Envision the Possibilities!
Unless you spend your days working with websites it is easy to be unsure about what is really possible on a website. Provided below are some of the most common building blocks used to create websites.
Domain Name
According to Verisign, by the middle of 2015, over 296 million domain names have been registered globally. Your domain name is the unique name of your website/email on the Internet. A domain name should uniquely describe your business and/or be your business name.
Logo/Branding
A visually compelling logo or brand goes a long way toward "setting the table" for the look and feel of your website. A quality logo is both memorable, identifiable and legible on a billboard (large) and on the header of a website (small). The colors should be complementary and you should have a grayscale version available when color is not possible for things like Fax Cover Sheets.
Hosting/Management
Finding quality hosting and website management is crucial to making your website load quickly and operate properly. Finding clients on the Internet is a moving target. Technologies change rapidly and your website should be kept up to date from a security and usability perspective.
Power of Color
Color theory is a body of practical guidance to color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination. Reds, oranges, and yellows are often described as warm colors. They are typically more vibrant and seem to bring a sense of liveliness and intimacy. In contrast, blues purples, and most greens are the cool colors. They can be used to calm down or to bring a relaxed feel.
Strong Written Content
Your web design should set you apart from your competition and position you as a leader in your industry. Written content should clearly communicate your objectives and speak directly to your audience and lead website visitors to your desired "Call to Action". Calls to Action would include completing an online form, purchasing a product or signing up for a newsletter.
Photo Galleries
Use photo galleries to increase the visual interest on your website. As the saying goes a picture is worth a 1,000 words. A high quality photo can transcend paragraphs of explanations and descriptions on your website. It can "set the mood" for your target demographic to identify with the photo and be reassured they have come to the best place to purchase, shop or contact.
Online Forms
The online form is the beginning of the sales funnel for most websites. Online forms capture potential leads and accumulate new customer contacts for your business or organization. Text and Calls to Action should drive your visitor to conversion opportunities with online forms.
Online Quizzes/Contests
Have fun and challenge your website visitors while increasing their understanding of the services/products you can provide. Online contests can build your social media following by offering up something fun and unique and that encourages more traffic to your website.
Online Polls/Contests
Should you stay open late on Tuesdays or Fridays? Why not just ask your customers and find out from them. Let your web visitors tell you what they would prefer with an online poll on your website.
Photo Carousel
In a photo carousel images slide horizontally across the screen. Works great to display corporate sponsors, company affiliations and product logos.
Private Portals
Keep sensitive information secure from the general public, but enable employees and special clients to view the information. Portals work well with Human Resources Forms/Benefits Documents. Permission can be provided by using a single password for all users, or individual user accounts with appropriate permission levels can be created.
Price Tables
Present your pricing information in a way that is clear and concise for your web visitors. Pricing tables can show specific variations between packages of products and/or services.
File Directory
A website based file directory displays a large numbers of files that can be downloaded directly from the site. Works well with documents such as County Ordinances and Resolutions, also PDF Flyers and product guides.
Geolocation / Mapping
If your business operates out of a traditional storefront or physical location the use of Geolocation and Mapping on your site is imperative. After all, if the customers aren't able to easily phsically locate your place of business you will lose out on their business. Geolocation tools use a reverse lookup of the website visitors IP address to provide their immediate location on an online map and include directions to the pre-established physical location of your business or office.
