About Web Design:

Confessions of a Web Designer (or Fighting Misconceptions)

The process of designing a Web site is a perfect mixture of art, technology and marketing. Every Web designer is different and possesses a distinct skill set and style. There are many reasons why you should consider a professional, rather than your neighbour's son, when it comes to designing your Web site.

This is a very common situation - a business owner doesn't want to spend hard-earned cash on something he can accomplish with the assistance of a relative or a friend for peanuts. This is sad, mainly because the Web is the primary motivator of purchases nowadays; how you are viewed by visitors to your Web site will directly impact your sales.

Would you really put your reputation at stake and let an inexperienced teenager run your business for a while? Just to see how it goes?

Practice, practice, practice...

I am sure your relative or friend knows how to design Web sites. Maybe he even designed one or two in his spare time. Unfortunately, ambition and skills are not what makes a good Web designer (or developer). Your friend did not make the mistakes I made... yet.

Don't get me wrong - everybody has to start somehow, but can you really afford to risk it with your own business? I have made my share of mistakes in the past; some of them, I could fix, but some of them impacted my reputation. Nonetheless, this is how I became a better Web designer, and I know I will never repeat the same mistakes again. (This is why one of Aeronstudio's standard features is a daily back-up across all packages - I know how data loss can negatively affect the business.)

All the Time in the World

The other thing your relative or friend doesn't have is time. You may think designing a Web site is not a time-consuming process, but from my experience, business people are very creative and demanding (which is good). Thus, I am constantly asked to make changes to Web sites I have developed.

Sometimes, a content management system is simply not enough. I wouldn't be able to help my customers if I had a 9 to 5 job. Flexibility is also important - new product announcements, marketing campaigns, TV appearances - I must be accessible and ready to assist clients quickly. These events are very important to my customers (primarily business owners), and they know they can count on me day or night, although at a price, of course.

It also takes a lot of time to keep abreast of all trends and new technologies. This involves so much more than reading blogs on a daily basis. To be honest, I spend two hours every day reading books about Web design, programming languages, business management, sales, marketing, advertising and communication skills. I spend another hour of my time reading blogs and two hours experimenting with information I have just discovered.

That is five hours a day spent on my professional development. I spend that much time to help you sell your products and services online. Can you say the same about your friend or relative? This is the difference in price and commitment. I treat your business seriously and expect the same from you.

What is a Web designer's role?

When you decide to develop a Web site for your business, your main goal is to boost your sales and brand recognition. You do this by improving your relationship with your existing customers, engaging the community in discussion and improving the quality of your service. My goal as a Web designer is to help you to achieve these goals.

After designing countless Web sites and analysing hundreds of additional Web sites by other designers, I can tell what colours will work for your particular business, and what should be the layout of your page. I can advise you on the amount of content you should include in each section of your Web site. Remember: our tastes are not important here. Instead, we must do what works optimally for your target demographic. If you do not have the budget to perform tests in this area, we have to go with what has already worked for the most successful businesses in your industry.

It's not about being a copycat; it's about being smart. Your Web site can be very original and effective, but its main purpose is to convey a clear message and to present content in the most intuitive manner possible. This is the only way to convert a visitor into a customer. The only taste that matters is the taste of your customer. Take this opportunity to fully discover who the main consumer of your goods and services is. It can only improve your business.

You know your business and products very well - you know their strengths, as well as areas for future improvement. I know how to construct effective Web sites, and I am pretty successful in my trade. Let's not step on each other's toes. I am not going to tell you how to run your business, and I hope you come to me for my expertise. Asking questions is the best way to brainstorm and to find the perfect solution. My aim is to make your business successful online.

Are you a Web designer? A business owner? Share your experience in Web site development below.