Ten Ways To Get The Most From A Custom Web Site Design

Ensuring Your Web Site Design Is Effective And Truly Custom

Many agencies, companies, and independent contractors offer custom web site design services, each promoting their special knowledge or expertise. No matter how expert they seem to be, though, the person who is ultimately responsible for your web site is you. Here are ten ways that you can make the most of time and money spent on custom web site design.

1. Define your purpose

   Every web site design should be created with a purpose, and that purpose is yours. Every part of the web site, from color to functionality to copywriting, should reflect and support your purpose.
   
   

2. Stay involved in the process

   A custom web design should be just that - customized to your specifications and needs. This means you must stay involved in the process from start to finish.
   
   Insist that the designers show you regular updates on their progress and give them plenty of feedback. A good custom web design firm will welcome your involvement and respond to your feedback.
   
   

3. Ask questions

   Ask plenty of questions throughout the process. How does the customer use this function? How is the page SEO optimized? Why did you choose this layout for the menus?
   
   What is the process for me to update the site once it is live? These are just a few examples, so make a list of your own.
   
   

4. Look at it from the customer's perspective

   It is your job to look at every page, every function, and every word of text from the perspective of your customers. Do not wait until the end of the design process to do this, but rather make it a habit right from the first concepts the designer presents.
   
   

5. Avoid flash animation

   Flash animation is one of the WORST things you can put in your custom web site because it takes so very long to load when a customer arrives at or navigates around your site.
   
   A great many people do not have broadband service, fast computer processors, or any of the other things necessary to quickly load flash sites. You will lose far more potential customers than you will gain by using flash animation.
   
   

6. Content is king

   The content of your site is what will convert visitors to customers. The copywriting of a custom web site is critical, because too much text, too little text, or poorly written text can cause a visitor to doubt the quality of your site and leave.
   
   

7. Emphasize search engine optimization

   If your custom web site is not fully SEO optimized then it will not be noticed. Period. It is absolutely essential that each page be search engine friendly so that it will appear higher up in search results.
   
   

8. Web hosting is critical

   Web hosting is critical to your custom site, and you will get exactly what you pay for. Do not be tempted by "free" web hosting providers who will cover your custom design with advertisements, turn your web address into some horribly long and confusing jumble, or worst of all, have a great deal of server down time.
   
   Instead, spend the extra money necessary to host your site with a reputable UK company. Look for features such as POP3 email, AWStats, MySQL databases, and plenty of bandwidth.
   
   

9. Marketing, marketing, marketing

   Use your web site to its fullest by using every marketing tool you can. For example, create an informational newsletter that can be sent out to your customer database, or establish a "refer a friend" program that benefits a customer for referring a new customer to you.
   
   And be sure to include the URL of your site everywhere you can, such as in your email signature.
   
   

10. Track and analyze performance

    Once your site is up and running, you cannot just leave it to work on its own. You must monitor it and check usage statistics to track and analyze performance.
    
    Be sure your web hosting service includes a user-friendly control panel that will give you easy and secure access to your custom web site design 24/7.
    
    

When you choose someone to work on your custom web site design, be sure to pay attention to these ten tips and you will be well on your way to an excellent web site.