Questions and Answers

Q. What are key considerations in designing and managing a web site?

A.

• Think like your target audience.
  Make sure you design with your target audience in mind. Your target audience could be current customers, potential customers, employees, investors, etc. Knowing your target audience is the first step in ensuring you build a site that will appeal to them and keep them coming back.
• Remember NAPA.
  NAPA is not the wine region, but rather a simple acronym for Navigation, Appearance, Presentation and Accessibility. Consider what the purpose of your site it and build these features to meet your purpose. For example, an e-commerce site would require different navigation than an information site. Build your site with these features in mind and your customers will thank you!
• Know your competition.
  Perform searches and see where your competitors' sites rank in search engine rankings. Assess your competitors' sites including their design, content, ease of navigation and discuss these attributes with your web designer to see if these things are possible for your site. Your web site might be your only chance to attract someone to your business. Making sure your site is as good as or better than your competitor's site and that it is ranking higher in search engine rankings is crucial.
• Keep your content and technology current.
  A stale, dated web site is a poor reflection on your company. In order to keep customers coming back to your site, it's important to provide them with new information. As your company grows and changes, your website content should also change. Re-evaluate your website content at least twice a year to ensure that you're providing your customers with the information they need.