Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website A presentation by Liam Dempsey

The importance/benefits of a website Key considerations on web design Technical considerations in website design Working with a designer Do’s + don’ts of web maintenance Website alternatives Overview Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website

A website is a 24-hour, international shop A website is a marketing tool, a PR machine, a shop, a catalogue, a brochure and much, much more! In the 21 st century, a website is a business necessity Websites provide a great way to make/meet new clients Importance/Benefits of a Website Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website

Key Considerations on Web Design Functionality and usability Ease of navigation Organisation of content Integration of branding Target audience and purpose An up-to-date site is a valuable site Remember: there are only 30 seconds to impress a visitor! Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website

Intended audience and purpose of the site will determine the technical direction Schedule of updates is another consideration Sites should be designed with an eye to expansion: scalability is key Technical Considerations in Web Design Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website

Working with a Designer Most important: find a designer that is easy to work with, who listens, who is professional and who will deliver on spec, on budget and on time! Be clear on what you want Give yourself time to consider ‘Successful Website Creation’ Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website

Do’s + Don’ts of Web Maintenance DO: keep the site up-to-date DO: set a regular schedule for updates (e.g., monthly, quarterly, seasonally, semi- annually) DO: make sure the site has a way to notify visitors of recent updates or changes DO: think of a website as on-going marketing project Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website

Do’s + Don’ts of Web Maintenance DON’T: forget about your site or everyone else will too! DON’T: leave updates until the last minute DON’T: let your web hosting or domain name registration accounts expire Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website

A well-designed, bespoke website will cost in the area of £1,000 In money is a problem, consider the following: requesting a payment schedule to spread the costs out over time producing a ‘holding-page’ website getting listed on free websites (like Cockpitarts.com) Website Alternatives Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website

Contact Details Liam Dempsey lbdesign 45 Gidley Way Horspath Oxford OX33 1RQ (t) (m) (e) (w) Getting Effective Business Value from Your Website