| Once upon a time, a business could choose not to | | | | yearly fee for this service, anywhere from $10 to $50. |
| have a web site. They reasoned that they did not | | | | However, some web design companies offer this |
| need a professional web site; they could do just fine | | | | service at no charge. Make sure to ask your web |
| without one. Then, one of their competitors decided to | | | | design company about this upfront so that there is no |
| get a web site and a buzz was created. Not to be | | | | confusion. |
| outdone, another competitor decided to follow suite. | | | | Do you know how many web pages you want for |
| Then another and then another. Pretty soon | | | | your site? |
| customers were asking the business if they had a | | | | Almost all web sites have a Home page, a Contact Us |
| web site. Finally, they realized that they needed a | | | | page and a Links page. However, after that, you have |
| website in order to keep up with their competitors. And | | | | to determine what you want features to emphasize |
| so, the Internet exploded. These days, everyone has a | | | | about your business. Is it important that visitors know |
| web site. From large corporations to small businesses; | | | | some history about your company? If so, you will need |
| families to individuals, everyone is on the Web. A friend | | | | an "About Us" page. Do you have categories of |
| of mine even created one for his infant child. | | | | product that you want to feature on your web site? If |
| This article is created to speak to the few remaining | | | | so, each category will have its own page. Do you |
| businesses that have yet to tackle the Internet beast. | | | | want visitors to be able to fill out an order form when |
| You want to have a web presence, but it seems a | | | | they are ready to buy something? If that is the case, |
| daunting task. "Where do I start?" you say. "What | | | | you will need an "Order Form" page. |
| issues will I need to address so that I make the most | | | | Your web designer will ask you about this facet of |
| of my new web site?" you continue. This brief article | | | | your web site, but it is good to think about this on your |
| will cover some of the areas of the webdesign | | | | own before you take that step. As a rule, the more |
| process to pay particular attention to. We have | | | | pages a web site has, the higher the cost. So choose |
| designed many web sites for clients that had no idea | | | | a web design company that you are comfortable with |
| where to start. We firmly believe that client education | | | | and don't let them talk you into more pages than you |
| is a vital part of the overall success of the web | | | | really need. |
| project. Most professional web design companies | | | | Do you have graphics and photographs to use on your |
| have published some guidelines that will help potential | | | | site? |
| clients answer some of their questions. It is with that in | | | | If you have pictures to use on your site, are they in a |
| mind that we have written this article. | | | | high-quality digital format? As a rule, a scanned |
| Why do you want a web site? | | | | photograph will not look good on your website. The |
| Will your web site be for personal use (just show | | | | best pictures are ones taken with a digital camera. |
| some photographs to your family members, for | | | | These can be used on the web site and formatted so |
| example)? Will it be to advertise a business service? | | | | that they have a professional look. |
| Will it be an informational web site, simply to pass on | | | | Many web design companies are able to take pictures |
| knowledge to the visitor? Will it be used to sell a | | | | for you. Usually, this service is an additional charge, so |
| product? Is it important that you show up #1 in Search | | | | make sure you discuss this option. |
| Engines? | | | | Will you maintain the web site yourself? |
| These are vital questions with which to begin. The | | | | If so, do you have an understanding of the Code |
| answers you come up with will determine the direction | | | | Languages used to create your web site. Some of |
| in which the overall design should go. | | | | these languages may include: |
| Do you have a business logo? | | | | - PHP |
| If you have been in business, you may already have a | | | | - HTML |
| logo or a trademark that your customers recognize. If | | | | - XML |
| that is the case, do you have the original graphic that | | | | - SWF |
| can be emailed? It will be important to use that on your | | | | If you are comfortable with these languages, your web |
| web site. | | | | design company can probably setup the web site to |
| If you do not have a logo or anything by which your | | | | allow you to maintain it yourself. However, most |
| customers currently know you, do you have any ideas | | | | companies will not support sites in which the client has |
| about what you might like, a sketch, a doodle or | | | | made changes to the original code. Make sure to |
| something similar? Whatever the case, usually a | | | | discuss this during your initial consultation. |
| professional web design company can design a | | | | Some companies will create Content Management |
| professional logo for you or reuse your current one. | | | | Systems (CMS). These allow their clients to update |
| Do you have particular colors that you want to use? | | | | the website without having to touch the original code. |
| Not all colors work well on the Internet. Generally, | | | | With a custom CMS, if you can create a document in |
| selecting a few colors is the best path to take. Your | | | | a Word Processing program, you can change your |
| web designer can help you select quality colors that | | | | website content. This means you do not have to learn |
| will come together in a design that you will be proud to | | | | any programming languages and, at the same time, |
| show off. | | | | you do not have to call your web design company |
| Have you seen web sites that you like? | | | | every time you want to update your site. Of course, |
| Providing an example (or examples) of a site that you | | | | the company you choose should always be available |
| like is a good way to help your web designer | | | | to assist if you get stuck. They should also be willing to |
| understand the look you are after. A professional | | | | e-mail you a link to show a demonstration of their |
| webdesign company will usually get this type of | | | | custom CMS. |
| feedback from their clients. Then they will have a feel | | | | Hopefully, this article has given you some good |
| for their "taste" and can use that as a pattern for their | | | | guidance to follow on the path to your new web site. |
| site. | | | | With some advanced preparation, you will tackle the |
| Do you have a web site domain name? | | | | Internet beast with no problem. The web design |
| This is the actual address of the web site. It is what | | | | company you choose should be willing to supply you |
| you will rattle off when someone asks you, "Do you | | | | with a list of satisfied clients. Take the time to review |
| have a web site?" If you do not have one registered | | | | the list. Contact the clients listed and ask them for their |
| already, your web designer can take care of that for | | | | opinions of the company. This will give you some good |
| you. Some web design companies may charge a | | | | information to help you make a good decision. |