Making It Easier
Website designers are as different as people are from each other. We all have our own way of approaching a problem (the empty space on the host server) and how to fill that space with a functional and visually appealing page. Let's begin...
I will need to know these things from you…
1. What does your company do? (or what is the purpose of your page)
2. Who is your target audience?
3. Do you have an existing logo that you wish incorporated?
4. What do you see this website doing for you and your business? Specifically, what are your goals?
5. What is your budget?
6. When do you need this done by?
7. How many pages and sections of the website will be required? Do you need any forms?
8. Do you want a shopping cart system? Further - do you have PayPal (easier integration) or a merchant account?
9. What is it that you want visitors to know? What emotions do you want to impart?…or want them to feel?
10. Describe your competition and list their sites if possible. How do you want to be different?
11. List 3 or 4 websites that you like and (very important), what do you like about them?
12. Do you require maintenance or will your staff take over? (I can perform those duties for a small monthly fee.)
13. Do you have your domain name? Do you have hosting? (Read Buy Domains, Select Hosting)
If you don’t have the domain or the hosting, I can do that for you.
I prefer containers such as WordPress for a clean look. Any of the hundreds of available themes can be customized with graphics and layout to meet your needs.
I strongly advise against using flash or splash pages. You have three seconds - let me repeat that - you have three seconds to capture the viewers attention before they go elsewhere. That means that they need to reach the content they are looking for and not get stuck waiting for flash to download or stuck on a splash page. They are a waste of time and will cost you.
I also place the bulk of a site into html pages — for very good reasons. Stuff happens, stuff hits the fan; you know what I mean. If your site is destroyed by some unforeseen catastrophe, it is much easier and faster to reconstruct a few container pages because the bulk of the site is safe on an external hard drive. Additionally, a spare index page can be instantly uploaded and your site will experience no downtime at all. (I know whereof I speak here too! I came up with this idea because I have already weathered such problems.)
Naturally, if you want your entire site within a CMS, then you shall have it! But I do recommend having an html version ready for deployment.
BLOG * DAILY PIX * DESIGN ARTICLES * AVAILABLE PRINTS * PANORAMAS * CONTACT
Balko Photo, Albuquerque NM
info [at] balkophoto [dot] com
all content © copyright 2001-2009 Papagei Studios, Balko Photo
