If you are thinking of revamping your existing website or you are embarking on developing a brand new website, this article will provide you with some useful advice and information on some potential pitfalls to avoid.
In my opinion these are the three most important things to consider when developing a website:
- Compatibility
- Company
- Content
1. Compatibility – Will your website work on all devices?
Make sure your new website is compatible with all devices; smartphone, tablet and desktop. Do not waste your money investing in a website that does not deliver the same customer experience on mobile as it does on tablet or desktop. If you think about it, how many people do you know that do not have a smartphone? Very few I bet! More and more customers are using phones to search for products and services and according to Search Engine Land, 9 out of 10 mobile searches lead to action with more than 50 percent leading to sales. Therefore, it would be a mistake not to invest in a mobile friendly website.
2. Company – Choosing the right website development company
I have been self-employed for the past 11 years and over that time I have worked with a number of different web development companies to develop various websites and I have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly!
In selecting a company to complete the work, it is useful to create a detailed website specification i.e a list of features you would like on your website and be clear about your objectives in order to obtain comparable quotations from various companies.
Before making the decision to go with a company, ask them for previous examples of work with references and ask how will they help you achieve your business objectives?
Trust your instincts! If the company is difficult to contact or slow to respond to your queries and you have not even signed a contract, imagine how difficult they will be to deal with in the depths of developing your website. Choose a developer or company that you feel comfortable with and you can express your concerns without feeling that you are “annoying them”.
Before commencing with a company, always agree a price for the specified work and always agree a timeline for completion.
3. Content – How will you update the website?
Choosing the right company to develop your website is hugely important but picking the right platform is even more important. Most people want a website on which the content can be easily updated without the need for any great technical knowledge. A huge number of people are so focused on getting the website developed that they never think about how the website will be maintained in the future.
Always ask for a trial of the back end of the website, this is called a “Content Management System (CMS)”. At Enable Marketing we develop websites for small and medium enterprises and the CMS we usually recommend is WordPress. We offer training with our website packages and there are countless WordPress tutorials online for anyone seeking assistance.
I hold an MSc in Digital Marketing from Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, UCD and I am Google Adwords Certified.
If you would like to discuss what we can do for your business you can contact me on (083) 1026964 or email: cathal@www.www.enablemarketing.ie
- Minister Michael Ring Launches P. O’Connor & Son Website - April 19, 2018
- What Style Of Leader Are You? - October 26, 2016
- Mobile Friendly Websites Have Become Way More Important - October 17, 2016
Join Our FREE Newsletter
Each week we will give you free tips & marketing advice for your business!