| Five Questions Web Designers Don't Want You to | | | | are smaller. |
| Askby Kristi Stangeland (c) 2005 | | | | 2. Lower maintenance fees. Your designer can |
| It's obvious. Every time you search the Internet | | | | update the look ofyour entire site with one single |
| you see it foryourself: the huge difference in the | | | | change to the style sheet. |
| designs of the sites youvisit. Some look like they | | | | 3. It's the wave of the future. Embedded styles |
| were created by million-dollar | | | | on your sitecould soon be obsolete. |
| Madison Avenue agencies while others look like | | | | Most Wanted Response: Yes! |
| your 12-year-oldnephew did it for his school | | | | Bottom Line: You work hard for your money. |
| project. And those are the visibleelements. Look | | | | Don't waste it onunnecessary maintenance fees |
| deeper, and you'll find other aspects of webdesign | | | | or risk having to recreate your sitein the next |
| that affect everything from search engine | | | | year or two. |
| optimization tovisitor experience. | | | | 4. Will my site be viewable by all users on all |
| When it comes to *your* site, take the time to | | | | browsers? |
| ensure yourbusiness will be well represented on | | | | Why You Care: Unfortunately, you cannot control |
| the web. Sure, referralsfrom friends are great, | | | | what browser |
| and you should definitely get severalreferrals | | | | (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, Mozilla, |
| when you start your search. But you should also | | | | Opera, Web TV,etc) a visitor to your site will use. |
| bearmed with some carefully thought out | | | | Some sites look great inone browser and horrible |
| questions to ask as well. | | | | in another. A good web designer,however, can |
| When interviewing web designers, ask the | | | | make sure your site looks the way it should |
| following: | | | | whenviewed in a variety of browsers. |
| 1. How do you incorporate search engine | | | | Most Wanted Response: Your designer should use |
| techniques when creatingweb sites? | | | | necessarytechniques to ensure your site will |
| Why You Care: It has recently been reported | | | | appear, as it should, inseveral different browsers. |
| that only 30% of websites are listed in the search | | | | This means your site should actuallybe viewed in |
| engines. All web designers statethat they care | | | | several different browsers as well as |
| about search engine optimization when | | | | severaldifferent versions of these browsers. In |
| creatingsites, but few really incorporate the | | | | addition, the siteshould be checked to ensure that |
| techniques when your siteis actually built. | | | | the code is correct. (Dr. HTMLand W3C Validator |
| Most Wanted Response: You want your web | | | | are popular services.) |
| design firm to tell youthey plan to determine | | | | Bottom Line: Don't push visitors away with a web |
| keyphrases for your site at the beginningof the | | | | site that onlylooks good in one version of Internet |
| project and incorporate them into the title, | | | | Explorer! |
| content and | | | | 5. How will my business/organization benefit from |
| META tags of your site. You also want them to | | | | a web site? |
| create your sitewithout the use of frames or | | | | Why You Care: If you're reading this article, you |
| 100% flash pages. | | | | probablyalready know many of the benefits of |
| Bottom Line: There are other factors (besides | | | | having a site. In case youdon't, I'll tell you that |
| web design) thatimpact search engine optimization, | | | | web sites can fulfill many differentneeds for a |
| but these design elements willgive you a giant | | | | business or organization. For example, |
| boost up with your rankings. Oftentimes, | | | | serviceprofessionals may want a site to generate |
| highrankings are as much about what you don't | | | | qualified leads. Retailcompanies might want an |
| include as what you doinclude. | | | | online sales outlet to further increaserevenues. |
| 2. What is your turnaround time? | | | | Other businesses may not care about Internet |
| Why You Care: You'll want your site finished in a | | | | trafficat all and just want a site for their existing |
| reasonableamount of time. Unfortunately, I've | | | | customers. |
| come across many businessesthat have waited | | | | Most Wanted Response: Your designer should |
| over a year for their site to be completed. | | | | explain her/hisprocess to learn about your |
| Most Wanted Response: You'll want to hear your | | | | business and business model so s/hecan create a |
| web designeroffer a specific timeframe for site | | | | site specifically to meet the needs of |
| completion. While the website designer will be | | | | yourorganization. |
| dependent upon you for delivery of graphicsand | | | | Bottom Line: Your designer has to fully |
| content, the designer should be able to discuss a | | | | understand your business,or your site won't |
| typicalschedule and the turnaround time, once you | | | | function in the capacity you intend for it |
| have provided theappropriate materials. | | | | tofunction. |
| Bottom Line: Don't get stuck for months without | | | | In addition to asking these questions, get |
| a site while youwait for your designer. Make sure | | | | references andactually follow up with them. |
| you feel comfortable with thedesigner's response. | | | | Creating a web site is a majorinvestment, and |
| 3. Do you use Cascading Style Sheets? | | | | you'll want to be sure you're working |
| Why You Care: A cascading style sheet works | | | | withsomeone who is as devoted to the success |
| behind the scenes tocreate the look of your | | | | of your site as you are. |
| entire site. This is preferred to regular | | | | Finding a good, competent web designer takes |
| HTML formatting for three reasons: | | | | effort on your part,but will be well worth the time |
| 1. Your site loads much faster because file sizes | | | | you spend. |