We are living in a world where there are literally millions upon millions of websites, whether these be personal blogs, business or information sites. So does the design of you web site really matter in the long run, or is just another expense which you can do without?
Research has shown that the most successful sites on the internet are the ones which stand out from the rest, the webmasters who have taken the time to look into all aspects of their site, from coding and content to the overall look and “feel” of the site. It will come as no surprise to find out that web design ranks very highly as one of the most important factors of a website. But why?
There are a number of reasons which include :-
- First impressions last - your design and site layout is the first thing they will see. If you have not “hooked” them with a second they may never visit you again.
- Colour scheme. If your site looks dull, it will give that impression to first time viewers, the people who have not yet looked at your site and do not know how good you really are!
- Navigation. Many people forget that the navigation of a site is very important, after all, if you cannot find what you are looking for, would you really hang around? It is essential you make the site as easy as possible to understand, with no more than 2 clicks to get to any one page. This is where user friendly site maps can be very useful.
- Style. The style and design of your site needs to reflect the market you are targeting, and the image which you want to portray. If you are aiming towards the younger customers, your site needs to be fashionable and trendy. If you are looking to the business world then a more formal approach would probably be best.
Finding that perfect design, that right style and the correct colour variations is not easy although there are an army of web designers out there to help. Competition in the sector is high, as you would expect, and prices have fallen over the last few years. However, at the end of the day you will only get what you pay for, you wont get a fantastic one off design for $50 - so decide if you are serious before looking for your next designer.