---

from Craig Sutton and Rae Weil

You’ve seen the kind of website that disrespects the users – it doesn’t have the right type of graphics, is hard to decipher, and fraught with misspellings or half finished thoughts. You know what I’m talking about. It looks like it was designed in 1997 by someone’s high school aged cousin. The text doesn’t line up with the photos and the background is too busy.  This is because the owner is paying $10 (or less!) a month for some “plug in your graphics here” website that promises to land them on the first page in Google!

The colors are hideous (but hey, they are the owner’s favorite colors!) and have nothing to do with the product, it features a picture of the owner’s dog Sparky (ok, Sparky may be cute…), and the site tries to tell you EVERYTHING about the company on page one, never mind focusing on the product. (The owner hates that extra white space – he could write something there or put in a piece of clip art!) Overall, the webpage is too busy, too hectic and doesn’t deliver the message.

Respect your customer. Include colors and graphics that represent your company and your products honestly and clearly. Think of what he will be seeing when visiting the site. Are the pictures relevant to his visit and what he expected to find when he clicked on your link or typed in your URL? Do your graphics make sense? Is the page clean looking and visually appealing?

Then, there are the websites that aren’t awful to look at, but provide no real detail or direction about the story they should be telling.

That’s right, I said story!

Every website should tell a story in which the user gets to write the ending.  The website should have good usability design that allows the visitor to easily navigate around the pages and find the information he wants. It should be designed with clear directions about what information can be found. The information should be presented clearly and concisely with just the necessary details provided. Background stories can be included on additional pages. And, when the visitor finds that information, the website should help make the sale by having a distinct call to action. A well produced site functions as a sales tool and will easily provide a way for the consumer to make decisions about your products or services. Clear navigation allows the site visitor to make good use of his time. After all, he landed on your page for a reason – you may have something he wants!

It’s the job of your website developer to design a site for you using color psychology, well written content, and design usability to grab and hold your audience’s attention long enough for them to make a decision. Your website is often the first introduction many of your clients have to your company, or possibly the only interaction they will have. Your website’s appearance and credibility are significantly important to you company’s reputation.

Respect your customers. When they visit your website, give them an experience that delivers.

That $10/month website just isn’t going to cut the mustard…