Web Site Design
Finding a good Denver web designer is not easy. There's no shortage of us out there, though. But how can you read between the lines and find one that will be right for you?
5 things to look for when evaluating a web designer
If you're in the market for a web designer that really "gets it" when it comes to not just design, but marketing the site as well, I hope you find this list helpful (and hire me).
Finding a Great Web Designer
1) Is the website designer an SEO fanatic
Search Engine Optimization is such a critical concern for websites, that it really needs to be factored into the site's design right from the very start. When evaluating a designer, always start by looking at how they approach SEO. The sites they've created - do they contain lots of keyword-rich text? Does the site have a URL structure that contains useful keywords? Do images have captions and alt tags? Do the links within the site contain informative keywords?
The designer must deliberately think about the keywords that mean the most to the subject of the site, and incorporate these keywords throughout the entire site.
2) It's about displaying your product or service, not their design
A really good designer knows that they are only successful if the website allows the products or service to play the dominant role in a viewers experience. If a viewer has "Wow, look at this website design!" on their mind first thing when they arrive it might not be a good thing. It's tempting to fall for that when you are shopping for a site design, but your services should be front and center, and the design of the site attractive and functional.
A great designer knows that simplicity is the best approach for you and your customers, and isn't trying to use your website to impress other designers.
3) Your website designer shouldn't rely on Flash
Flash is yesterday's gimmick, and it's going away. I've been saying this for years, and it's becoming quite obvious that sites built entirely in Flash put your business at a disadvantage.
If you're Coca-Cola, or a major television network and people know your name and how to find you, Flash is fine. But not if you want to be found online! Or have potential clients who have work to get done and need to learn about you quickly.
If you are talking to a designer, and they keep trying to push you in the direction of Flash, let serve as a red flag warning for you. If they are only comfortable working in Flash, run.
Flash is not 100% evil, though. It does have some very legitimate uses, like embedded video, animated/interactive charts and graphs, and slideshows. But you should never build an entire website in Flash. There's no need for that today.
4) They don't leave the hard stuff to you
Some web site designers only make a pretty design then supply you with a Photoshop file that contains their design, and expect you to go out and find someone else to actually turn it into HTML. You should have a complete website at the end of the process. That's what you're paying them for.
5) They realize that every project is different
Every business has a different set of customers and a different way of doing business. In the end, your website needs to be built to make life easier for YOUR CUSTOMERS. It's not built to make your designer happy, and it's not built for you. It's a business and marketing tool for your customers.
Your web designer should be asking you questions about your competitors and your customers (what's important to them, or to describe their behavior). At the end of the day, it's how the site performs for your customers that matters. This can be measured through unsolicited praise ("Your website was so easy to use!") and the amount of money it generates.
When evaluating a designer, remember, unless they specialize in a particular industry, you don't need to discount them just because they have not yet done a site in your industry. Mozart never wrote a symphony until he wrote one. Turns out he did a pretty good job.
Web Site Design, Development, and Marketing
I primarily work with small businesses who need no nonsense sites with a strong basis in search engine optimization (SEO) to save money on the marketing of the site. All sites can benefit from both SEO and search engine marketing (SEM), so I provide both services.
My sites are created using the most popular methods, and programming (php, html, css), that are universally accepted by servers, platforms and browsers.
As far as design and scope, each site is specific to your business. We spend some time getting to know you, your business, and your industry while designing.
Quick Tip: Alternatives to Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer, despite being the most widely used web browser, isn't the only option out there. In fact, there are other browsers that may do a better job from a security, speed or resource-usage perspective. Here are four alternatives:
Firefox - This is a free, open-source alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer that is currently the second most widely-used browser in the world. Because it's open source, programmers routinely fix security issues as well as develop many useful plugins to enhance its operations. It can be used with any operating system.
Download: http://www.mozilla.com
Google Chrome - As the name implies, this is Google's entry into the realm of internet browsers. Chrome is a stripped-down browser that is meant to run fast and lean. If you're concerned about resource usage on your computer, this is the browser for you. It also runs on all operating systems.
Download: http://www.google.com/chrome
Safari - If you're reading this newsletter on a Mac, chances are you're using Safari already. Safari looks like Macs look and offers a simple, intuitive browsing experience. It's also available for Windows, in case you want the Mac experience on your PC.
Download: http://www.apple.com/safari/download/
Opera - This lesser-known browser, made by Opera Software, is free and works on all operating systems. It's one of the fastest browsers out there and is optimized for use on mobile devices, as well as for users who have visual or motor impairments. It routinely wins awards for usability.
Download: http://www.opera.com
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