"Anybody
can design a website."
A client actually said this to me once during our initial meeting about her new website and the comment has stuck with me ever since.
There are templates,
online
tools, widgets, editors, books, articles and aisles stuffed with software at your
local Staples for do-it-yourself-websites. Maybe your second cousin took a class at the Vo-Tech once
and learned to use an HTML editing tool like FrontPage or Dreamweaver and has offered to build one for you. So yes,
it's true. Just about ANYBODY can design a website these days.
In essence a website is simply a collection of electronic files that reside on
a web server. They present content and interactive features or interfaces to end
users in the form of Web Pages when requested. That's your standard dictionary definition
and from that perspective building a website sounds
pretty simple, doesn't it? However... (you knew there was a 'but' coming here, right?)
There is a great deal of planning, conceptualization, modeling and post-execution
testing involved in the creation and implementation of a successful
website. Anyone can create a website.
But, (there it is) there are two basic
questions you should ask to evaluate the success or failure
of a business website:
1) Will it be a site that performs, draws clients
to your business, develops trust, offers a useful service
to them and inspires
them to take
action or make a purchase?
-or-
2) Will it be a site that is less than intuitive to your end user's needs? A poor
site design can create frustration, leaving visitors angry or confused.
|
Sites that perform are more than a pretty picture cut up and pasted into HTML. You
don't need a lot of animation, flashy graphics or gimmicks to have a successful website. A site that is well thought out, designed with the end user in mind and
provides useful content to visitors will be a site that performs and is an asset
to your business.
3 Monkeys View on Web Development
This is where we should tell you that 3 Monkeys is the very best, super-duper, most
awesome website developer in the world and you'd be insane to go with anyone else.
Yet as entertaining as that would be to write, I'll offer a little practical advice
instead:
Look at our portfolio.
If you are pleased with the results some of our other clients
have experienced, chances are we would be a good fit for you.
What skills are you looking for? Many website design company's concentrate on 'design
only.' We believe that a site that is placed out on the web and never changes gathers
dust, so our primary development focus is to create dynamic sites with fluid content.
Keeping your site fresh adds value for your end users and gives them a reason to
return to your site.
Search engines like it too and tend to favor these sites
in
their rankings.
Let's mention the elephant in the room and get him out of the way shall we?
The
price of web
development. Start by setting a realistic goal. You would plan for
inventory, advertising and other business expenses, so it's reasonable that you
should consider your company's website to be a similar investment. I've talked to
people that will spend thousands on a top of the line cash register, but refuse
to invest less than the price of a single phone book ad on a fully functional e-commerce
site that they would like to get at least 50% or more of their business from. Decide
how much of your business will be coming from internet sources
and budget your site
development accordingly. Also, remember that a website doesn't have to be an all
or nothing proposition from the start. A well thought out development will ensure
that it can grow and change with your business' needs. We will be happy to discuss
pricing options with you and supply a detailed cost estimate
during the initial
consultation.
Communicate with us and get involved. We're happy to make suggestions and help you
brainstorm ideas, but remember that a website is a marketing tool and is most effective
when you have a clear objective in mind
and understand your target market. The effort
you put into developing useful content for your end users should be equal to the
results you want to see.
Last but definately not least- Search engine optimization is a critical component
of website success and we consider it at every stage during the development process.
It is MUCH easier to optimize a site from its inception than to build the entire
site and optimize it afterwards. This is also an ongoing process that will need
to be evaluated and updated over the life of your website. If you have questions
or concerns about the search engine optimization process, we'll be happy to answer
them during your consultation.
Code monkeys, graphic monkeys and copy writing monkeys readily available.
(Various other species
on request)
Call (573)
873-9645 or email
gorilla@3monkeysonline.com
|
Services
Website Design
Search Engine
Optimization
Programming
Graphics
Featured Website
Site Portfolio
 |