To better understand web design you must understand that there are many facets to design. Most web site professionals will fall into one of 4 categories:
- Programmer - writes code and creates advanced functionalities
- Designer - create the layouts and graphics to make it look good
- Content Manager - Creates the content to fill a website
- Search Engine Optimization - knows how to make search engines like your site
It is rare to find a source that is a master of all 4 practices, this is why a majority of web designs will fall short of it's objectives.
Programming:
HTML is the universal language of the web. There are hundreds of technologies that interface with databases to generate HTML code as each page is "queried". There are a lot of database programming topologies out there, and we will freely admit, that it is not the language utilized but the talent of the programmer using it. So, if the languages are equal in their capabilities, then we must evaluate what is most readily available and at the lowest cost. Utilzing this as our yardstick, PHP/MySQL is clearly the popular standard utilized by >80% of the websites in use today. So it is our job to identify the best and least expensive method to achieve our programming objectives.
Content Management Systems or CMS are pre-programmed web site tools, much like software. These tools can be simply installed and configured to provide all the advanced functionalities that you used to pay thousands of dollars for someone to write PHP/MySQL or ASP code. The CMS topology we have chosen is Joomla because it is extremely populare with practically unlimited resources available in case our client or we need it. Jooml offers the greatest functionalities (currently >3,500 plug and play function modules), and will work with any other programming topologies with a simple wrapper or wrap-around function. The greatest benefit of Joomla is that we can always re-design the site's "template" for a brand new look and feel, while keeping all the original content. This means investments in content we make today, will be viable forever. You will never have to throw out the baby with your bath water again. Joomla is an open-source or free platform and most of the modules are either free or cost no more than a few hundred dollars each. You hire a developer like us to configure the installations and modify the functions, look and feel to match the brand established on your website. This means we are modifying code that has already been qualified, not writing from scratch. What we need to stress to new clients is that website programming no longer requires a substantial investement of time or money.
In some cases, the available functions for Joomla may not fit the requirement. As an example, Jooml has a standard store function, but we felt we needed a more advanced engineering selection guide, so we wrote one ourselves. If such a requirement arises with a client we can either write the programming code in house, or send it out to the most qualified and cost-effective resource.
Design:
Joomla begins with a template design that we can buy from dozens of possible sources. It is highly advisable that we substantially modify the templates to fit your branding strategies and to ensure your site is never recognized as a template. This is where our skills in design come in to play. The look and feel of the website is defined in two primary methods, the supporting image files and CSS Code (Cascading Style Sheets). The image files that create the background and style elements of the site need to be adjusted for the look and feel defined by your brand strategies. The CSS code defines the fonts, font sizes, text colors, line spacing of both text and image files on your site. Both require extreme attention to detail.
Content:
Traditionally, this is where most websites fall apart. The porgrammer / designer knows little about your products and markets. This means the client must commit time and resources to write the content and communicate how it should be presented on the website. This approach can be long and painful and never fully realized. Our years of experience withengineering, sales and marketing roles within the electronic component industry enable us to write content for you, achieving the final website design objectives with substantially reduced time, money and resource investments.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
What is the value of a well designed site, that can not be found. I know of clients who spent in excess of $50,000 on a beautiful looking website that could not be found on Googl, even when you type in their company name. Search Engine Optimization is truly not understood by most web site professionals and this can cost clients unknown profits in lost opportunities or dollars spent on Google AdWords to compensate for poor SEO techniques. A website that has been properly optimized should be found fo it's primary keywords on the first page of the popular search engines (unless it is a particularly competitive keyword). Offsite optimization techniques including blogging, social bookmarketing, youtubing, twittering and more can get you even better rankings but require consistent and diligent efforts.
Balanced Design:
In summary, a succesful web design requires a balanced approach to the design and understanding and appreciation of all the elements and their purpose. It is rare to work with a developer who understands and can implement all facets of a successful web project, for this reason, the mjoprity of websites fall short of the client's goals and objectives. We offer the skills and experience in all areas of web design to make sure your project is a success and will remain a valuable investment into the future, ensuring future change requirements are tweaks and not overhauls.
