$ 1.99 - For all new & current customers w/any new, non-domain purchase! No quanitity limit! Click here!
Powered by MaxBlogPress  

  
«
»

Custom Web Design, Pros and Cons

Getting a custom web site design is the ideal web development scenario you can get, right? Well, a fully custom Web design may not always be the best solution for your Calgary company’s web site . Some important factors to consider are development timeline, budget and versatility and ease of upgrading . While having a custom Web look is the best scenario for your Calgary company, you probably don’t need a 100% custom solution that is built from scratch just for you.

No, the reality is you can get a custom-built website that offers the best of both worlds: A custom design and layout , plus ability to add and manage unique content to the website , while also leveraging the benefits of a universal Web software platform , like proprietory CMS software or even an open source CMS like Joomla! or Drupal. In truth, even fully custom-coded websites rely heavily on code chunks and structures that have been created and revised by other programmers over the years . Consider the Lightbox effect as a great example of a re-useable idea and code chunk that is easily adapted to nearly any website . This is possibly the greatest power of the Internet, the ability for people, and companies, to build off of each other’s success in developing systems that work ; and those areas that don’t work so well can be re-worked until they succeed .

So, if you are looking for a custom web site , here are some tips to help you get the best solution for your budget :

  1. Get the Web site design developed by a professional web designer who understands key Web and GUI usability issues, design standards and SEM  .The easiest way to do this is to find a Web development team with a portfolio of previous web design examples that are similar to the site design you’d like .
  2. If possible, choose custom, professional photography over stock photography. While you may believe this to be a dearer option versus the economic prices of royalty-free images, nothing can compare to the unique feel and authenticity of locally produced photography. For example, if you are a Calgary company who has a Calgary Website , your local targeted traffic will feel more affinity  with a site bearing familiar, Calgary-based photography. There are many photographers with digital cameras around these days, so make use of local talent and find a Calgary photographer whose portfolio matches your intended style and price . Of course, stock photos are a great asset if you need a fast, cheap solution ; you can always choose to invest in custom photos once your website is online.
  3. Decide early on what you want the site to do when it goes live , but also determine its future functionality . Discuss all ideas with your Web developer , because even if you don’t build these functions straight away , the designer can make concessions within the website design for future growth .
  4. Find a development platform that can do ALL that you need for your site , from the first start-up phase to the full fledged e-commerce money maker you envision to be managing once the site is up and running. If you know that the platform, for example, an e-commerce shopping cart site or a more universally-designed CMS (Content Management System), you will be secure in knowing you can efficiently expand the website from the structure with which you have originally built the site , rather than having to build a whole new site to allow for the new features.
  5. If possible , find a Web designer who provides services beyond the design of the site. While it is great to find a specialist in any field, it is also more streamlined to find a web team who can provide all concerns of Web development and web marketing for your company for the length of your foreseeable future  .
  6. Consider building your site in two or three phases to help ease start-up costs and to get your website live as fast as possible . If you are just starting a business , or have a business running and are just starting to venture into your Web presence, diving into a complex e-commerce solution with blogs, galleries and Facebook tie-ins really won’t help if you’re unable to manage them all . Learn the basics of site management first, your Web development partner is usually the best resource for training since they know the site functionality and structure best , then build onto the Website and your skill set one stage at a time.
  7. Aim for longevity – some Web designers pride themselves on “contemporary” design themes that will become passe in a matter of months. The Web design elements will appear dated more quickly than clothing fashions. Consider the difference between style and trends – style is timeless while fashion trends come and go. Find a Web designer who knows how to present a professional layout and design that will stand the test of current and future Web design fashion trends by adhering to clean, professional, intuitive web design.
  8. Skip investing in Flash animation unless it helps to your bottom line. The days of flash introductions have largely passed, so you really don’t need flash to create a great first impression. But Flash animation can provide a superior interface and information flow if used properly. Flash is also a great way to integrate FLV or Flash-based videos into your website. These days you can easily find similar effects to Flash by using JQuery and DHTML effects.

The best approach is to find a Web designer with whom you can comfortably connect, who can produce your site to match your initial vision and who can partner with you in developing the web presence through ongoing expansion and revitalization. A professionally built Web site can readily be an investment that should hold its own for up to half a decade , if it is built properly from the start , it will be built properly for the future .

If you require a professional Calgary Web Design team , please visit www.blinddrop.com for complete Web development and Graphic design services.

 

 


Related Blogs

Tags: , ,

This entry was posted on Friday, April 9th, 2010 at 12:33 am and is filed under Host, Web hosting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “ Custom Web Design, Pros and Cons ”

  1. Kristopher Kettle on April 16th, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    Hey.I am really interested in topic.Where can I discover additional blogs about the subject? Some recommendations?

  2. Thanks for good information that comes out to read.

  3. Any tips for myself as I’m thinking about following through on a weblog such as this?

  4. hi,really great socks,do you know where i can find that.thanks,bill

Leave a Reply

CAPTCHA Image
*


  
Close

Thank You For Visiting Us!

Hope you liked our blog! Don't forget to say thank you by clicking +1 button ;)

Closing in 10 seconds