| When we think of a web site, the first element that | | | | to advertise on search engines, the most efficient and |
| comes to mind is the web design, the look and feel. | | | | sought after strategy is Search Engine Optimisation |
| The web design aspect is by far a critical one in the | | | | (SEO). |
| whole web site project. Get it wrong and the whole | | | | When it comes to SEO, content is king. Think about it, |
| investment could be a waste. But a great web design | | | | search engines are looking to present their users with |
| on its own will not sell. You need content on your web | | | | the most relevant web site and one way of |
| site and you need up-to-date content. Content is text, | | | | determining if a web site is relevant to a keyword is to |
| informative, well written material that gives at least a | | | | analyse the content of the web site. Search engines |
| good overview of what your services and products | | | | crawlers do this job. These software will crawl every |
| are about. | | | | web site and analyse the content. Images and flash |
| Unless you already have a strong brand or have a | | | | animation are invisible to the search engine crawlers. |
| huge marketing budget, a flashy web design alone, you | | | | So text on your web site is what will make the |
| good a number of words on your web site to | | | | difference. |
| communicate your services and products to your | | | | A good web design practice is to get the balance |
| online visitor. If it’s true that internet surfers do not | | | | between the look and feel and the content, text and |
| generally spend much time on each web site, it is | | | | information. A good web design specialist will use |
| equally true to say that someone who is interested in | | | | various techniques and styles to actually blend the |
| your web site will expect to read a bit more about | | | | content in with the web design. It the design is correct, |
| what you do and what you are selling. Of course the | | | | the text will not crowd the web design and reading will |
| web design must not be crowded with text alone. A | | | | be a pleasant experience for your web site visitor. |
| good web designer will strike the right balance | | | | Keeping the content up-to-date is very relevant to |
| between content and imagery and web design | | | | search engine optimisation as well. If you have a web |
| elements like flash for instance. | | | | design with a few pages, it is relatively easy to update |
| Remember also that it is not enough to have a great | | | | the content. However, if the web design comprises |
| looking web site online, your potential customers must | | | | hundreds of content pages, you must build in what is |
| see come across your web site. Today, most people | | | | called a content management system (CMS). There |
| will use a search engine and type in a number of | | | | are lots of good CMS web design packages available |
| keywords to look for services and products. Your aim | | | | online or you can have a custom built CMS to suit your |
| in having a web site is to get as high up the ranks on | | | | needs. Once your CMS is integrated into your web |
| the search engines as possible. Whilst you could pay | | | | design, updating your web site is child’s play. |