CT Website Design

Well it’s that time of year again. We all love Memorial Day. It reminds us that summer is right around the corner and best of all, brings us a much needed three day weekend. So slip off your white shoes, have a burger and relax!

Are you having guilt feelings because you’re not working? Get over it. Your website is on the job while your wading in the surf, or picnicking with friends and family. Information will be disbursed, orders will be taken, and it’s even reaching thousands of potential new customers with its advertising expertise.

Now don’t you feel better? If you don’t, there may be a problem. A business website should be your hardest working employee. So of it isn’t dressed attractively, enthusiastically promoting your products and services, and efficiently processing orders, it’s time to get your site in shape. It may even be time to give it a pink slip and start fresh. Especially if it’s behaving like the kid you hired as a favor to your best friend. You know the guy; pants around his knees, avoids eye contact, mumbles when he talks, and drives visitors away with his uncanny ability to treat every customer like an interruption to his texting time. Sometimes you just need to know when to say when.

We can’t be expected to work 24/7 but your website can and will without complaint. That’s the guy you want to hire and they’re simply a phone call or email away.  Just think of website designers and developers as your professional headhunters. We can bring you the employee of your dreams – but if you try to reach us before Tuesday, we’ll have to get back to you. Hey, what do you expect, it’s a long weekend. Don’t worry; our best employee will be on the job to take your message while we’re at the beach.

You get what you pay for. A statement most of us believe unless you’re an eternal optimist or just completely oblivious. Take handbags for instance. If you buy a bag at a store like Coach and the zipper breaks six months down the road, you can bring it back without hassle for replacement or return. You would expect no less. Say you happen to buy the “faux” Coach version out of the back of someones car trunk. It looks almost as lovely and is 1/10th the price. Unfortunately, by the time you turn the corner to leave, if you notice a broken zipper, good luck getting a new bag or your money back. You’ll be looking at skid marks and smelling burning rubber. You are left with no option but to chalk the whole thing up to a learning experience.

Some things are too important to have to learn the hard way. If you happen to be a small business owner, working hard to carve out a living, it is crucial to get the most for your money from every marketing opportunity. Your business website, probably your most visible marketing tool, should not be the equivalent of a “faux” Coach handbag. It is an investment that can have a big payoff if done right. Done wrong, it can actually drive away potential business.  So when receiving quotes, do more than just look at the bottom line. Be sure you can say yes to these few key questions before choosing the lowest price.

• Did the designer or design firm include credentials and experience? Make sure you are choosing a qualified professional.
• Does their work portfolio have testimonials with contact info? Take the time to see other websites the have designed and developed and what past clients are saying about them.
• Before quoting the job, did your designer show interest and ask questions about not only what you were looking for in your website, but who you are as a business, what you believe and your vision for the future?
• Is your quote broken down with a detailed description of the scope of the work and price for each component?
• Did they offer to help you put together a detailed site map for the project?
• Have you been able to easily contact them with questions and concerns throughout the initial phase of the project?
• Will they still be available down the road for site maintenance and support?

Be sure to choose a designer or firm that fully understands what your looking for, has the capability to see it through in a timely fashion, and will be there for continued support. This will save you time, aggravation, and in the long run, money.