Why You Need Professional Web Design

1.Your younger cousin's free design isn't a big help.

Let's face it- we don't want to spend a wad of cash on website design. Getting a cousin, brother, relative, or friend to design a website is a great way to save cash. But the downfall is having a website that (unless they are a professional) has errors, looks unprofessional, and drives away clients and potential buyers. In the end, you aren't capitalizing on viewers, and your potential for increasing business online is lost.

2. The 90's are out. So is that website

We've all seen websites that are remnants of the past. Single columns, a billion words per page, animated icons, poor colors, and a host of other repelling features. What was once cutting-edge, is now stone-age. It used to be the norm for people to learn how to make their own website and put it up. But now that we've settled in, these "old school" sites are avoided like the plague.

3. If you don't have a website, you might as well not have a phone.

This sounds harsh, but the fact of the matter is this- the younger generations search the internet for business and services, not the phone-book. If you don't have a website, then I can guarantee that your business is missing out on a lot of exposure. Even if you simply list a phone number, directions, and some basic company information, this greatly aids customers in finding you. Google is quicker and easier than flipping through classifieds, YellowPages (which are online now), or any older media. With iPhones and wireless internet devices, people are now Googling while in-transit. Looking for restaurants? Looking for a specific store? If you're not online, you won't get found.

4. Your website is the face of your business

Think about websites that are really outdated. Do you trust them? Do you think they are professionally run? Is the information accurate? Businesses put a lot of time and effort into generating a professional image for their clients. Literature should be typo-free, staff should be friendly, and the business should be well organized. If a customer visits a website and it looks poorly made, rarely updated, and generally bad- this reflects poorly on the owners. It's also likely that they'll search Google for a similar company with a better website.

5. Professional sites make money.

You need a website that has these three characteristics:

• Visually appealing
• Easy to navigate
• Search engine optimized

Why? The average time someone spends on a website is 15 seconds. If the site looks bad, people will leave. If something is hard to find, they'll leave. If your site isn't search engine optimized, they won't find it in the first place. Homemade or outdated sites often have no search engine optimization, show up incorrectly, and are difficult to navigate. Sites like this are a disaster for companies. It makes the business look bad, and it discourages viewers from buying your products.

Getting a professional website designer eliminates these problems and increases the chances of making sales to your online viewers. It inspires buyer confidence. As stated earlier, your website is the face of your business. A great looking site with quality material makes the customer feel secure, and that they are dealing with the best in the business. This is extremely important when it comes to online sales. People are still very cautious to give out their credit-cards online, and rightly so. If your site is old or doesn't look modern enough, you simply won't be selling products online. Customers must believe that your site is legitimate, that they will receive their product, and that their information is secure.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. Have a wonderful day.

-Matt Powers