There are times when I really don't like surfing the Web.
I'll toss a search phrase into Google, get a list of results that look interesting and when I click on a link... I'll get a junk page that's stuffed with ads.
Back I go to Google to try again.
I know, I could have clicked an ad.
I could have done, but I didn't. In fact, I often won't even read the content on the page.
I'll have made a snap decision based on nothing more than what the page looks like before choosing whether to read, click an ad or surf away.
We all know that content is king.
Your ads are your treasury.
But design is the queen and you have to give her the attention she deserves if you want your site to be successful.
The best way to do that is always going to be to hire a professional graphic designer to plan your pages for you. That's going to cost money though and when you're just starting out, I know that money can be hard to come by.
Another method then is to use a template. There are plenty of them around and while they won't give you a completely unique site, they will give you a site that looks reasonably attractive. That should be enough to get you started and you can bring in a designer once the money starts rolling in and you're wondering what to do with it all.
And the third option is to do all the work yourself from the ground up.
Frankly, unless you're a seasoned designer who knows what they're doing, I don't recommend this method.
If running a website is going to become your profession, you need a website that looks professional. It's the only way to make sure that you get a look that lasts longer than a second.
All you have to do then is make sure that the content is professional quality too.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
November 13, 2008 09:01 AM
I have built my own webpage - it is not as fancy a Joel Comm with his big smile on there. The look of a web page has alot of to with if I will stop and read or look for more information. I am always updating my page as I learn something new. It is alot of work, but fun for me.
November 13, 2008 10:24 AM
Can you post a good place to get decent templates? A recommendation?
November 13, 2008 02:44 PM
Having just started in the business of internet marketing, I did not know where to turn. You see, I have 1300 +/- domains. That's a lot of design work that need to be implemented and worked on.
So, instead of doing everything scatter-shot, my dear friend and fellow IM-Er, Ken McArthur gave me this advice... "One project at a time". Simple as it is, we can tend and do loose perspective. That small, often overlooked step brought me back in focus.
That said, I now needed to work on getting our first site up & running. As it's a blog-driven, charity-based site honoring the brave men & women of our (U.S.) Armed Forces, I did quite a bit of research. I found a great design company in http://www.inverseparadox.net They have been a godsend. They are a graphic design company that really knows what they are doing.
As for my other sites, I will be using various methods as well as hiring I.P. again. But I suggest do your research on finding the right templates for you and your sites.
Best,
-K
http://www.for-the-troops.com
And for Brian S.- I suggest that you check out Joel's "Instant Resale Templates". You can get them from me if you contact me through my site.
September 8, 2009 09:14 PM
Design's so important because it's the first thing I notice before I even read the content of the page. So if a webpage has gaudy colours, or its text are difficult to read, or it's just chock-full of ads with clashing colours, I'd be quite turned off. As I think most people would. There can be so many websites out there offering the same products, but I'd judge the professionalism and sincerity of the company by the quality of its website.