by: Andy Lewis

‘First impression lasts' is very much true for online business. Website content (texts, graphics and animations) must create a 3D picture of product/service in the mind of the consumers, and entice them to buy it. Content can make a business click or sick on internet.

A website is like your online shop, your virtual interactive portfolio. For web design tool, it is important to determine your target audience and then design for speed, quality, and impact.

Speed

Keep the graphics to the minimum. Remember graphics don't entice customers to pay up, the content does. The rule of graphics is use only where necessary.

Quality

A customer cannot see you or touch your product or service. He can only see what is presented to him visually on the website. Your product or service has to make an impact as to be able to make purchase it. Quality here matters a lot. Nothing but the best is the rule when it comes to quality.

Impact

The rule of website usability is that your website has just 20 seconds. You either make an impact on your customer or you don't in these 20 seconds. To make an impact on your customer you need to get the right mix of graphics, colors, content and layout.

Impact of Content

Content is king, it is said. It either converts a visitor into your customer or it doesn't. Content can make or break a website. The power of the written word has been witnessed many a time. Products have become success stories, resumes transformed into high profile jobs, a 10-cent brochure into millions of dollars just because of the right word. Content should always be professionally managed by people who understand how it will impact your customers.

Impact of Colors

Pink is so feminine, ouch! Cute and light.

Blue defines power and professionalism. It's also for space and networking.

Red is associated with love, passion, warning, excitement and action.

Green is for money, nature, animals, health, healing, life and harmony.

Grey is associated with neutrality. A sense of being reserved.

Website design tools

Serverplex.com features an excellent web design tool - http://www.serverplex.com/webdesign.html. No coding knowledge required. No HTML tags or any complicated code. A simple interface where you type in what you want. Add pictures. And you have your webpage ready. The icing on the pudding is yet to come. This tool is free!