Section 2. Web Design - or How to Communicate Effectively with the Web Designer

In Web Site 101 we introduced several terms to you. We told you that you do not necessarily need a complicated web site in order to have an internet presence.

We also advised how a very powerful combination of ads which all lead to a simple one page web site can give you excellent results.

We also explained examined the New Product Introduction case study in which another designers expensive, complex web site was not working well at all. In 48 hours, we created simple web page with excellent links from demographically selected, premiere web sites and pages, and got the new product to market ahead of the competition, with excellent search engine rankings.

By now, you might have a plan. You might consider a one page web site, or perhaps you are ready for the multiple page site.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DESIGNING THE WEB SITE.

• YOU NEED SOME IDEA OF WHAT YOU WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE.
• YOU NEED TO KNOW ANY ACTION YOU WANT ANY ITEM TO DO.

The actual use of software in order to write the web site software is beyond the scope of this writing. However, you should understand the process.

Typically, a web designer will be familiar with one or more software packages that assist the designer to create the web site. Think of software as standards. If it weren’t for standards, a lightbulb would not work in every lamp, in every home. There are different standards that may have their advantages and disadvantages. Languages are standards, because by agreement a horse is a horse. The engineer that programmed my car to say the door is a jar must have failed the chapter on standards in engineering school.

Standards are used so that code written for one machine will work on another. Standards assist in telecommunicating the raw data through the cables and onto your screen.

That is pretty much all there is to know, in order to understand more than many people do! html, xml, java, php: Don’t let it scare you. They are all just names for standards that need to be followed in order to ensure consistency so that things will work together as designed.

If the web designer asks you if you want SSL Certificates, and you ask him, What is SSL? 9 out of 10 will answer secure socket layer. When speaking web designer speak, press to ask questions like why would I want SSL certificates? What if I don’t use them? When would I use them? Should I use them? What are my choices, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each choice?

If the web designer recommends a 20 page web site with 4 pictures on each page, you should understand what he or she is talking about. They’re talking about big bucks!

If the web designer says all you need is a 1 or 2 page web site, but your objective is to create a front end gui interface to your manufacturing system, complete with master production schedule, bill of materials, mrp, and automated purchase orders, you really should be speaking with an experienced systems consultant/analyst.

The kinds of planning and communications that will work well for web design projects all should have simple questions and simple answers. How many photos? Do you have a company logo? How will you want email to work - use a form, post your email address, use a webmail interface? Will you need some portions of the site to be available only by logging in? Are you incorporating the site in with any systems or databases? What is your policy about creating links to outside web sites? Would you like to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of external links? A good web designer knows more than what it does. A good designer knows there is a reaction to every action. There are advantages and disadvantages that you might not be aware of. Are there any other sites you already own? Have you considered your target audience?

The more you say “I don’t think I’ll need it”, the less expensive the site will be to build, modify, and maintain.

By the end of your conversation, the web designer should be able to give you a fairly accurate idea of how many pages, what links you will need, and how many targeting ads will be needed in order to be effective, and how to use resources of the web designer for your benefit.

CAN THE WEB DESIGNER SET YOU UP WITH COST EFFECTIVE PROMOTION BY USING EXISTING RENEWABLE RESOURCES?