Website Design is typically only associated with a site's style and layout. That is as in: "How pretty the site is" or the site's "wow" effect. Website Design is best described as a process of defining, planning, and implementing goals. There are several diverse elements which should be considered in planning a website. The priority (or lack thereof) each element is assigned has an effect on the performance of the other elements as they join together to form a website. The primary goal definitions and planning elements are:

• Purpose: The reasons for being online,
• Intended audience and unwelcome guests: who are your buyers and those "bad bots",

• Style and layout: the oohs and ahhs (This is the "visual appeal" element of website planning. This "visual appeal" element has a positive effect on your viewers only to the point it affects usability. Negative things like long page load times, problems navigating the site, difficulty finding specific items, or having unfulfilled expectations are some of the things which can overrule a site's positive "visual appeal" very quickly),
• W3C compliance and website accessibility: (In contrast to Visual Appeal, say if one builds a website which adheres to the absolute strictest interpretation of the W3C accessibility standards then you end up with a black and white text-only series of pages),
• Features: The Nuts and Bolts or Bells and Whistlers (e-commerce, newsletters, request forms, calendars, et al),
• Search Engine aspects (don't make it hard for them),
• Security and legal considerations (make it safe and cover your bases),
• Usability: How all of the above govern the user's experience,
• Future: You got it, how are you going to keep it.

The depth of planning needed in each element is guided mainly by the website purpose, the audience goal, and your budget. We don't want to paint the picture that a report has to be written on each subject. Far be it from that. We just want to emphasize the need to consider all the elements in planning a website.

We would be happy to discuss creating a new website with you. Tell us your, needs, desires, and expectations and we will work with you to tailor our services to make you happy. Call at 1-612-747-3702 or use our convienent request form