Every business should have some sort of web presence. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to dive straight in there and blow your entire marketing budget on a new website, especially when you’re just starting up.

Creating an online presence through social media and blogging is a great way of getting your message out there, especially if you are strapped for cash. This will also give you time to find your feet, build a network, and consolidate your business plan, making what eventually appears on your website much more relevant.

Having said this, your own website is your home on the web. When talking to potential clients, an easy to remember web address can make all the difference. Saying “sorry I haven’t got a website,” when one is requested, may produce some funny looks, almost as if a business isn’t real until it has a website.

A well-designed website is a massive opportunity to establish your brand’s identity; it’s your chance to really stand out. Your site can be as simple as a one page ‘hub’ to draw together all your online activities, or as complex as an ecommerce site, so you’re open for business 24/7.

You can also perform Search Engine Optimisation with your own website. Despite the popularity of Facebook, you have no control over where your page will appear in search engine results, and most people still use Google and other search engines to look for businesses and services.

Don’t underestimate the value of your own time. Using a do-it-yourself website builder will soak up days of your time. A poorly designed site or a free template site that’s been half-heartedly filled in could reflect badly on your business, and may do more harm than good. Also, watch out for tricky pricing schemes. What starts off at £4.99 per month can easily run into £400+ per year when you include extra features and VAT. These “extra” features are usually desirable if not essential. And how long do you plan to have the website up (5+ years?). You could end up paying £2000 or more, for a second rate website, built using a template, and you have done all the work yourself! Many web design companies do not advertise fixed prices, and will prefer to give you an individual quote, because the cost of a site really depends on your requirements and budget.

A well-deployed, bespoke website is a valuable asset if used as part of an overall marketing strategy, but it isn’t a panacea, a one stop solution or guarantee of success. If and when you do go for a website, make sure it’s high quality, and that it works for you. Ticking ‘get website’ off your To-Do list and then forgetting about it is not enough. Take your time, do it right, and remember that a website is just one part of the marketing jigsaw.

Welcome to YonYonson’s first post! This blog will be a client’s guide to web design. There are plenty of blogs out there for web designers, but not so many written especially to help clients through the web design process.

Why would a client need a guide to web design? They’re paying us to design the site after all. From our experience, clients get excited about the design of their website and enjoy being involved. That being the case, good communication is essential and it is important that we are speaking the same language. We’ll talk you through the process, explain design concepts and technical terms, and offer advice on preparing content for your website. If you would like us write an article on a particular topic, get in touch and let us know.

If you’ve just stumbled upon this blog you might be wondering, “Who is YonYonson?” Well, YonYonson is actually two people, David and Charlotte. We specialise in designing and developing clear, stylish, easy-to-use websites. We’ve created sites for small/ medium sized businesses, arts organisations and media professionals throughout the UK.

We use a variety of digital design tools and programming languages including:
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, ActionScript, WordPress, Moodle, Dreamweaver, Flash, Adobe Air, Photoshop and Illustrator. Both of us are keen photographers and enjoy working on our own art projects.