The final category of website design is that of generating direct sales, whether by e-commerce methods - meaning selling products and services solely online, or e-commerce plus mail order options, which means the product or service can either be sold in person or online. An example of this type of website could include such businesses as a bookstore or a wedding supply store.
Personal websites, of course, should resonate with your personal style - an NFL player wouldn’t necessarily have a website with unicorns, butterflies and bouquets of flowers (although anything is possible!) Most personal websites reveal their owner’s beliefs, whether hateful or hopeful, productive or destructive, incoherent or concise. Be clear about your message - the more people can understand what you’re trying to say, the greater the chances they’ll spend more time exploring your website.
Who you’re trying to target as an audience or customers can frequently determine the look and feel of your website design. For example, if you’re attempting to sell Barbie® dolls, you may consider that your audience is girls ranging in age from 8 to 12, so your website should include graphics and colors that appeal to that specific age group - some cool music and bright neon colors might be appropriate in this case..
One of the first questions you need to ask yourself is: what is the purpose of this website? Is it to generate sales for your business? To communicate your view of the world? Act as a forum for expressing new ideas? Distribute information? What is the objective you’re trying to accomplish?
If you do use a professional web designer, make sure you both understand the scope of the work to be done. A professional typically will have expertise in two areas: technical and creative.
Are you familiar with basic programming language like HTML and Javascript? Not all website software requires that you be familiar with these protocols, but it certainly helps. Many web-hosting companies now offer free software to help you design your site, as well as technical support to help you through it, but in truth, many of these web-hosting companies offer only the basics - no fancy graphics, no video integration, etc.
Advertising is the function of the next type of website - the intention in this case is to promote sales and information about a traditional brick-and-mortar business, such as a furniture store or a plumbing business. These businesses usually don’t sell their merchandise or services online, but wish to spread the word that the company is ready, willing and able to provide goods and services to their customers.
The creative portion can encompass such things as designing that custom logo for your business, or creating a conceptual design that takes your original ideas or goals and refines them into a stunning site to showcase your products or services.
So the cost of designing your website becomes an issue - if you’re setting up an e-commerce site that you expect to bring in hundreds of thousands in sales dollars each month, you’re best advised to turn to a professional. The basic question you need to ask yourself in this situation is this: what is it worth to you to have a professional, smoothly functioning website that will increase sales and add to your bottom line?
Your website will also need a shopping cart - not a real one, of course, but a virtual cart. When your customers wish to order a product or service, they click on the order button and that product or service goes into their shopping cart, which can then take them through the checkout process in order to register the sale and transfer your money to you.