Author: infogenix

Everyone Needs a Website

Posted on by infogenix

Everyone Needs a Website

In these increasingly technology-focused world, it seems like everyone and their dog have websites. But does your little, old landlady with a hobby for knitting sweaters for her cats really need a website? Do you?

Why Your Business Needs a Website

If you own a business or are part of a business, it’s clear that businesses need websites. According to Dayton Business Journal, online holiday shopping jumped about 15.4 percent during the 2010 holiday season compared to 2009. Cyber Monday by itself recorded $999.3 million in sales- why would a business not want to get involved in those numbers? Even small, local businesses have opportunities online. With increasing numbers of mobile phones accessing the web every day, local shoppers are more often than not using the web to find places to eat, entertainment venues, and stores to shop at. Below are some more compelling reasons for businesses to own their own website:

  • Deliver information (including contact or location information) about you or your company to the globe.
  • Find yourself new clients/consumers.
  • Give credibility.
  • Become an internationally accessible store.
  • Help with customer service.
  • Help establish a brand.
  • Offer your business flexibility by opening up millions of revenue creating opportunities.
  • Create networking opportunities that are otherwise impossible.

Why You Need a Website

For businesses, it only makes sense to set up a website but do individuals really need a website for themselves? You may not think that you need one but if you really think about it, you might be surprised why you do. Are you looking for a job? A website with contact information and an online resume is extremely helpful tool. Do you have a hobby? Not only can you connect with a world of people interested in the same hobbies, but you can also display your personal experience with your hobby online, be it art, music, baseball, writing, or anything else. Even personal journals are kept and maintained online nowadays for easy access to friends and family across the globe. Even more reasons are listed below:

  • Get yourself a job.
  • Connect with people who share interests.
  • Self promotion.
  • Share your thoughts with family and friends.
  • Create networking opportunities that are otherwise impossible.

I firmly believe that everyone needs a website. Well, perhaps not my three year old daughter. Not yet. But everyone else, get yourself a website!

Do you have a website for yourself or your business? Do you have more suggestions for us? Still not sure why you might need a website for yourself? Disagree? Feel free to comment below, we want to hear from you!

Why You Should Hire a Professional Web Design Firm

Posted on by infogenix

Why You Should Hire a Professional Web Design Firm

You may have heard stories about people who have hired web firms to design and develop their websites and either got a less than standard site design or the developer ran off with the money. There are also stories about people who recruited their nephew’s best friend’s boyfriend to design a site for free and the results were terrible, but the small business own didn’t feel comfortable criticizing a job done for free.

When hiring a web firm, it is your job to ask questions and make sure this web firm hast he right components and the experience before you give them your money. Here are some things to look for, both good and bad, when hiring a web firm.

Look for a web firm that is actually a real business. This means you should avoid hiring family members, friends, or that one guy from the gym to design your site for you. A real web firm does not necessarily need a big office and overhead. You need to build a business relationship with the team that you hire so that you can feel comfortable negotiating price, providing honest feedback, and be straightforward if there is something you do not like about your website.

Ask for references from your web firm. One with a real business will have real, substantial references to give you with real phone numbers that allow you to speak with real people who have used this web firm before.

You should also look for a web firm that has their own website, and it should be a spectacular website. While you do not necessarily have to like their website, you do have to like their portfolio. If this web firm has never designed anything you like, you should not hire them. It does not matter how busy a web firm is working on other clients’ websites. If they do not have their own website, you should not hire them. A strong portfolio is the calling card for a design business. Most of the samples they have should still be live sites in the Internet. However, do not hold it against them if you come across a few that are not still live. Companies are going out of busy left and right these days, and some cannot afford to keep their websites online. Companies also often redesign their websites and may not use the same firm to redesign it.

A successful design firm will give you a custom web design. They will not send you a site design that they bought from a template website, nor will they design you a site that looks like it came from a template website. All of their designs will be completely original. Templates are bad because you want your website to stand out distinctly from your competitor’s website. A template design cannot represent your brand if other companies around the world have the exact same template.

Look for how much web firms are charging for a custom web design. Some companies out there will overcharge and those who try to undercut the competition. You need to find the pricing balance. Remember, you get what you pay for. Do not go too cheap, because you will get a terrible website in return.

One of the most important things you should do is hire a web firm that speaks the same language you do. In other words, do not go looking overseas for a design firm just because they are cheaper over there. You need someone who can easily explain their processes to you in a way that you can understand. Customer service is very important in the web industry. You need someone who will return your phone calls and emails promptly to answer your questions.