This blog is meant to help you better understand the thought processes that we as designers take into concideration when working on a design solution.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Website Content: Part II: Content Presentation on the Web

Your web designer has stressed once again the importance of content for your new webpage. So, back at the office, you copy & paste snippets, from as many accumulated documents that you can find, that describe your business, outline your services, and make note of your references. Not everything already existed so you fill in the blanks by rolling up your sleeves and typing out the rest.

Now, what can you expect from your designer in return?

Your designer has already researched your business’s field and with that research and conversions with you, has come to understand the client-base you are aiming to reach. With that understanding in mind, the design and copy-edit team will review your content and recompose the various snippets of your information with a distinct and constant style or voice that will resonate with your target audience to invite them to read. The words on your website will speak to the individual visiting your page as if you were talking to them.

Something to keep in mind as you wait to see the final use of your content within your site is that your designer is going to dissect the content you have provided to turn your paragraphs of information into a web-friendly presentation. The designer will pull out information to create headlines that will attract attention to a visitor and entice them to read the main text. The text is also going to be broken up into different sections both within the page and throughout the site. The reason for this is that on the web it is important to place the most important information at the top of every page and to present a clean and logical sequence the visitor can follow with ease.

For more design tips and ideas contact our team at CustomerCare@webgio.com

Monday, February 23, 2009

Website Content: Part I: Content then Design

Content is an essential element in your web presence. You want people to visit your site, and when they come, they are coming for a reason. If all that is there is a fancy graphical design, they will leave as fast as they came. In addition, they will likely not be back.

We think the reasons for needing content within your site is easy to grasp, so let us look at content from the design level.

Delivery of content to your designer should ideally occur before they even begin working on the layout of your page. At this point in the project, don't worry about providing totally proofed or even absolutely organized information, the text and photos you provide can and likely will be altered during the design process (Website Content: Part 2 will cover this). The reason your content is required up-front is that your designer should be building your site to wrap around your content. Your content should not be forced to fit into an arbitrary design, which is the case if the site is completely framed out prior to content delivery (or a downloaded template web design is used).

If you are paying for a custom designed website, be sure to take full advantage of your designer’s services. At Webgio, we discuss the scope of the project with you and give you suggestions as to the type of content your site should display. We research your business and offer suggestions that will put you ahead of the competition while drawing in new visitors and keeping them on your site.

For more design tips and ideas contact our team at CustomerCare@webgio.com

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Logos: Part III: Things to consider…

You are now convinced you need a logo, and you have turned to a professional designer to create one for you. There are elements you and your designer should consider when choosing a design. We talked about having the logo match the scope of your business though color and typography in the last post, but that is not the whole picture.

Remember to consider all the places you plan to use your logo. As discussed in part 1, your logo is the first step in creating your unique brand, but a logo alone isn’t going to give you the complete package. The incorporation of your logo throughout your business plan is how your brand is established.

When reviewing logo options provided by your designer, be sure to consider how this logo will look on all mediums. Your website will prominently display your logo, so will your business cards, letterhead, envelopes, store-front signage, glass doors, advertisements (both black and white and full color), baseball hats, polo shirts... the list goes on.

You, as the business owner, know the basic usage you hope to gain from having a custom logo. Be sure to share these visions with your designer up front and make sure you try to envision the drafted logos on these mediums as you make your final choice.

For more design tips and ideas contact our team at CustomerCare@webgio.com