Entrepreneur Magazine recently wrote an article titled The Cost of Quality which talks about the costs associated with designing, building, launching and managing your website.  It’s a very interesting article that emphasizes the fact that in order to be successful online, you cannot entrust your online presence to a cheap design template or the “dude next door” working out of his parent’s garage.  Of course it will cost you some money to get a website that drives your business goals and objectives, but it’s all about expectations and understanding what a quality website or application will take in effort and dollars spent to design, develop, and deliver.

What we’re talking about here is viewing your website as an investment, not just a marketing spend.  Your website is an asset that belongs on your balance sheet; revenue and expenses as related to it should be tracked.

Another point is that your website is just like any other asset you purchase; the old adage, “you get what you pay for” really rings true.  You can go to your friend’s cousin who lives in his parent’s garage to get a website for $1,000 but I can guarantee, you will pay for it later on.  We’ve been in the business for over 16 years and we’ve seen it happen time and time again.  Somebody went the cheap route and ended up with a website that didn’t work the way they wanted it or it broke down all the time or it flat out never got finished, because someone who didn’t know what they were doing promised them the farm at an impossibly cheap price.  Everyone knows that is just not reality – “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

I encourage you to read the article from Entrepreneur Magazine and think about your current web services provider: are they fulfilling your business goals and objectives (or even considering them for that matter), or do they take the time up front to ensure that you have a solid plan for accomplishing what you’re looking for, even if it costs a little more?  If you fit into the former description, I would suggest you take a look at a firm like ours and see if there really is a difference…my guess is that you will be pleasantly surprised.

Yesterday a longtime client of ours, Ice Miller, celebrated its 100 year anniversary.  This is a huge accomplishment, not just for a legal firm, but for any company!  Ice Miller, based in Indianapolis with offices around the country, was founded on a commitment to provide personal service and valued legal counsel to its clients and after 100 years, that hasn't changed.

With a focus and belief that technology and rapid information retrieval is a critical component of their business they rely heavily on applications and Web centric technologies that allow their lawyers and staff members to be connected and accessible.  The work we have done for them, including their Website and custom built proposal generator help their team members be efficient and provide the best service to their clients.

We are proud that we have had the opportunity to work with such an upstanding firm and we highly regard the relationship we have developed with Ice Miller over the past decade.  We are honored to be able to provide our Website design and custom application development services to Ice Miller and are thrilled about the fact that we have been able to help them succeed as a business and continue to provide their clients with the outstanding services they provide.  Ice Miller – we hope you have 100 more years!

Web designing is about much more than making a pretty page. The design of your Web site helps create your visitors’ first impression about your company, your message and even your quality. Web designers must take three main concepts into consideration when creating your Web site concept:

• Content :: What is the informational value of your site?
• Usability :: How quickly visitors can find desired content and they will interact with the site’s features
• Appearance :: Styles, aesthetics and professional appearance of the pages.

A few things to keep in mind when thinking about the Web design:

1. Have a purpose :: Everything that goes on your Web site must help your users achieve their goals and support the site’s goals.
2. Keep it simple :: Simple Web designs deliver huge benefits to the designer, client and user. When a Web design doesn’t seem to be working, ask what should be taken away before asking what is missing.
3. Communication, not decoration :: When designing your Web site, it is easy to get sucked into the fine details. Your users are not interested in grading your design work. Their sole concern is finding the relevant information in as little time as possible, then moving on.
4. Writing for the Web:: Content presentation should be considered as part of the overall design of the site. When creating and editing content, work to get your message across concisely and efficiently using language and tone appropriate for your audience.
5. People Skim :: Users skim pages for clues instead of reading. They make snap decisions instead of evaluating and judging carefully. They are driven by their goals, not yours. Help your user find what he is looking for.

Partnering with the right Web designer is as important a decision as securing your programmers and defining the site’s features. Your designer will help ensure your site reflects your brand and personality. Let him educate and lead you in structuring your site to help your visitors quickly and easily achieve their goals on the site.