Part of being a savvy web design and online marketing professional is staying on top of an industry that’s constantly changing. We’re committed to staying current, which is why we’re always reading as much tech news as we can. And when we run across something useful, we love to share it with our readers. Let’s take a look at the latest from the web design and marketing community.
Professional Web Design and Its Dirty Words (Ashley Hayes, Business2Community)
In this article for Business2Community, Ashley Hayes explores the concept of the template and why it’s historically been considered too “basic” for expert web designers. It used to be that using a template was something anyone—including non-experts—could do, so naturally, design professionals were expected to have many more sophisticated tricks up their sleeves. Nowadays, however, templates have become so involved that it’s almost impossible to use one to build a great web site if you’re not a skilled designer (or, at least, not on your own.) These days, in-browser site-builders are the new tool of choice for small business owners developing their own pages, as well as other users who aren’t experienced web developers. Hayes speculates that one day, these site-building programs, too, will have evolved to be the province of web design experts.
The writer also links to this list of Benefits of using web design templates, which includes major pluses for just about any site owner, like saving money and seeing rapid results. So what’s the best way to develop (or remodel) your web site? If you’re not sure, it never hurts to consult with a genius designer to learn more about what will work best for your needs.
7 Web Design Disasters that Drive People Crazy (Garrett Heath, The Next Web)
When your goals include thinking creatively and working productively every day, it’s generally a great idea to think in terms of what you should do, rather than what you shouldn’t be doing. (E.g. instead of telling yourself “Don’t waste so much money this quarter,” think along the lines of “What smart steps can we take to conserve resources?”) That being said, sometimes a handy list of what not to do serves as a great reminder—and makes us laugh. Garrett Heath has compiled 7 Web Design Disasters that Drive People Crazy for The Next Web, complete with animated GIFs. They’re hilarious and spot-on—seriously, these days, there’s no excuse for avoiding responsive design best practices for mobile devices, and nobody wants to use a crummy, non-functional search feature.
When you’re running an ecommerce web site, you want users to find the entire experience pleasant and convenient, whether they’re just browsing your products or are there to make a specific purchase. Could your site be driving potential customers crazy (and away from your page in favor of the competition?)? Give this list a quick review to make sure you aren’t making any of these frustrating mistakes—and, if you are, make a plan to replace them with plans for a more customer-friendly shopping experience.