Webupon

You are considering starting a Web site for your writing, business or photography but are a bit unsure about what you should look for. The World Wide Web is the fastest growing area of our lives. It seems confusing and even more to those thinking about getting a Web site for their pleasure or business. This outlines some things you should look for if you are going to go ahead with your Web presence.

Maximum Confusion

The Internet and computers are befuddling. Where do you start with something that seems so large and difficult to appreciate if you have little experience?

Some things that you should do before considering your Web site:

•  Write down what you want.  For example – I want to keep in touch with my children, I just want to promote my writing or I need an e-commerce Web site. Thinking it all on paper means you are clear.
• Talk to people who already have a Web site
•  Ask someone who is savvy with computers, to gain extra insights. This will save you time and give you ideas that you never thought you had.

Patchwork Model vs. Professional Model

The Web is growing with more people joining daily. Did you know that most just want the computer to write emails and play? Many people just want to find out the latest gossip on social sites or are looking for educational or interesting things to talk about. Not important information. Therefore, you may just want to start your Web design as, “a patchwork,” of free sites – a Triond site here, an eBay site there and a facebook site all patched together at not a cent to pay. 

If you are serious and want to launch a fully -grown Web site then you will have to spend money, doing it all properly, the professional way.

Web Design vs. Web Development

Web design entails:

• Having a Web site designer create a Web site for you
• The designed site presents your writing or art in a clear way that looks stylish
• Web design is ideal for individuals and small businesses.

Web development entails:

• Large scale electronic commerce for medium-sized businesses
• Is more akin to airline company sites, eBay or bank sites
• Web development is the big brother of Web design.

Get a Qualified Designer

Unless you decide to go down the patchwork path and do-it-yourself, you will need to hire a qualified Web designer.  The reason is that someone who claims to be able to design your site, without qualifications, is really ripping you off. Web design requires special skills. These are best learned as a proper certified course. So many things can go wrong. Hire a true professional who understands this complicated and new field of endeavor. Check their qualifications prior to engaging them.

Things to Avoid When Considering Hiring a Web Designer

“I’ll just knock it up in Dreamweaver.” If you hear this you are being taken for a ride. Your Web designer should be able to properly hand-code your Web site without relying on external software programs. These programs, in fact, add hidden and unnecessary codes that will only slow down your Web site and cause problems.

A great Web site designer must be able to, “clean-code,” or, “hand-code,” your Web site using XHTML, CSS and for Web development – C#. Also, check the designer’s work. Do they already have some sites on-line? Check and recheck their references.  Web design is a complex field and you need someone who can have your site up and running on time and to your taste and with minimum fuss.

Know Thy Market

Every Search Engine Optimizer cannot state this enough. Who will be reading your Web page? Who will visit it and what are their tastes? Finding out your Web market helps you choose the design. One example would be using pink and floral designs for a young girls market. Using grays and monotones in your Web site with large readable fonts is ideal for an older wiser market. The Web site should always be hunting for a client and tailored to their needs.

Image via Wikipedia

Conclusion

Like any field you want to know that you are getting what you paid for. Start the process by buying your domain name. Your domain name is your brand and your Web address.

In brief:

•  Hire a qualified Web developer or designer
•  Check and recheck their credentials and examples of their work
•  Do your research – it will save you money and time.

Good Luck.

Other Web related articles by this author:

The Computing Hour Glass

The Cookie Monster is Crunching Through Your Computer

Is Your Computer’s Screen Dirty

Secure Your Domain Name