For all your print graphic design and website requirements in Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole
Tel: 01202 474545
Here are a few examples of the different types of websites we have built in past.
Sign-post or Validation websites
The purpose of the website might simply be validating the credibility of the organisation as a supplier of goods and services to potential customers. A visit to a website that successful presents the range of the supplier´s services in an informative and eye-pleasing way, perhaps backed up by a selection of recent customer satisfaction endorsements, will give more confidence to the buyer that their decision to engage the supplier´s services is the right one. First impressions really count here, so never underestimate the importance of good graphic design.
Point-of-Sale e-commerce websites
The e-commerce web technology that drives online shops and payment collection systems is now well established. What is particularly interesting is the current trend for the more established and commercially successful online shops to become much simpler in design and content. It makes sense to take the shopper to the page where they can order and buy the product or service they are after as quickly as possible. It seems less is certainly more, and this is a policy that many a smaller online shop operation should take note of.
Airline ticket websites are a good example of getting straight to the point. Very few waste their site visitors´ time with information bloat. You land on the Home page and you are immediately introduced into the sales cycle of buying the ticket they know you are after. What is the point of distracting the visitor with any information that may delay securing the purchase? So simply don´t include it. That has my vote.
We suspect that the reason for this highly desirable drive for simplicity is that the control over the content of commercial websites is gradually passing from the ‘geeky’ coders, back to where it belongs … with the sales professionals.
Compliance and service delivery websites
Compliance and Service delivery websites are such a common part of our lives, you have to wonder how we managed before without them. The HMRC and Companies House websites are typical examples of good compliance websites, serving the dual role of providing information and collecting in tax and company return submissions electronically.
The best example of a service delivery website has to be your own bank´s website. The online bank websites have considerably extended the range of convenient and accessible services we as consumers now take for granted, with the added bonus to the service providers of achieving a hitherto unparalleled level of extra efficiency and cost savings in collecting in and disseminating important information.
Are there similar elements you could incorporate into your website?
Information websites
The final website type we highlight here, is the one designed to educate a particular target audience. Medical information and online service manual websites are typical examples. Again we feel the emphasis of the design of these websites have subtly changed in the last few years. If you reflect on the information websites you like to use, we bet you will recognise the three distinctive hallmarks of a good communications website. It will have:
- An effective navigation system that you can search and find the page you looking for within a few clicks of the Home page;
- The website will be exceptionally well designed in terms of graphic design; and
- There will be a noticeable absence of any distractions in the form of adverts and superfluous information.
Is your website achieving its full potential?
Our purpose for focusing your attention on the types of website you may like to use, is it should now be much easier for you to objectively critique your own organisation´s website.
So a simple challenge. List down the characteristics of the various website you like to use and next consider how well your website measures up.
If you score well, you don´t need our services for the moment.
If you perceive your website is flawed and not up to scratch, then so will your customers. A good reason to call us on 01202 474545 to get you back on track.