• Getting online
• Selecting providers
• Website architecture

Designing your WEB SITE Architecture

How big? How deep? How complex? Deciding on the type of website that best serves your needs can be a challenge.

Before ever contacting a web designer, put a little thought into what you want your website to do.

• Do you want customers to be able to shop for your products online?
• Do you want to explain the benefits of your services and products in depth?
• Do you want to provide an easy way for customers to contact you?
• What are the major points you want to make to people?

What kind of website do I need?

There are varying levels of online presence:

Internet Listings - much like the phone book, internet listings give very little information about your business, usually a name, street location, and phone number. Some sites also provide a map link.

Static web page - A static page goes a step beyond listing your contact information. It gives you the opportunity to show a few photos, and a description of your basic products and services. As the word "static" implies, this information rarely changes.

Static website - A static website is similar to a static web page, but the content is broader. Instead of one page with a few details about your business, there are multiple pages, each describing a different facet of your business. As with the static web page, this information rarely changes.

Active website - An active website is one that is updated frequently with fresh information. New product photos, catalog changes, seasonal product offerings can all be reasons for customers to check back in frequently.

The one rule of website design is to make the experience pleasant for your online customer.

Interactive website - An interactive website is one that invites participation between you and your online visitors. Websites with shopping carts, online polls, forums, blogs that allow comments or customer reviews, RSS feeds, are all part of the interactive web experience. Interactive websites can inspire online communities, and develop a sense of loyalty that goes beyond that felt by a customer with a good experience. Depending on the freedom you offer customers to comment or critique.

Designing the Architecture

There is one cardinal rule in website design, and that is the need to make the experience easy and pleasant for your online customer. Simple navigation, logical presentation, and clear communication are key.

HOME PAGE: Every website needs a home page, which is the welcome mat for your site. Don't overwhelm visitors with information here; instead tantalize them with the options for more information as they need it.

CONTACT PAGE: More and more, people are using the internet to find basic contact information, instead of looking it up in the phone book. Make sure you have contact information readily available. If you have a physical location you want customers to visit, be sure to include the street address, plus zip code. People need zip codes and street addresses to use map programs like Google Maps or Mapquest.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: Depending on your business, you will want one or more pages dedicated to your products and services. Simple services, like free delivery, can be mentioned on pages with your products, but a detailed accounting of the types of services you offer may need a dedicated page for explanation.

ABOUT US: A page telling a little bit about you, why you started your business, and what your interests are. It humanizes you in a way that a normal face-to-face encounter during a shopping trip does not, and is an advantage of the internet. If you got into your business because you saw a need in your own life, then share that information. It can be a great way to build a sense of rapport with your customer.

MORE, MORE, MORE: The advantage of the internet is that it is organic in nature, always growing and easy to prune or add to. The disadvantage of your website is that it is organic in nature and needs to be tended on a regular basis as your business evolves. As your business changes, so will your site. Thunderbolt Designs can help you identify new branches to add to your website, prune the outdated content, and help you keep a healthy, invaluable connection to your online customers.