However, many businesses have taken the philosophy that it’s “better to have even a poorly done site that none at all.” Unfortunately this is not the case!

Studies have shown that having a poorly designed and improperly maintained site can create a more negative impression than having no website at all.

The truth is, a company website must be properly designed, executed and maintained to be a resource for sales and customer support. As with other customer communications, you get out of your website what you put into it. By not fully understanding the role of their website, company owners make their endeavors vulnerable to the competition.

What is good design?

Websites must satisfy two basic criteria: good design and useful content. One without the other will ensure your customers don’t visit twice.

So, what makes for good design and how do I know what content to provide?

This can only be determined once you have asked (and answered) the questions: What is my purpose and who is my audience? Like building a home or any other large construction project, a blueprint for building must be the first step. By spending an adequate amount of time on the above question, the type of design and the specific content will begin to come together.

To further evaluate how your current web design stacks up, ask yourself how your site fits into the following categories:

1. Context - aesthetic and functional “look and feel” elements used to establish corporate identity, and to provide rich graphic and design features along with utilitarian goals, such as clear information and easy navigation. Basically, you look good when it looks good.

2. Content - how well the site complies with customers’ needs and preferences connected with the selling/buying sequence. In short, giving the customer or prospect the information he or she needs to prompt an inquiry or to purchase your product.

3. Commerce - the degree of electronic business occurring on the site.

4. Connection - the formal linkages between your site and other sites that enhance both usefulness and visitor traffic, with ongoing response to competitors’ use of connections.

5. Communication - the degree of site-to-user communication, including E-mail, online forms or online chat.

6. Customization - the site’s ability to be tailored to the interests of individual users, making it easier to use and increasing its appeal.

Where To Go From Here?

Whether your website needs improvements or is just ready for a new look, a comprehensive plan is the place to start. Let The Worthwhile Company help you evaluate, plan, design, and build or rebuild your website. With our Web Design Lifecycle we can help you build a website that will attract customers and keep them coming back.

Top 5 Web Design Mistakes

1. No Search Engine Optimization
Your site is offering the greatest new product since sliced bread and you know that everyone will want one. You setup a website, and then nothing happens.

A common misconception is that "if you build it they will come." But with over 8 billion pages now being searched by Google, you have to do more than just build it.

Special design and layout techniques must be considered that allow search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN to easily determine what your site is all about. Good search engine placement can mean the difference between a huge success and a dismal failure for your site.

2. Poor Site Navigation
Nothing is more frustrating than knowing what you want to find on a site but not being able to find it. That is why a well-designed and easy to use navigation system is essential to any website.

Menus, links, and other features must be properly placed to allow visitors to your site easy access to all of the content that you have to offer.

3. Outdated Content
A prospective customer searches the web, finds your site, and wants to place an order for your "featured product" which is placed prominently on the front page, only to find that it is out of stock or discontinued!

This scenario is sadly common on many websites and has been the cause of many dissatisfied customers. It is important to make sure that your website is always up-to-date with your latest products, services, or information.

4. Annoying Animation
Usability research shows that unneeded animation and flashy graphics take away from the content and distract the visitor from achieving their goals.

Unless your site is an entertainment site, try to avoid maddening motion!

5. Slow Download Speed
With only a little over half of Internet users in the United States using high-speed connections it is important to design your site so that those with slow dial-up connection can use your site without wasting time waiting for large images or graphics to download.

Special software can be used to optimize images for faster download speeds. Care should also be taken to give users the chance to choose their connection speed when playing music or video.