Ordering the Right Content

The choices you make in web design have a measurable effect on how marketable your site is and, thus, your eventual success or failure online. These choices aren't easy, but that doesn't mean you should ever take the path of least resistance in making them. As demanding and even punishing as the process is, you simply must nail these choices, for your site to rise in the ranks and take you where you want to go.

Fast Vs Fancy

You've likely visited a website or two that took a long time to load, leaving you with the decision to wait or try somewhere else, but that's not a choice you want your visitors to face, especially if they're potential customers. Building an unnecessarily fancy website could easily backfire on you, more so if you lack the technical knowledge to make all those bells and whistles work. Find a balance between the look and feel you want with the capability of the lowest-end device to load...which probably won't be easy.

Complicated Vs Simple

While you want to inform your visitors, you don't want to throw too much information at them at once, overwhelming them or even causing confusion as to what they're doing there in the first place. Calls-to-action are extremely important and while they must be included on your site, they must not be everywhere, flashing and buzzing and making people dizzy. Your website should be simple enough that it's easily comprehended and even easier to interact with.

Words Vs Pictures And Video

While a picture may tell a thousand words, a quick and to-the-point video can tell a million, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't invest in high-quality, informative content for your site, too. Your website should be ready to present anything to visitors and potential customers, from vivid product pictures and descriptions to viral videos (connected to your social media accounts). Opt for more attention-grabbing scenery, to entice readers, but be sure to back it up with clear and concise words, as well.

SEO Vs Luck Of The Draw

Particularly if you have a full-time job and your site is a side-gig, tackling SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a major drain on time and resources, even more so when you're just starting out. Nonetheless, SEO is a vital aspect of your new site's ability to fly. If you can't take the time to learn top-notch SEO and don't possess the ability to execute it, you're probably not going to show up in the search engines.

DIY Vs Hiring A Web Design Service

If costs are an issue, you're likely inclined to design and build your own website; however, that may not yield the highest return in the long-run. With so many websites out there, can you create something to compete? Can you handle all the technical issues? Will the site be secure? If you're collecting personal information from visitors who need to trust you, such as emails and credit card numbers, can you protect them all on your own? 

Beyond designing a great looking site, there are other factors which will work to determine your success:

• Fast web servers and reliable hosts
• Inbound and outbound (unbroken) links
• Markup validation 
• Cross-platform functionality and performance
• Quality branding and a memorable logo
• Security and spam

With your success hanging in the balance, it's a good idea to work with a web design service, no matter how easy it may seem to build an attractive website. Also, technology is constantly changing and a design service is more likely to keep up the pace, especially if you have a day job or lack the in-depth knowledge and experience to play high-tech hardball.  

Whatever your site is built for, it must arise from a foundation of expertise that you may or may not possess, but that's okay, because you have design experts at your fingertips. Find one, spill your passions and purpose to them and you'll end up with a sturdy, functional and marketable site that should take you places, in particular, the top.