Overview

I'm sure everyone by now knows what a web site is. They can consist of simple static pages or complex interactive ones. HTML5 is the newest version of web code which simply means its a web standard that has progressed to the point where users can engage in more sophisticated interactions through the web. Things which were considered "animations" can now be created with javascripts and CSS, where before it would be impossilbe.

Depending on what you need your site to do will depend on how its built. If you need it to capture email addresses, go to a sales page where a customer can purchase a product, its obvious you would have to have an ecommerce site with a database in the background to store the emails.

Costs of sites also depend on what you need the site to do. A static site, meaning it has no database, is less expensive than a database driven site. A database driven site which needs to have a backend interface so you can update your own pages and content costs more than one which has a database but no backend. Backends to database sites are more expensive because its almost like building two seperate sites at the same time; the backend for updating and the public side for the user. Each have seperate functions and neither are the same in any manner other than they are both connected to a single database.

Designing a website for the internet is a lot more than just creating a web page or pages. Web sites depend on the designers to have a firm grasp of advertising and marketing more so than the "programming" or "design". Nice pictures or fancy cool gimmicks may look great but more often than not miss the target their client is attempting to capture.

As an example, we had a client whose initial site was designed by an expensive and "exclusive design firm". The site consisted of an orange couch with a lamp...that was it. Now remember, this was done by some "up and coming" young and hip designers at a very prestigeous design firm. Truth be told though, the site didn't let its users know who it was, what it was, what they offerred, where they were or why they should be there in the first place. The client was a law firm, but you never would have figured it out by its design.

Needless to say, web sites need to answer the following questions in less than 3 seconds in order to capture your audience's attention:

Web designers and web design firms are usually made up of artists and computer geeks, who usually do not have a clue about advertising or marketing. Its not their fault, its just not their type of expertise; they either understand programming computer code and / or drawing pictures but not usually both. The type of questions listed above can only be answered by professional marketers who understand your business, your clients, the business of advertising and marketing AND web deveopment and design.

Why is this so important? Because without proper planning, common sense, professional experience and expertise your wasting AND losing your money. The above mentioned client paid a lot of money for their "trendy" site, but it didn't help their business one bit. Think of it this way, if you had a tumor and needed surgury you'd want a trained and qualified surgeon who had performed similar operations numerous times on other patients who were positive he was a great doctor. You wouldn't want someone operating on you who did it in his spare time, was a dog doctor, or who learned his craft from watching "ER". You'd want someone who you knew had the training and experience to get the job done successfully. After all your life depends on it. So does the life of your business.

The Remington Agency has been designing and developing web sites for over 17 yrs. Give us a call. We can help. Our moto is "We build it till you like it."