cliche stock photos floating around the internet, littering blog posts and low budget websites. It's time to stop. In case you have a hard time recognizing these awful pictures, here are some great examples.
Over the last couple of years, a new term has arrived in website design. That is "hero banner" or "hero image". Although the term has gained popularity this year, it has been around for a couple of years.
I have noticed a few different ways that a hero banner has been defined. Some have defined it as a home page or a main call-to-action, but that's really not what it is. It is part of a home page (or other important landing pages) and should contain a phenomenal call-to-action. So, why should you be concerned with this aspect of design?
I am speaking not as an expert, but as an observer, like you, and from interviewing our web designer, Don. (He does some great stuff). At any rate, website design seems a lot like clothing style; it changes with each new season. The question is, what's trending now? Here's an overview of some of the amazing things that are out there.
The fold. If you're a web developer, you've heard it mentioned plenty of times. Often, a client will throw the word out, having heard it somewhere in a designy context and wanting to see if it makes them sound informed. What does it mean and does it apply to web design here in 2015?
You would think the response is quick and simple, but this is a very complicated, very debated topic. Go ahead and Google it! If you do, you'll see there is a pretty even split of people who are for and against designing with the fold in mind.
All our sites are built with best-practice workflows on Pantheon. Here’s why you should keep it there.
Pantheon ensures your website will continue to perform at high speeds, with minimal need for support. The platform automatically does much of the work required to keep professional-grade Drupal sites fast, secure, and scalable.
Every dollar you spend on web development should contribute to the growth of your business. Using open-source CMS like Drupal brings you closer to that goal, as developers don't need to start from scratch. However, they must still spend many hours on system administration. Pantheon allows you to funnel 100% of your investment in web development directly to the high-value features and strategy that grow your business. And not just while your website is in development, but for its entire lifetime.
Building a website is a complicated affair, there’s no way around it. It just is. Have you ever tried to jump into your company’s site to make some changes, only to presented with walls of intimidating code?
The smallest error in code is potentially detrimental to an entire site. The prospect of ruining a website can cause even the most intelligent people to shy away from the task of website updates, leaving them to the IT guy handle the updates when he can “get around to it.”
That’s no good.
Continuing on to the fourth point from "10 Ways to Increase your Website's Performace," we look at why using the right mix of compelling graphics will keep your visitors hooked, wanting more and even sharing more. Now when I say "graphics," I'm talking about infographics, stock photos and your images. So let's get started.
Your website has great content. Perfect. But what if your stellar content is surrounded but dull, boring images... or even worse, no images at all. Your website will be passed over time and time again. People are visual. They need visual queues to help them know what to expect your content to tell them. Keep in mind, you can over do it with images.
Imagine this. You're sitting at your desk, near the end of the day, going over reports that are due for a meeting tomorrow when you start to lose track of your place because the stale white pages are slowly driving you insane. You keep drumming through the pedantic report until you happen upon a beautiful, colorful infographic displayed with eye-catching symmetry and an effortless flow to the data presented. Suddenly you are smiling, awake, and you realize that your next door neighbor isn't such a bad guy despite waking you up at 3am. You can see hope, a light at the end of the tunnel that is your work day finally coming to an end.
Ok, so maybe your happiness about an infographic won't be that profound. But one thing an infographic will do for sure is represent your important data in the right light.