Building a custom web site is the ideal web development scenario you can get, right? Perhaps not, since a full custom developed web site may not be the best solution for your Web presence. Some key factors to consider are development timeline, budget and versatility and ease of upgrading. While having a unique custom designed website is the best scenario for your Calgary company, you probably don’t need a 100% custom solution that is coded from scratch just for you.
No, the truth is you can get a customized web solution that offers the best of both worlds: The ability to have a custom look and feel to your site, plus ability to add and manage unique content to the website, while also making use of an all-in-one solution, like an open source CMS (Content Management System)like Joomla! or Drupal. In truth, even developers who build custom sites from “scratch”rely heavily on code chunks and structures that have been created and revised by other programmers over the years. Consider the Lightbox effect as a great example of re-usable code that is easily adapted to nearly any website. This is arguably the greatest power of the Internet, the ability for people, and companies,to build off of each other’s success in developing systems that work; and those areas that don’t perform well can be re-worked until they do.
So, if you are looking for a custom web site, here are some tips to help you find a workable solution within your budget:
- Get the Web site design developed by a professional web designer who understands key Web and GUI usability issues, design standards and organic SEO practices.The simplest way to do this is to find a Web development team with a web design portfolio of previous web design examples that match the concept you have in your head.
- If possible, choose professionally shot photograhy over stock photography. While you may think this to be a dearer option versus the low cost of royalty-free images, little compares to the unique feel and authenticity of locally produced photography. For example, if you are a Calgary company who has a Calgary Website, your local visitors will feel more affinity with a web presence bearing familiar, Calgary-based photography. There are many photographers with digital cameras around these days, so make use of local talent and find a photographer whose portfolio complements your intended style and price. Of course, royalty-free images are a boon if you need a quick low cost solution; you can always choose to invest in custom photos once your website is online.
- Decide what the site’s core function will be when it first goes live, but also determine its future functionality. Discuss everything you see for future expansion with your Web developer, because even if you don’t build these functions straight away, the designer can make allowances within the web design for future expansion.
- Find a development platform that do everything you can think of, from the first start-up phase to the final fully developed Web site you envision to be managing once the site is up and running. If you are sure that the platform, for example, an e-commerce shopping cart site or a more universally-designed CMS (Content Management System), you will be secure in knowing you can efficiently expand the website from the structure with which you have originally built the site, rather than having to build a whole new site to allow for the new features.
- If possible, find a Calgary Web design team who provides services beyond the design of the site. While it is great to find a specialist in any field, it is also more streamlined to find a company who can provide all facets of Web development and web marketing for your company for the length of your foreseeable future .
- A good idea is building your site in two or three development phases to help ease budgeting pressures and to get your site live as fast as possible. If you are working on starting your business, or are just starting to venture into your Web presence, diving into a full-fledged e-commerce solution with blogs, galleries and Facebook tie-ins really won’t help if you’re unable to manage them all. Learn your CMS interface first, your Web development partner is usually the best resource for training since they know the site functionality and structure best, then build onto the Website and your skill set one stage at a time.
- Make longevity a goal- some Web designers pride themselves on “contemporary”design themes that will become passe in a matter of months. The Web design elements will appear dated more quickly than clothing fashions. Consider the difference between style and trends – style is timeless while fashion trends come and go. Find a Web designer who knows how to present a professional layout and design that will stand the test of current and future Web design fashion trends by sticking to clean, professional, well-thought out design.
- Skip investing in Flash media unless it helps to your bottom line. The days of flash introductions have largely passed, so you really don’t need flash to create a great first impression. But Flash animation can provide a superior interface and information flow if used properly. Flash is also a great way to integrate FLV or Flash-based videos into your website. Today you can produce similar effects to Flash by using JQuery and DHTML effects.
The best approach is to find a Web designer with whom you can comfortably connect, who can build your web site to match your initial vision and who can work with you to develop the site through ongoing expansion and revitalization. A professionally built Web site can readily be an investment that should hold its own for up to half a decade, if it has a strong foundation, it will be built properly for the future.
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