What are the most common web design mistakes made by small businesses?

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Too Much Going On

It is important for businesses to portray relevant information on their site. Otherwise, when visitors cannot decipher what a website is all about, they will leave immediately after landing on the site. However, this causes small businesses to cram a lot above the fold. The fold is just a myth and it is not a good idea to have a crowded website. When a website has lots of text, images and so much going on, it will take time to load plus it will let visitors be confused. So, small businesses should inform their Columbus website designers that they do no want busy designs.

Too Little Going On

On the other hand, websites that have almost nothing on them are the exact opposite. Minimalism is trending now and can be effective when properly done. There are a number of small businesses, though, that are too cryptic, leaving a lot to the imagination, which is a big mistake. Visitors like to know more about a business and what it can offer to them. Websites with very simple imagery and no clear direction will keep visitors wondering, which is not good at all.

Very Confusing

In between the so much and so little spectrum is the website of the confused brand. This is the site that has a wide range of images, themes, typefaces and color schemes that are not related to each other. This is due to a number of reasons. Business owners do not have a clear idea of their brand image. They like too many design templates and make the mistake of using all of them. This can also be caused by communicating numerous ideas right away, viewing their site as individual components instead of as a whole. In designing a website, there should only be one logo, one theme and one typeface used throughout other aspects of their site.

No CTA

A call to action or CTA is the gateway to businesses. It encourages visitors to perform some actions like: Click on the link. Get a coupon. Know more about the product. It is crucial that the CTA is clear in what they like visitors to do. The sites should have sufficient information regarding what visitors would get from taking action and the information they need to give. However, while some CTAs are helpful others can be annoying as well. Therefore, businesses should see to it that their CTA is concise and lets customers know what they exactly should do. Form-filling should be minimized and allow them to spend some more time on their page before the CTA appears, just like most Columbus SEO companies recommend.

Improper Use of Whitespace and Content

Content is critical to a website and marketing campaign. It lets visitors know more about businesses as well as the products/services they offer. Business owners should be careful with their choice of fonts and the way content is presented on their page.

Aside from the written content of the site, typeface shows their brand image. Therefore, it is crucial to pick a clear and attractive font. They should maximize the use of white space to let the eyes move around their site and let huge blocks of text less look intimidating. Including a lot of text in their websites is a mistake made by most people. They should break up text whenever possible and make use of visual elements to represent concepts. However, content should be constantly updated or else, consumers may think that the business no longer exists.

4 Aspects That Can Tell If This Is the Right Web Design Company for Your Needs

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They Take a Client’s Ideas into Consideration.

When business owners are experts in their industry, they are knowledgeable with their products so they have many ideas they would like to share with a web designer. No one knows their own business more than they do.

A web design company that is not open to hear what they have to say or listen to their suggestions may not be the right choice of company. Their designer should be capable of enhancing a business owner’s ideas and even perfect them before putting them into action.

They Share Their Own Ideas.

Website designers should listen to the ideas of their clients but they also need a designer who can give their own point of view to their ideas, strategies and concepts. While they know their own business, when it comes to designing their website, this needs to be created by a professional designer.

As a matter of fact, as a suggestion, they need to search for someone who is an expert in conversion-focused web design. When a company agrees with everything their clients says and does not contribute any ideas of their own, then this company is not worth the investment. They client should choose a web designer that is knowledgeable in their area of expertise to match their clients’ know-how.

Their Marketing Team has Enough Experience.

There are businesses who are contented with an ordinary website and do not plan to upgrade to make them grow. They just want their site to exist. Those who belong to this few businesses, then they will not be interesting in looking for a web design company.

For others who want their business to grow with the help of their website, it is crucial to decide on a website design company with sufficient marketing experience.

A web design company with no experienced marketing team can be likened to a Ferrari that has no engine. Though it may strike the attention of onlookers, it will not go anywhere. With the internet continuously evolving, a website needs active digital marketing to perform.

A website should not only look attractive but also be functional. Choosing a website design company complete with developers, designers and marketers will assure businesses that their website does not only look good but also gives results.

They Use Responsive Web Design (RWD)

Responsive web design is the best way to design a website nowadays. This is not only a trend but is here to stay. Google says so since it favors sites with RWD.

In some cases, using a separate mobile site may have its advantages but in general, responsive website design is the solution that is preferred by many. Since the use of mobile devices continues to grow, businesses have to make sure that their site is optimized for all types of devices.

When a web design company is not an expert in RWD or says that it is better to have a separate mobile website, then this company is outdated and will not be a good fit for businesses who like their website to help them grow even more. This will only be possible with the right digital marketing company.

 

3 Key Website Differences Between a Desktop and Mobile Device

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There is a big difference between browsing a website using a mobile device and browsing it using a desktop. Both differ in screen orientations and when it comes to mobile browsing, thumbs are used rather than a mouse or trackpad plus some tasks can be challenging or complicated. For this reason, it is crucial to design a website that can answer the needs of mobile users as well. The 3 key website components that should be distinct on mobile against desktop are as follows:

Organization of Content

Content organization is among the most complicated aspects of designing a website for mobile use. What mobile users require might be a lot different from the needs of desktop users. On the other hand, they may have similar needs but different browsing behaviors based on the device being used. In designing a website for mobile use, organizing web content should be prioritized to meet the requirements of mobile users. Content has to be arranged vertically to adjust to the narrow widths of mobile devices. A desktop comes with portrait orientations in order for content to stretch across a screen plus usually, several images or messages can comfortably be displayed in its wide space. Mobile devices are often used in portrait orientation (with their smaller screens, there is limited horizontal space even in landscape mode).

Form Filling

Marketers exert much effort to optimize web forms of companies to make the most of conversion. A web form that is poorly designed will surely kill conversion. The same is true when it comes to mobile devices. Forms have to be designed in such a way that mobile users find it easy to fill out forms. How about vertical alignment? Guess what! It also applies to forms. The same principle is followed. Mobile users find it difficult and tiring to scroll to and fro horizontally to completely fill out a form. To make it easy for mobile users to fill out forms, the web should be designed in such a way that form fields are vertically aligned.

Menu Formatting

Desktops and mobile devices differ widely when it comes to formatting menus. Mega-menus that have several categories and sub-categories are commonly seen on a desktop. Desktop users will be happy with such type of setup since their device has a very large screen , wherein they can read menu text and click with ease on text links. It is a lot different with mobile users since the screens are small and make use of (relatively) large thumbs. These things need to be considered when designing mobile menus. Therefore, these should be single-level menus that have large buttons/text as well as vertical alignment for menus that have several options.

Menus collapse on mobile devices and expand when users zoom in on a category. Though this is not a complete list of mobile website features that should be distinct from its desktop equivalent, these are considered three of the most essential features.

When designing a website it is always important to think about the needs of mobile users and the distinct ways they browse and get information. The above mentioned examples can inspire businesses to improve mobile use on their site.

If you want top results, let us take care of your Columbus website design! Our experience also recommends us for Columbus SEO services, if you need any!

Boost Your Online Business with Help from SEO Companies

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The facilities offered by the Internet are making us increasingly dependent on it. As a result we have countless sites. The Internet is estimated to have over 4.5 billion pages. This has resulted to tough competition among businesses, since everybody would like to have their site to come out on the opening page of the results thrown out by the search engines  – as it helps drawing additional traffic and the resultant sales. As most businesses are occupied with their business activities, they can’t spare time to take care of their SEO requirements. That’s how a room for SEO outsourcing got created.

When you want your website to be visible on the opening page of search engine results, the only feasible option for you is to seek professional help from a dedicated SEO consultant. Professionals providing SEO services are well informed of the strategies and techniques that go to attract visitors to your site. The more the number of people visiting your site, the better are the chances of their becoming your customers, and thus improve your sales.

If you realize that your present website is not capable of attracting sufficient quantity of visitors, you shouldn’t delay hiring services of an SEO specialist. It is important to comprehend that each search engine has in place its own rules and algorithms for ranking a website. SEO specialist know what search engines hunt for before ranking a site, and can therefore help the optimization of  a website in such a manner that search engines flaunt it on the opening page of their  results. Optimizing a website for search engines without being adequately educated on SEO techniques is certainly not everybody’s cup of tea.

SEO professionals create outstanding policies for their customers by carrying an extensive research relating to their products plus services. They not only analyze your website, but also those of your competitors for preparing effective marketing strategies suitable for your product. Before finalizing any SEO professional for your website, you should ensure that they follow white hat guidelines. You may be wondering what’s “White Hat”! In principle, white hat practices imply working in conformity to the regulations and measures defined by search engines for the purpose of Internet Marketing.

You must ask your prospective consultant how long it will take getting the expected results. Do not hesitate to ask any relevant questions that you might have. You should realize that hiring the services of the most appropriate consultant is vital for improving your business.

You could hire the services of competent Columbus SEO companies or consider having a consultant on your payrolls. That is decided by the size of your business and its requirements. Do ensure that the consultant you hire is sensitive to your requirements and can easily be accessed via phone, SMS and emails. Also do make sure that your chosen SEO professional works closely with your Columbus website designers in order to make design and SEO work together, not against each other!

4 Reasons Why Graphic Design is a Good Investment

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By now, majority of organization leaders/managers have realized the potential of a professional graphic design. However, others who are still not aware of this may be missing a lot.

In today’s world of business, wherein budget is an important consideration, some may forego the thought of getting professional help when it comes to graphic design. However, no matter how small the budget for graphic design, it is still worth investing in. This is since a great graphic design can give a business a professional edge that is an indirect contributory factor to the bottom line of a company.

Why is graphic design worth investing in? Perhaps a company likes to market its brand, drive more sales, hire new employees or establish business relations with partners and clients. Whatever it may be, here are 4 reasons to invest in professional graphic design.

Professional graphic design lets a company/organization:

  1. Have clear, concise and efficient communication. A marketing brochure and PowerPoint presentation are more effective in delivering messages than pages filled with text. Images, in addition to content prepared in a format that is easy to read, can help in delivering the desired message.
  2. Catch the attention of stakeholders. To communicate with stakeholders, businesses have to first catch their interest and make them use their limited time. A skilled graphic design company can help them in this regard by using his/her creativity in adding more life to documents and text, which they probably will not be able to do on their own. A visually attractive document has more impact than a clutter of words, which can make stakeholders feel overwhelmed. Colorful images strike their eye without saying anything.
  3. Boost business brand. Graphic design created by a professional can help build brand familiarity and integrity by having a distinct image shown consistently worldwide. Graphic designers see to it that colors, fonts and other elements pertaining to a company’s documents are consistent in boosting the desired image of the brand in the minds of different stakeholders. While brand integrity may be intangible, it is valuable like the way graphic design contributes to a business.
  4. Improve credibility. Polished and professional looking documents are associated with a business that has the same traits. Professional graphic designers can enable all documents, including employee portals and client white papers to look professional and give them some kind of authority, intangibility that is worth investing in.

As another year is fast approaching, this might be the right time to consider the things that professional graphic design could do for a business.

What does a graphic designer do?

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Graphic designers use a combination of art and technology to express ideas by means of images plus the layout of web screens and printed pages. They can utilize different design elements to deliver artistic/decorative results. They build and enhance the overall layout, as well as production design for ads, brochures, company reports and magazines. Graphic designers use text and images in their work. They choose the size, font, color and length of text, headings and headlines. In addition, they decide on how image and text are arranged on a page and the amount of space of each. Whenever they use text in their layouts, they closely work with writers who decide on the words, and if these will be included in lists, tables or combined to form paragraphs. The typical job of a graphic designer includes the following:

  • Meeting with clients/art director to find out the scope of a particular project;
  • Recommending strategies to clients so they can reach their target audience;
  • Determining the message to be conveyed by the design;
  • Creating images that get across a message or identify a brand;
  • Creating graphics plus audio/visual images for websites, logos and product illustrations;
  • Making designs manually or with computer software;
  • Choosing the images, text, colors and layout;
  • Presenting the design to clients/art director;
  • Making changes suggested by clients into the end product;
  • Reviewing designs for any errors before printing/publishing them.

Nowadays, graphic design has become more and more important in marketing and selling products/services. For this reason, graphic designers, also called communication designers, often collaborate with people working in advertising, marketing, promotions and public relations. Usually, designers specialize in a certain category or clients. Some of them, for instance, make credits for motion pictures, whereas others create signage/posters for print media.

People in this profession must always stay up-to-date with the latest design software and computer graphics – either by themselves, or enrolling in formal software training programs. They should have the ability to create designs that are visually interesting to clients. They make a rough draft of design ideas, sketching by hand, or with the use of a computer program.

Graphic designers should have constant communication with clients and other designers to make sure that the designs they make convey the desired message and provide reliable information. Many of them use specialized graphic design software to make their design. They should find new approaches to effectively communicate ideas to consumers. They create distinct designs that are easy to recognize.

When they have projects, graphic designers usually collaborate with other graphic designers, marketers, writers, programmers and business analysts. They have to work together to come up with successful websites and publications, among other products. Those with a graphic design background can teach in colleges, universities and design schools.

Our team at Columbus website design is ready to create a brand new image for you company or products – an image that suggests professionalism and sells! Get in touch today with our Columbus SEO specialists and tell us more about your project!

Benefits of Investing in Professional Logo Design

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A Logo Represents a Company’s Brand

Consider a logo as the face of a business brand. It can be seen in a business card, website and t-shirt, among others. In addition, a logo can be one of the reasons why customers love a brand. When a business logo looks cool, customers think that its products and services are cool as well.

Professional Looking Logos Give your Brand Shape

Customer demographics are always important to business. Therefore, it is crucial to have a logo designed by professional graphic designers. Businesses should always consider their target audience when creating their logo, since customers play a vital part in giving their best shape.

Research Intended for Logo Design

Businesses may have their own ideas when it comes to branding, but based on research, they can get more favorable results by hiring a professional. A logo is not just a graphic. When designing it, there are some components to consider – like their goal, target market, values and competition, among others.

A professional will work with a company to come up with the logo design that best fits it, and helps with basic research plus other steps. Furthermore, since two heads are a lot better than one, it is wise to collaborate.

A Professional Logo Lasts Longer

When a professional designs a logo, his work is based on research, so a business can be sure that the end product will last long. There is no reason to change a logo after a few years because this is quite unimaginable.

At times, rebranding can be an option when a business plans to target a different audience or changes location, and not because the first design was not good enough to meet its pur-pose.

A Professional Logo Design can be Trusted

A professionally designed logo that identifies with a business earns the trust of its customers almost instantly. Think about the brands customers love the most. Anyone can bet that the combination of components is what customers like a lot about them. This makes a business easy to remember.

This, in turn, will let a businesses generate more sales, drive traffic to their website and make solid associations. This is what being a business owner is all about.

Businesses with a Sloppy Logo Tend to Fail

Some of the reasons some businesses fail are due to poor marketing and an unprofessional logo. Businesses have to focus on their goals and keep their dreams alive by having a cool logo, which best fits them and lets them become role models. The logo should convey that users can rely on them and their products/services.

If a business is not happy with its logo, this is an opportunity to hire a professional graphic design company to redesign it. However, if it does not have a logo yet, this is the best time to start looking for a professional. This crucial step can have a huge effect is drawing clients and introducing the business to them. A company should never make the mistake of creating a lousy logo.

 

Web design with the end result in mind

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In essence, typography is synonymous with web design.

Some websites, in particular, are based on images, audio or video. If not, they will consist of lots of text. Even in the first case, such sites might contain a lot of text. Text includes descriptions, discussions and reviews about the content. In general, the Internet comprises of text.

It goes without saying that typography is the most critical aesthetic design discipline that one should master. You become relevant when people read your content. You should understand that, while all design disciplines are essential, you should begin with typography. Text that looks great can take you places.

The Way you browse the Web is Different from Others.

Keep in mind that people browse the Web using different devices in various locations. This needs to be accounted for in a variety of ways.

There are people who search on much smaller screens. Your website needs to look great on different screens, with sizes ranging from 3 to 40 inches wide. Though this is quite difficult, it is worth it. This is because, the more people use your website, the higher the probability that they would buy your products/services.

Some people browse in lighting different from yours or their screens might be dimmer. Or else, they may have poor vision, meaning, your design will require lots of contrast. These subtle, yet remarkable variations in colors and shades will not affect most users.

Others use touch screens. They are probably the same people who use smaller screens. You have to take this into consideration by ensuring that it is easy for the fingers to tap on the links and buttons. When you test your web design using your own mobile gadgets, you may face different usability issues that need to be addressed.

Some users are visually impaired. Others search on different browsers. There are users of text-based browsers. The list may go on, but at the end of the day, always remember that the experiences of users with your site can vary extensively.

You are selling your products/services.

Finally, you should design your website with a sale in mind – since you are selling something. Even if it is a simple blog about your personal experiences, still, you are selling yourself. It is like you are selling the experiences that may be interesting to readers and could be valuable to them. When you have a blog, you just want to make sure that it is quick and easy for people to find the articles they may need or find interesting. If you have a brochure site, this means designing every page to show the best features or qualities of your products/services and make it easy to buy them.

Include this in everything concerning your site like content and actual layout. You have to show people the goods you are selling, and convince them that this is what they want and need. Make it easy for them to take action on buying your stuff. In case you are a blogger, encourage them to subscribe to your blog. If you are a seller, persuade them to buy your products/services and pay right away.

Do you plan on updating your website in order to match the latest requirements for usability and SEO? You should choose a Columbus website design company that also has some strong Columbus SEO experience – so get in touch with us today!

How to recognize a great web developer

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Analytical Mindset

A developer should be skilled in good system-level thinking. No matter what kind of developer you are, you have to be passionate about solving problems as this is a big part of programming. You should be able to balance thoughts on the minute details and big picture alike.

Curiosity and Inquisitiveness

Even if your code works (or does not), a developer like you should not be afraid to know the reason why and continue until you find a solution. Whenever you have a project, be comfortable about asking questions to your clients, peers or superiors to make sure you understand what is required and expected. You should be willing to try new things, whether it is another programming language or a way to approach your project or job. Though there are times when you will succeed and other times you will fail, you will learn from these achievements and challenges as part of being a developer.

Empathy

Always remember that at the end of the day, software is all about people so being able to understand your users is both important and helpful. Also, it is imperative to have the ability to communicate well with your client and team.

Flexibility

Whatever the programming language you specialize in, the truth is, you cannot predict that code. A developer like you should be able to change contexts or the project scope all at once then return to pick up at the part you left off. You should be able to adjust then respond to problems whenever they come up (most often, without warning, which is usually time sensitive). You cannot forecast things that occur in the tech industry so it is imperative to adapt to what your business/product needs whenever they change.

Love to Learn

When it comes to technology, you can always find something new to learn that could catch the interest of most people in the industry. You will always stay informed, thus, developing your knowledge further. Tech is an industry that is very dynamic and fluid. It continues to grow, change and evolve. You need to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies as part of the industry. If ever there is an issue or bug, you have to look into the root of the problem to be able to solve it efficiently.

Pragmatism

As a developer, the problems you might face with a project can be unique. Considering this, it is important to realize that the “correct” and “best” solution can be different. While you can learn from the best programming practices and helpful advices from your peers and industry, you should also give importance to your own job and problem-solving capabilities as a developer to accomplish results more than complying with preset rules and practices.

Team Player

Being a web developer, you will have to work with other developers, engineers and designers as well as other teams in your company. At times, you may work closely with a sales, marketing or support team or directly with clients. Therefore, you have to cooperate and work as a member of a team. No matter if you are working alone or together with your team, the key to success is to communicate and collaborate with your associates and stakeholders.

Are you looking for a team of awesome web developers Columbus ? Do you need someone to handle your website design Columbus ? Get in touch with us today and let us know more about your project!

How to Find a Professional Graphic Designer That Best Suits Your Company

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The time will come when your business will develop past the DIY level. Perhaps now is the moment. This is a great sign. This shows that your business is flourishing and you are too busy for your do-it-yourself design, website updates and bookkeeping. By this time, you are also earning more.

When you were just starting, you did not have enough money, but had the time, therefore you were prompted to do it yourself. Now, though you no longer have the time to do it yourself, you have more money to spend. When your business reaches this stage, it would be more practical to hire a professional graphic designer.

Ways to Know If You Need to Hire a Designer

The most important reason to hire a professional designer is because you are not completely satisfied with your visual brand, but because of the following:

  • You lack the skills to create a polished visual brand at the start, and over the years, you have been using something to serve as “placeholder”. You intend to have it updated, but never get to do it.
  • You have the means to pay for professional services and are ready to delegate your job to a graphic designer who has the skill and time.
  • You never had a visual brand, but now that your business has flourished, you will look more professional and be able to compete in your industry, as well as encourage your staff and sales personnel.
  • Your business has further developed, and your present brand does not represent the products/services you offer. It is about time to get an update, and you want to hire a professional to do it.

No matter what your reason, now that you are prepared to move up to the pro level with regard to your visual brand, you can ask help from an experienced graphic designer.

Tips to Consider Before Looking for a Designer

First, you need to understand your ideal customer. All your marketing efforts should start with this step. Once you figure out the people you want to reach, you will be ready to look for a designer who could create pieces that this group will be interested in.

Prior to your search for a graphic designer, consider the kind of visual brand that suits your business. Make out your brand personality.

Once you know the customers you like to reach and the way to communicate with them, it will be easier to go through the portfolios of different designers and see if they will go well together.

Know if you need to get a freelance web designer or print designer? It would be great, though, if you can find a designer that is comfortable with web as well as print.

Actually, web design and print design are both highly specialized areas of expertise. So it would be very hard to find someone who is an expert in both fields.

Just focus on what your business needs most: Do you use print extensively? Do you market your business primarily online?

The professional you will hire will depend on the answers to these questions. You can also hire a person part-time to do the design job that is not used much.

Now that you know some aspects to consider while looking for great graphic designers Columbus for your company, it’s time to get in action. We are a team of graphic design Columbus with a large experience and many happy customers – so get in touch with us and tell us more about your project!