Business website designers on PH
Discussion
So, it's another request for help with a business website. I only started in the job today, but their website is terrible. Small company, 15 employees. Current owner seems to love his website and the guy that 'looks after it' for him. I showed him the developer's portfolio of sites that are all pretty much the same with different logos and colours etc.
I'd like to get something that doesn't look so much like a template (or at least a better one), but also remains and nice and simple site for visitors.
If this sounds like your boat then please leave a comment or drop me a PM with a link to some recent work and I can talk to the boss.
I'd like to get something that doesn't look so much like a template (or at least a better one), but also remains and nice and simple site for visitors.
If this sounds like your boat then please leave a comment or drop me a PM with a link to some recent work and I can talk to the boss.
look and feel is not the main criteria for designing websites... start by looking at he business purposes behind the website - what it is trying to achieve - then look at whether that is successful or not, see if it helps the viewer to journey as desired by the business - can they find what they need / do they move forward in their relationship with the business / are they moved rapidly to the next step (e.g. contacting the business)
All these things are higher priority than the look and feel - if they also drive a need for change then def. pursue it, otherwise be cautious that in making it 'look better' you don't make it worse for the business...
All these things are higher priority than the look and feel - if they also drive a need for change then def. pursue it, otherwise be cautious that in making it 'look better' you don't make it worse for the business...
MitchT said:
22 said:
Current owner seems to love his website and the guy that 'looks after it' for him.
Looks like you have a political problem.akirk said:
look and feel is not the main criteria for designing websites... start by looking at he business purposes behind the website - what it is trying to achieve - then look at whether that is successful or not, see if it helps the viewer to journey as desired by the business - can they find what they need / do they move forward in their relationship with the business / are they moved rapidly to the next step (e.g. contacting the business)
All these things are higher priority than the look and feel - if they also drive a need for change then def. pursue it, otherwise be cautious that in making it 'look better' you don't make it worse for the business...
Good advice - it's a pity you don't follow it!All these things are higher priority than the look and feel - if they also drive a need for change then def. pursue it, otherwise be cautious that in making it 'look better' you don't make it worse for the business...
Your contact details are at the very bottom of the home page and below the fold on the contact page (does that map need to be that big?)
Given the prevalence of mobile browsing none of the phone numbers are links, would be much nicer if they loaded automatically into the dialler
Most new business seems to currently come from flyer drops (very targeted, low volume). But the company is quite well known locally so I'm looking for a'softer'/more professional and certainly refreshed landing page for anyone who googles it and to (slowly) build the web/social media presence.
dmsims said:
akirk said:
look and feel is not the main criteria for designing websites... start by looking at he business purposes behind the website - what it is trying to achieve - then look at whether that is successful or not, see if it helps the viewer to journey as desired by the business - can they find what they need / do they move forward in their relationship with the business / are they moved rapidly to the next step (e.g. contacting the business)
All these things are higher priority than the look and feel - if they also drive a need for change then def. pursue it, otherwise be cautious that in making it 'look better' you don't make it worse for the business...
Good advice - it's a pity you don't follow it!All these things are higher priority than the look and feel - if they also drive a need for change then def. pursue it, otherwise be cautious that in making it 'look better' you don't make it worse for the business...
Your contact details are at the very bottom of the home page and below the fold on the contact page (does that map need to be that big?)
Given the prevalence of mobile browsing none of the phone numbers are links, would be much nicer if they loaded automatically into the dialler
all the phone numbers are links and seem to work just fine...The location of contact details is exactly where we want them - which is why you shouldn't follow rules blindly... but understand where you are coming from, but it simply highlights that decisions should be made deliberately and specifically for that business - not following a pre-defined pattern where it doesn't work in that context... For us - we have tested both and go with the solution we prefer - most of our business doesn't come from online - so the website need is different to many others in our sector... So at a theoretical level you are correct, but the important point here is that theory is not always correct - commercial needs should be top of the list... for our business we don't want people contacting us who have not read the content - to put the phone number 'above the fold' which is where common wisdom suggests it should go ends up with our receiving a higher % of calls from people who have not read through and understood what we do - they are less likely to lead to work - so cause us more wasted time... moving the contact details to where they are for our business works well... And we repeatedly change and test alternatives...
We have clients where the website deliberately makes contact harder - psychologically it has been shown to make their clients desire their product / service more - for others that wouldn't work at all
and it is all about get the email / phone call / sale as soon and as easily as possible.The point I was making was that there should be deliberate intent around how a website is structured / laid out, with an aim to move people around in a way which best suits the business and future relationship with that client / potential client... Sometimes you don't necessarily know what this will be, so it might need testing / different versions trying... Other times - there is not significant enough commercial difference, so it is better to take a route which costs less - it might not be the perfect or even 'correct' solution, but if it is sufficient and the correct commercial decision then it might make sense...
Appreciate the feedback though
Edited by akirk on Tuesday 28th February 12:45
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