Web Design Purpose
Determining the exact purpose for your web site is the most important step in the process of establishing your presence on the World Wide Web. Everything else stems from the purpose. The purpose should be concise and should include both your immediate goals and your long-range plans as well. To help generate ideas about what is possible, let’s take a brief look at six major areas in which a business might be enhanced by using a web site.
Marketing
The most common reason for publishing information on the World Wide Web today is to sell products or services to the huge market which is developing. Survey estimates suggest there are about 40 million people who already have Internet access. These users are a mixed group, but demographic studies show the average person browsing the web is middle-aged (the baby-boomer generation), works in a professional, technical, or management level job, has an above average education and an above average income. Full-time college students are the next largest group. But it’s the rate at which this market is growing that gets people really excited. And remember, the Web reaches a global audience in well over 100 countries.
Communication
The World Wide Web is fast, global, reliable, and always at work. For businesses and organizations where information changes quickly, web sites can be updated weekly, daily , or even hourly–whatever suits your needs. Realtors and travel agents have been quick to understand the advantages of instant distribution of information to customers. For highly specialized products or services, the web can help you broaden your customer base geographically for a relatively low cost. Having a web site is like having a sales representative available 24-hours a day–even on holidays!
Education
Both businesses and private or non-profit organizations can take advantage of the educational possibilities of the World Wide Web. Education and the transfer of information is one of the key roles for which the Web was designed. A web site for a health organization, for instance, can help people become aware of risk factors, alternative therapies, latest research, support groups, upcoming legislation, etc. Commercial pages usually contain some educational component, such as how to evaluate product quality, or information about the people behind the company. In case you hadn’t noticed, the page you are reading right now is primarily aimed at educating.
Customer Service
How about on-line operating manuals for customers who don’t like to keep paper files of such things? A special Troubleshooting Page for people to use at any hour of the day or night when you might not be there to answer the phone? You might include a page of Frequently Asked Questions to help people get started using a product for the first time. Best of all, nearly every Web page should contain an e-mail address where people can write to you directly, electronically and instantly. The possibilities for improving customer service are endless.
Research
Does your business do a lot of market research? Does your organization take polls or surveys? Would you like feedback from customers about a new product idea? The potential for doing research via the web is just beginning to be tapped.
Profits
Besides the profit-enhancing functions considered above, there are many cost-effective side effects of Web use that aren’t as apparent. Consider how much money it costs to produce and distribute printed catalogs. When customers can access your product information online, the need for printed catalogs is reduced or even eliminated. The same is true for flyers, bulk mailings, advertising, and phone costs. UltraWarp can help you analyze how a web site might affect your bottom line.
When you begin to create a web site with UltraWarp, we will work with you to clarify its purpose. Time spent on this step of the web design process can save you a considerable amount of money in the long run, and can mean the difference between site success or failure.