While I was busy analyzing some data it struck me that so many corporate websites don’t just stay the same for years on end, they have no social connectivity and barely any other optimization to speak of.
I was analyzing some sites again as part of a continuation of a project of mine, when some of the data I got just did not make sense. A former colleague of mine asked if I would have a look at the company he works for new upgraded website. As I analyzed their website a couple of months back when testing some software, I thought this would be a great time to do some comparisons. It was shocking, his company just spent an enormous amount on the new improved website, and it was terrible. It was as if the designer/developer made a point of it to give them a totally un-optimized, snail paced eye sore of a website, at the most ridiculous price he could dream up.
This got me going a bit so I went through the little database that I have, and found two other websites recently overhauled. One of another friends company, and one of a previous client, I did some work for couple years back. The previous client’s website was done totally in flash, with no alternatives, such as a non flash version, and the website took about 2 minutes to load. The friends companies website, looked some what pleasing, but then I realized it uses FRAMES!! Who in their right mind uses frames in this day and age!
I probably don’t even have to mention that neither had any social links, you can’t expect that someone that still use frames, will know what Twitter or Facebook is?
I just cannot believe that there are people out there that will take money from someone for giving them a website that will do absolutely nothing for them. It might just be me, but I am of the opinion that you have to help your client, and give them a tool through which they have the ability to grow and shape their business online.
If you are reading this, and you are planning to upgrade an existing website, or get a new one, just ask yourself or the website developer these couple of questions:
- How will the website be able to grow and change with the company over the next couple of months?
- How will the website fair in searches?
- How will the website connect to social media, and what will be my roll or my companies roll in that process?
- Will a user be able to identify our main purpose from our home page?
It is just a few basic questions, and if the person you are asking them of stumbles on any one of them, I would suggest that you look for someone else that can anwser these questions.
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