Monday, July 28, 2014

Is Website Design More Important than Content?


It's common for businesses who are planning a new website or a revamp of their current website to start by contacting a website designer. Wherever you are, there are probably dozens of website designers nearby who are eagerly looking for projects. When you're considering a choice among them, you should take a close look at websites they have designed in the past, because that's an excellent indication of what they'll produce for you. Here's a guide to help you evaluate a designer's ability to help you create a website that actually generates new leads and sales:
  • Is the Designer's Style Compatible with Your Business? - Each website designer has his or her own website design concept. When you're looking at samples of a designer's work, try substituting your own company name in your mind. Does the design reflect your own business concept? Does it appeal to you? Do you think it will appeal to your customers?
  • What Is the Balance between Graphics and Text? - How much text do you see on the sample website's home page and on other pages. The text content on the website is what conveys your message to visitors. If it's skimpy or sparse, odds are that visitors will not find the information they're looking for when they come to the website.
  • Is the Website's Navigation Easy to Understand? - Getting a visitor to stick around and see what's on any website is difficult. Everyone website visitor is seeking information, and the navigation tools on that website are the map that leads them to the information. Look at the sample website. Can you figure out how to get to the pages that provide information? If not, that design may cause visitors to stop by briefly, look around, and then depart. 
  • Do You See Search Phrases Visitors Might Use to Search for The Website? - On every page of the website, you should see search phrases and words that a potential customer might use to search for that type of business. If you don't see them, then neither will Google, Yahoo and Bing. All text content on the website must be SEO rich, or people won't find the site when they search. That's one of the reasons websites need plenty of content. Content is the only way to expose those search terms and phrases to search engines.
  • Is the Content on the Website Well-Written and Interesting? - Writing effective marketing content is an art. It has to capture the attention of visitors, provide them with useful information and entice them to stay on the website and explore further. Poor quality writing, full of misspellings, grammar errors and awkward language, has just the opposite effect. Instead of building interest in your products or services, it sends visitors looking for the Back button on their browsers. 
Take your time in deciding on a website designer for your project. Study samples of their work, and evaluate it based on the questions above. Don't expect a radically different design concept from any designer. After looking at a sample or two, you'll have a good idea of what that designer will produce for you. Successful websites require a balance between graphical appearance and the content on the website. Successful designers work with top-quality content writers and understand that it is the content of the website that sells the goods and services, while providing the framework for the SEO that brings visitors to the website. The bottom line is that graphical design and text content are equally important to the success of any website.

Email Me for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your current website's content, or call George Campbell at 651-774-7999. To see examples of my web content, click any of the Work Sample links in the left column of this blog. The content I write has a long track record of success in generating sales and leads and employs SEO strategies that help you attract visitors. I'll work closely with your web designer to create an ideal balance between design and content.