Web design is a many-faceted beast that encompasses a variety of skills, trades and disciplines. Companies that offer web design services more often than not employ a range of professionals, including graphic designers, SEO specialists and software professionals who each add their expertise to the web design process. Colloquially, the term “web design” is often used to describe the design process related to the web experience of the potential client. The client side of things is known as front-end web design, and web designers should have a fully functional understanding of user interface, usability and web accessibility guidelines.
Web Design and Marketing
Web design is a valuable marketing tool and should be treated as such. The marketing and communication design of a website ought to reflect the needs and desires of your target market. A small business web design company would need to have an acute awareness of what works for consumer public and understand the trends of such an audience. Because the needs of different markets vary so widely, the small business web design company should be able to tailor the website to the demands of its target audience. For example, the layout of an entertainment website or that of a local rock band would differ greatly from a tutoring business or a paper importer.
User Accessibility
Often, user understanding of your business is dependent on the user’s ability to navigate the website. For the small business web design company, this means coming up with a user experience design with clear labeling and a straightforward interactive design: the user should find the website useful and informative, as the website is often the first port of call for potential clients. Their first experience of your business must be simple and useful, so as to leave a positive first impression with a universal user experience and a web design that is accessible to even the least skilled of computer users.
Should You Use Plugins?
One critical decision for the small business web design company to make is whether or not to incorporate interactive features which require plugins. Content requiring a plugin that does not come pre-installed with most browsers has the potential to confuse or alienate non-tech-savvy users and limit their user experience. Some Internet users do not have the technical knowledge required to install necessary plugins in order to fully engage with a well-designed web page, or others simply do not have the time. A good small business web design company will be able to evaluate the pros and cons of plugin-based web content and design your business’s web page accordingly.
Because web design is such a complicated and verbose process, and a small business owner dealing with staffing, payroll and customer service has enough on their plate, a small business web design company can take all the hassle and complication out of providing a decisive, assertive web presence and cater it to the needs of your customer base.
