When I talk with clients about their website desires. The reasons or actual needs that are explained are always very interesting and a bit confusing. There tends to be a want and desire but little true direction on what shape or form the web site should have.

The true heart of what we find to answer the why are:

1. Grow a business by expanding the customer base through the use of the web
2. Reach various current or new target audiences, knowing that more and more people use the web to find the business services they want or need
3. Find new and more efficient ways to communicate with existing and future customers
4. To keep up with the times and show you are a savey business that understands your clients needs
5. The client’s customers expects to see a web presence

Understanding the why of the client.

A website must be an extension of the clients and their business.  The feeling and impressions found on the site are vital.  Designers must know their clients direction and business concerns. Web Designer’s activities always need to center on the clients web needs and what business activities they wish to have that involve the web.  The best way to do this is with a formal survey process plus one on one meetings.  The formal survey process and recorded information insures that the designer and clients are as we say, “on the same page”.   With the survey, the designer attempts to capture and understand and the direction in which a clients wants for the web  presences, plus it insures that no vital area has been overlooked.

We find that through interviews with the principle parties of the business. The design team leader thus can  understand and actually walk the client through their own thoughts and concerns the client wants the project to follow.

Good web designers tailors their efforts to the clients true sense of why they want the site  and answers the how of the equations with program elements laid out in an integrated plan.    I encourage you to look at the design process KMH Kreations has outlined on their website as a strong method to understand the clients whys of  website development.

This is probably one of the toughest thoughts for a customer to understand.

We typically ask the question, “Do you know the difference between a “Static” and a “Dynamic” website?”  To explain we then ask if once you buy or build a website do you think you are done, well if so, then what you want and have is a “Static” site.  Nothing changes on it!

A “Static” site may be okay to store information but if you want people to come visit your site again and again and learn about you and your company, and then buy or at least associate with you it needs to constantly change and that is definition of a “Dynamic” site.

Website are much like clothing, styles change and that influences what customers and clients think of you and how they feel you will take care of them.   Your webmaster needs to be always looking for new and improved ways to tell your story and help you to promote your business.

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The bottomline is, if you are getting all the business you expect from your website;  GREAT.  But,  if  traffic is slow and when you look at your traffic data,  you find visitors are actually making very short visits;  then I suggest that it is time to consider an update to increase your contact visits and business prospects.