Calgary Web Designer reveals key limitations of Custom Web Development

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Getting a custom web site design is the ideal web development scenario you can get, right? Well, a fully custom Web design may not be the best solution for your Web presence. Some important factors to consider are development timeline, budget and versatility and ease of upgrading. While having a custom Web look is the best scenario for your Calgary company, you probably don’t need a fully developed custom solution that is coded from scratch just for you.

No, the truth is you can get a customized web solution that offers the best of both worlds: A custom design and layout, plus management and upgrading capabilities, while also making use of an all-in-one solution, like an open source CMS (Content Management System)like Joomla! or Drupal. In truth, even fully custom-coded websites rely heavily on code chunks and structures that have been created and revised by past companies and developers. Consider the Lightbox effect as a perfect example of a re-useable idea and code chunk that is easily adapted to nearly any web presence. This is arguably the closest thing to the unstoppable force of the Internet, the ability for programmers, designers and web development companies to build off of each other’s success in developing systems that work; and those areas that don’t work so well can be re-worked until they do.

So, if you are looking for a custom web site, here are a few ideas to help you find a workable solution within your budget:

  1. Focus on getting the look of the site custom designed by a professional web designer who understands key Web and GUI usability issues, web design fundametals and SEM .The simplest way to do this is to look for a Web development team with a portfolio of previous designs that match the concept you have in your head.
  2. If possible, choose custom, professional photography over stock photography. While you may believe this to be a more expensive option versus the economic prices of royalty-free images, nothing can compare to the unique feel and authenticity of locally produced photography. For example, if you are a Calgary business who has a Calgary Website, your local targeted traffic will feel more affinity  with a site bearing familiar, Calgary-based photography. There are many photographers with digital cameras available for hire these days, so make use of them and find a photographer whose portfolio complements your intended style and price. Of course, stock photos are a boon if you need a quick low cost solution; you can always choose to invest in custom photos once your website is online.
  3. Decide early on what you want the site to do when it goes live, but also what you want it to do a few years down the road. Discuss everything you see for future expansion with your Web developer, because even if you don’t build these functions straight away, the designer can make allowances within the website design for future expansion.
  4. Find a development platform that do everything you can think of, from the initial start-up phase to the full fledged e-commerce money maker you envision to be managing once the site is up and running. If you know that the platform, for example, an e-commerce shopping cart site or a more universally-designed CMS (Content Management System), you will be secure in knowing you can expand the website within the platform you have originally built the web site, rather than having to build a whole new site to accommodate the new features.
  5. If you can, find a web company who provides services beyond the design of the site. While it is great to find a specialist in any field, it is also more streamlined to find a web team who can provide all areas of Web development and web marketing for your company for the next few years .
  6. A good idea is building your site in two or three development phases to help ease budgeting pressures and to get your website up as quickly as possible. If you are just starting a business, or are just starting to look into your Web presence, diving into a complex e-commerce solution with blogs, galleries and Facebook tie-ins may well hinder you if you’re unable to manage and expand every aspect. Learn the basics of site management first, your Web development partner is usually the best resource for training since they know the site functionality and structure best, then expand the site and your skill set one stage at a time.
  7. Make longevity a goal- some Web designers pride themselves on “contemporary”design trends that will become passe in a matter of months. The Web design elements will appear dated more quickly than clothing fashions. Consider the difference between style and trends – style is timeless while fashion trends come and go. Find a Web designer who knows how to present a professional layout and design that will stand the test of current and future Web design fashion trends by adhering to clean, professional, well-thought out design.
  8. Skip investing in Flash media unless it adds to your bottom line. The days of flash introductions have largely passed, so you really don’t need flash to create a great first impression. But Flash animation can provide a superior interface and information flow if used properly. Flash is also a great way to integrate FLV or Flash-based videos into your website. Today you can produce similar effects to Flash with JQuery and DHTML effects.

The best scenario is to find a Web designer with whom you can comfortably connect, who can build your web site to your satisfaction and who can partner with you to develop the web presence through ongoing expansion and revitalization. A professionally built Web site can easily be an investment that should hold its own for up to half a decade, if it is built properly from the start, it will give you a strong return on investment.

If you require a professionalCalgary Web Design team, please check outwww.blinddrop.com for complete Web development and Graphic design services.

 

 


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Filed under Uncategorized by admin on Apr 9th, 2010. #

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