From experience I’ve found it helps when clients, collaborative artists, programmers, directors and project managers are up-to-date with the jazz and latest buzz words circling the web design scene. For clients working with their web designers/developers, I stress this to be especially important so that as a client you know how to express your requirements in a website, you know your options and also, you know that you’re investing in the latest technology. Below are some key terms that business owners and web designers alike should know about (it’d be especially scary if your web designer didn’t).
Responsive Design
A key term that clients should be aware of before going into business with a web designer is “Responsive Design”. What is responsive design you ask? Simply put, it means that you’re website has been developed to be user-friendly on mobile devices and not just on the desktop browser. When viewing your website on an iPhone, Android and Windows smart phone, if you have a responsively designed website, you’ll notice graphics are sharper, buttons and menus are larger to work with these touch devices and text is designed to be readable, and by this I mean there is certainly no frustrating pinching and zooming. Always ask about this service when getting a website.
SEO and SEM
I’m talking about marketing here and I’m especially talking about Google. If you have used Google before, you’ll know that it finds things you are looking for with a few simple keywords in a search box. Well, SEO (search engine optimisation) and SEM (search engine marketing) basically mean consumers who are searching for products in your area of business, if done effectively, will find you! That’s the aim of SEO, to be at the top of the Google search results when people type in specific keywords related to your business/products. SEO = getting to the top of the organic or real (non-paid) search results; and SEM = paying Google directly to be found in the advertising space at the top. See below.
Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram just to name a few are all forms of Social Media. Web designers will tell you how important it is to leverage Social Media when developing your business’s online identity, and which forms of Social Media depending on what your business and strategy is. Tying in a business themed Facebook and/or Twitter page, and committing to keeping it active with regular posts will help you reach an audience that no doubt, is full of potential clients for your business, especially if you work it right. Facebook for instance; friends of yours can like your page, then your friends friends will see that they’ve liked this awesome new business page of yours, and depending on your business, relevance to the audience and whats currently trending, you could see a formidable chain forming of marketing brilliance taken care of with the help of a few friends.
So there you have it! If you know the key terms above, you’ll be smooth talking your way to a great, up-to-date website. You’ll have your web designers sitting up straight listening to your requirements because they know you know what you’re talking about. For all businesses and organisations out there looking to develop their websites, have confidence in your ability to express your vision, but remember to never be afraid to ask questions either.