Custom Web Design and Online Promotion Go Hand-in-Hand

Many new online business owners have misconceptions about custom web design. It's not only about getting your website up and running. It's about designing every aspect of your website - every "nook and cranny" - to lead your visitors to the ultimate end, a sale. Whether you plan to build a service-oriented website or offer many products, your site's design must have all the ingredients for success from the very start. Be sure the web designer you choose has an understanding of promotion as well as custom web design. Here are some features your site must have to survive among the Internet masses.
An Easily Recognized USP (Unique Selling Proposition)
When a visitor arrives at any of your web pages (not only the homepage), he/she should understand what your site is all about immediately. You only have a split second to grab their attention. Make sure each web page has a powerful keyword-rich headline that will keep the visitor reading.
Graphics that Complement without Dominating the Web Pages
Every website needs a few graphics here and there to make the web design pleasing to the eye, but be sure your graphic design and logo design do not dominate your pages. You want visitors to read your page, not look at your graphics. So, keep graphics to a minimum, and use them only when they help to create an even reading flow on the page. Many sites use a pleasant "newsletter" style when there is much to read on a page, sprinkling graphics or photos throughout the text in a wrap-around sense. For logo design, keep it small and simple. There's nothing more annoying than waiting on a page to load because its logo is too big!
Keyword Rich Content for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Be sure your designer understands about SEO and keywords. Every page of your site should be designed with search engine promotion in mind. This means gearing your meta tags, link text for pages or in menus, headlines, image "alt text" contents, etc. to attract search engine traffic for the long haul.
Easy-to-Use Navigation
Be sure the navigation on your web pages is easy to use. Many visitors will not take the time to "search" for hidden links or to browse through a confusing menu. If ordering custom web design from a professional, write out on paper how you would like your link system to flow from page to page. If you have content, place visible, colored links within the text to give visitors a chance to click while reading. Have menu bars or links in the usual places - sidebars and top/bottom of the web page.
Promote your Website
Some design firms will offer promotion bonuses with a custom web design package. This benefits you because it helps you to get a head start on building traffic. You can take advantage of the design firm's skills and knowledge about Web promotion and search engine optimization. Don't forget to promote your website in every way possible. Print your site address on business cards, newspaper ads, letterhead, etc. Also, promote your site online using only targeted advertising.
Custom web design techniques and promotion are so tightly knit together that it's impossible to separate the two. Be sure to include both in your custom web design plans so you can see positive results from the start!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Custom Web Design & Promotion or Majon's Business and Entrepreneurs directory.

Core Competencies of Web Design Companies in Web 2.0 World

Web design companies have new responsibilities in the Web 2.0 world and some of those core competencies include database management as well as others. The important thing to know about Web 2.0 is that it is the second generation of the web. It became known as Web 2.0 after the dot com crash in the early 2000s and the Internet rebounded and continued growing like nobody had imagined. Now, in the second generation of the Internet there are some core responsibilities that web development companies should be competent in. Database management, web design, website marketing, and the like are just a few of them. The Internet has grown and changed in many ways since the first generation so you want to make sure the Utah web design company you go with is competent in all areas of the new web.
Most Utah web development companies will be well aware what needs to be done and how to do it, but some of them may still be working with pre- Web 2.0 designs and features that you aren't interested in. So, it is important to discuss how your website will be designed, formatted, marketed, and more before you sign up with a particular Utah web design company.
A great way to see if the web design firm you are considering is up to date on the Web 2.0 world is to check out some of their other designs. This is a great way to see what they company is capable of, what they have done, and how it works in the second generation of the web. If you aren't sure what you should be looking for then it is important to do a little research on exactly what Web 2.0 really is and how web design has changed as a result. When you know what to expect you will have a much better chance of getting what you are looking for. Remember this, however, and that is as far as core competencies are concerned web design, database management, interfaces, and even marketing are areas where your web design company should be very competent in the new generation of the Internet.

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer. The Internet has grown and changed in many ways since the first generation so you want to make sure the Utah web design company you go with is competent in all areas of the new web. Most Utah web development companies will be well aware what needs to be done and how to do it, but some of them may still be working with pre- Web 2.0 designs and features that you aren’t interested in.