Dwight M. Scott

The ways of the internet are crazy now. You can literally do almost anything from a website. It kinda reminds me of Wal-Mart…that’s a whole different story. Anyway, the reason why I mention it is because industry is booming and it’s time to take advantage of it.

I do not see why people wouldn’t want to incorporate their business with some kind if web aspect. It represents your business 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Innovation is the key to have a winning site. You need to have a leg up on your competitors. Do what they are doing but make it better or unveil a new revolutionary idea.

Getting a leg up means doing a lot of research. Visit your competitors sites, find your target market, and putting together a budget are just some if the main thing you need to do before getting your business on the web.

During these rough times; because of the economy, companies are usually quick to do budget cuts. Most times I have found that companies cut their marketing and advertising budgets first. There is no better time to invest in a SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or SEM (Search Engine Marketing) campaign like now. Get a jump start in your company’s marketing and advertising efforts while everyone else is cutting back.

The way the economy is right now, gives you the advantage to attack your target market harder than ever. SEO is one of the most inexpensive and easiest way ways to attract leads. SEO allows you to target more of your audience at once, unlike some other traditional forms of marketing and advertising. Companies cut their marketing budgets not realizing how much harm it’s really doing to their business. Taking advantage of an inexpensive way such as SEO is vital during these times.

SEO is more than just a bunch of keywords used to identify your company. It’s more of a formulated course of action used to define your company’s niche, ultimately generating leads, increasing revenue or productivity. This is now more than ever a time to rely on what your Trusted Web Expert can do for you.

Design plays a big factor when it comes to captivating your audience. Statistics say you have about three seconds to capture their attention to keep them on your site. The best way is usually through the appearance of your site. It doesn’t take long for somebody to criticize your site without giving it a “real” chance.

There are many different parts of design that most people overlook. The most common are:

• Banner
• Text
• Buttons
• Corporate Identity (logo)
• Content layout/placement
• Footer

Having a custom design for each of the above can get pricey. Although these things are nice, they are not always needed. One of the most efficient ways to cut back on design is through navigational links. A lot of people want the fancy buttons with roller overs. What they don’t realize is that it can cause their price to go up too. So, what you can do is…have regular text links! This is a simple way to cut back yet still have a pleasing design.

Don’t get me wrong, design plays a MAJOR role in web development whether it be Columbus, Ohio or not! It’s really about captivating your audience and grabbing their attention long enough to find out about your company or purchase your products/services. I personally recommend going with a fancy design when you have a brochure site (informational - not too much functionality) since there isn’t a lot the site would have to offer functionally anyway. As I said in part 2, I would always recommend the functionality over design since that’s usually what increases your revenue, productivity, or awareness. Keep in mind that this is only if your budget doesn’t allow you to get the full package up front. It is usually less expensive to re-design a site rather than re-developing one…

As I mentioned in part one, if your budget does not allow you to get the full package, you may be forced to scale your project down. There are a couple of things to consider when/if faced with this issue.

If you plan on having a website that requires a lot of functionality to meet your financial goals NEVER supplement development for design. Nine times out of ten; the development (functionality) of your site will be the way your site brings you money or increases your productivity. For example, if you are undergoing the process of gettting an online store and you are presented with a price that is a little too high, you should really consider cutting back on some of the design. You can still do tranactions with a decent design, but you can’t do transactions with a outstanding design with no functionality to support it.

So it is vital that you fully understand what it takes to reach your goal. The design can always be changed in later phases of your web development project. I can’t stress enough how crucial it is to focus on ROI when it comes to the web. I’ll touch on the importance of the design part in part 3.

A website can almost be determined as a twenty-four seven online representation of your and/or your company. That is why it is very important to have one that works properly and looks good at the same time. A lot of people fail to realize that the visual representation of your website can cost you business.

Having a poorly executed website not only sends a red flag to potential customers but puts a MAJOR cap on the growth of your business. Think about it…your website can work in so many ways for you or when you simply do not want to work - twenty-four seven! Why not make your website increase your revenue, generate more leads, and raise awareness for your business?

Now, I know you are wondering, “How can there be more than 1 part to design vs. development?” Sometimes, if your budget does not allow you to conquer both a fantastic fully functional back-end and pleasing design with the bells and whistles then you may be forced to scale down. I’ll further explain what to scale down on and what to sacrifice. If you should sacrifice at all. Stay tuned…

With the constant urge of society wanting information and resources quick and at their fingertips, you have to keep up. There is no better way to ensure you are in your target market’s face other than a website.

Practically, everything is handled via the web. Which makes obtaining a web presence for your company is crucial. I would almost recommend getting a website as soon, if not before you federally register your business. It is TOO important to a business’ success not to have one.

Websites are the best way to advertise and market your business. With the right Web Consultant, Developer, and Designer your business will reach a new level of growth. However, once you get your website live, be sure to frequently update your website. Users and search engines LOVE new and fresh content!

Now that the new year has come its time to really take advantage of it. I learned a lot of things in the year 2008, and in order for me to capitalize on what I learned, I have to start 2009 of right!  So…I came up with a gang of things I need to do to keep the ball rolling.

I intend to deliver quality information, share inside tips, and provide insight on web related topics. You can find all of that information right here on my website. Also, some things I plan to do differently in 2009 is shooting videos, seminars, and community outreach. It’s going to be a great year this year…I just know it!

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