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How a Bad Web Design Undermines Your Business – And Costs You Big Money
By David West | February 21, 2010
It’s probably only natural, in today’s tough economy, that so many business owners would consider rock-bottom web design bids. After all, there’s never been a greater need for effective online marketing – or a way to cut expenses out of the bottom line.
In the end, though, many are finding out what we all learned as children: that if something looks too good to be true, there’s probably a good reason. Quality web design takes time and money. There are certainly things you can do to cut down on both (and we’re more than happy to talk to you about them), but looking for an “unbelievable deal” is likely to leave you with more headaches than profits.
Here are just a few of the ways that a poorly-designed website can end up costing your business in a big way:
Through poor first impressions. When a customer, or prospective customer, visits your website, what kind of impression are they going to come away with? Will they think your company is one they should do business with, or be left with the feeling that they might want to check around elsewhere?
This might seem like a small issue, but I would estimate that it’s the number one problem with most web designs. If you don’t come across professionally online, then the odds are very good that you won’t get another chance offline. For many clients and customers, your homepage is the first stop when it comes to checking out your business – make sure it’s not their last.
In missing revenue. I see a lot of sites that look great, but don’t work the way they should. This can be an enormous problem if you generate leads and sales online. If a visitor clicks to place an order, or enters their contact information to find out more about your company’s products, then things had better go smoothly. If they don’t, that customer’s trust is probably gone for good, along with their money.
And just as a side note: pay attention to how your site works on different browsers and systems. In order to make you money, it needs to work for everyone, not just the handful of people that use the exact same platforms as you and your design team.
In customer service time. One of the most underrated features of a quality website is that it can handle routine customer issues and field frequently asked questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In order to take advantage, though – and save you and your staff dozens of hours every month in the process – your site has to work correctly, be easy to navigate, and have the ability to be updated frequently. These are all things you’d expect from a quality design team, but might not get from a bargain-basement vendor.
It’s normal for business owners to search for ways to save money when times are tough. As you look at bids for your next website, though, remember that it isn’t just another expense – it’s one of your company’s most important tools. With that in mind, find ways to reduce costs with an experienced Internet Consultant, rather than placing a risky bet directly with a web design company you may not completely trust.
It might cost a little more to have a professional Internet advisor on your team, but you can bet you’ll be glad in the long run.
Topics: Website Design, internet consulting | No Comments »