Category: web development

Be Intuitive with your website

Posted on by Forward_Web

Everything about your website should be centered around how easy your website is to use, because well… the easier your website is to use, the more people will use it. This is especially important if you are wanting to leverage your website to reduce the amount of time you or your employees are spending handling certain tasks (processing orders, answering basic questions..ect)

So how do you make your website more intuitive?

Think about what your visitors are wanting to accomplish while on your website (making a call, buying a product, paying a bill, getting a quote..ect). Then, think about how you can make that process as simple and thoughtless as possible (from any device, from any point on your website). An essential part of “easy to use” is intuitiveness. Meaning, when a website user sees it, they know exactly what to do. As long as your website visitors can complete the tasks they want without interruption or thought, your on the right track to higher conversions and better performing website.

Need our help? Feel free to reach out to us anytime via our contact form or chat bar, we’d love to hear from you.

The User Experience Reigns Supreme

Posted on by Forward_Web

Whether its generating sales, generating leads, providing useful information or all of the above. When building the foundation of your web presence (your web site). The center of your build should always revolve around the user experience. How?

 

First identify your intended audience to ensure your content and media relate to your audience. Then, once you’re confident your media and content are relatable to your audience. Second, create a layout that will allow your visitors to make purchases, contact your business, find useful information on your website as quickly and painless as possible.

 

There are obviously levels of optimization to this, however it all starts with the right mind-set of being more intuitive and engaging with your website vs treating your website like a billboard.

 

Do this, and you’ll be one step closer to having a successful web presence.

What makes a good website?

Posted on by Forward_Web

 

The answer to this question can quickly be determined by first establishing a purpose and settings some objectives for your website.

As an example, lets say you have a restaurant with the following goals

1. Increase Returning Customers
2. Increase New customers.

 

Now that we have established the purpose of your website, we can focus on objectives.

Increasing Returning Customers: What are some ways we can bring back customers through your website? First, we want to make sure the basics are covered by ensuring information returning visitors are interested in (Menu’s, Location, Hours..ect) are easily accessible. The second is we might want to offer (in a non-intrusive way) some form of incentive for the visitor to come back to your restaurant (i.e sign-up for our newsletter and get X amount off..ect).

 

Increasing New Customers: What are some ways you can bring in new customers through your website? Making sure your on-line presentation is solid by placing inviting pictures, descriptive and easily accessible menu’s (with pictures of food items) + call to action (exclusive first time customer coupons via none intrusive click here button’s).

 

In closing, what ultimately makes a good website is how well your website is meeting objectives. Since every business is different, what ultimately makes a good website will differ from website to website.

How much should you pay for a website?

Posted on by Forward_Web

 

$10, $100, $1000, $10,000??

If you’ve tried to find an answer to this question and have found your-self confused by the wide variety of price points. You are not alone. So how do you muddle through the noise? Unfortunately there is no short answer to this, however we can provide some basic guidelines to help you navigate through the Internet of answers.

 

1. As a client, understand there is no such thing as a free website. Domain names, web hosting, templates, programming, general labor, time (on both sides) are some of the services and components needed to deploy a website, none of which are free. However this does not necessarily mean you have to pay X amount of dollars, there are many scenarios where paying $250 per year is a very viable solution. however there are other scenarios where paying $1250 or $12,500, even $25,000 are all very well justified. Much like a building a house, costs will vary depending on the scope of your project.

 

2. Avoid asking your tech savvy friend, colleague, family member or anyone else who builds websites on their spare time for pricing information. They are either going to give you a low-ball offer or grossly over-charge, because although they might be experienced enough to put together a few websites, they likely do not build enough websites to understand the market, or the scope of your project.

 

3. Talk to companies (at least 3) that specialize in building and deploying websites and ask for quotes. Once you get your quotes ask questions so you fully understand the basis behind the price you have been given. Don’t just settle for a price, make sure you get a thorough explanation on the costs and time frames associated with the build and maintenance of your website.

 

Still have questions? We have answers. Contact us for Free Web Consultation at: https://forwardweb.net/web-consultation/

Does My Website Need A Website?

Posted on by Forward_Web

 

Quick recap on the importance of having a website for your business, however most importantly, setting objectives to ensure your website is a success.
 

3 suggestions to consider when building your next website

Posted on by Forward_Web

 

Thinking of building a website on your own? Here are three suggestions to consider:

 

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1. Develop your logo BEFORE building your website. By designing your logo first, you can ensure you are using the right color combinations and “feel” for your website to match your logo. This will save you from having to redevelop your website once your logo is designed.

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2. Choose your website builder carefully. Although it is natural to want to go with the “easiest” option. Keep in mind that anything involving website development is going to require time invested. With this in mind, try to go with a website builder that allows you to migrate your website away from the company you built your website with (These are often times referred to as open source website builders).

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3. When building your website, put the user experience first. In other-words, when building your website, try to visualize and anticipate what information your visitors will be most interested in. Make sure this information is easily accessible and easy to read (across all devices). This means testing your website on mobile devices, as well as desktop devices.

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Need help building your website? We are always here to help: https://forwardweb.net/contact-forward-web/

💡 Having trouble figuring out how much you should pay for your next website?

Posted on by Forward_Web

Before shelling out thousands of dollars on your website or simply handing the project off to a family member or friend. Here are some important points that will help you make a better decision on who should handle your next website and how much you should pay.

 

1.) Although it is true that anyone can build a website using free software (like wix, weebly..ect). Its important to note that even building the most basic website (the right way), meaning the website is specifically tailored around your content and brand. Can easily take between 20-40 hours to complete.

 

To put this in perspective, think of website development as a combination of writing a paper (several in this case), putting together a power point presentation and then coming up with a plan for how to present it to hundreds and thousands of people.

 

With this in mind, when you get a quote on a website (if the number seems high) consider whether or not the time put into your website by your potential developer is going to bring any significant value to your business. If the number seems low, question whether or not enough time is going to be spent on your project to deliver the desired results. Either way, the definitive factor is always going to be time spent on your project and how much that time is worth to your business.

 

2.) Just because someone is charging a lot of money to build your website, doesn’t mean they should.

 

This is where it gets a little more difficult to separate those who are simply calling themselves “experts” from those who will truly bring value to your business. How can you separate the two? Simple, ask questions and follow your intuition. Here are a few key questions you should ask anyone who is planning to build your next website:

 

– How do you plan to build my website?
– What type of support will I get once my website is built and how much are you going to charge me for that support?
– Once my website is built, do I own my website 100%?
– How can we market my website once it is complete?
– How much will my project cost and what is specifically included?
– What is your experience with building and marketing websites?

 

Based on the above responses (assuming you have shopped around and asked these questions to at least a few agencies and freelancers), you should be able to quickly come up with a short list of who might be suitable to build your website. In shorts, treat the hiring of your developer like an interview process.

 

3.) Avoid taking up the friend or family member who is offering to build your website for “Free”. Although it is true that everyone has to start somewhere. In most cases, if your website is going to be a key part of your business, you will want to stay away from “Free”. Reason being, anyone who is offering to build your website for free (unless there is some form of barter or sponsorship involved) is not going to take your project serious. Which also means, the end result is likely going to be sub-par, costing your business time and money.

 

If you absolutely have no choice and have to depend on someone to build your website for free. Sure, go ahead, however if you have a proper budget, do your due diligence and make the proper investment in getting your website built the right way from the start.

 

Questions about website development? We are always happy to assist,contact us here: https://forwardweb.net/contact-forward-web/

How To Build a Website Yourself

Posted on by Forward_Web

 

Are you considering building a website yourself? The process can seem overwhelming, especially when you are in the beginning stages. Many people choose to hire a professional web designer to take on this task instead but unfortunately, not everyone has the budget to hire out from the very beginning. However, there are a lot of tools, information and tutorials available which allow anyone to build a quality website within a reasonable amount of time and Forward Web provides some helpful tips in this article to build your very own website yourself:

 

The first thing you will need to do is set up your hosting and domain name. Of course there are many sources online where you can do this but with Forward Web, this step is fast, easy and simple! You can purchase your domain name (or transfer an existing one) and set up your hosting within minutes and if you need assistance, just let us know and we are happy to help. Once you have obtained your website and hosting, you now have the basic framework set up and you can begin building your new website.

 

Next, install a CMS (Content Management System). Forward Web recommends WordPress because it is an open source project that gives people the opportunity to build and manage their own website without having to learn code. However, if you want to learn code, WordPress still allows for you to work with the code for your website (as WordPress is Open Source), so it offers the best of both worlds.

 

In addition, building your website with WordPress means you are you able to host your website with any web hosting company that supports PHP/MySQL (which includes most web host’s). Being able to move your website to the web host of your choice is a great advantage over other site builders. Once your website is launched, you will want to have the freedom/option to change web hosts (if needed) vs being stuck with the same web hosting company you are building your website with.

 

WordPress has over 2,000 free and attractive themes (templates) for you to start building your website with. However, if you do not find any themes that you would like to use, you can go into the open market and purchase a WordPress theme of your liking (usually for around $30-$80.00). Either way, you have plenty of options in regards to the design of your website. Feel free to browse the latest free themes by WordPress here. 

 

Creating a website from scratch takes patience and a lot of experimentation and trial and error. At the same time, it can be a truly worthwhile process if you are up to the challenge/learning experience. Luckily, there are a lot of tools and information available (such as this article). If you are just starting your business and you have a very limited budget, learning to develop the website yourself might be the best solution. However, if you do have the budget (or want to save time), you might want to consider leaving the development of your website to the professionals (Forward Web). Another factor to consider is the complexity of your website. Are you planning to sell any items via your website? If so, we highly recommend contacting Forward Web first, so you can explore both options before committing to your approach.

 

 

 

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Why Having a Website is Important to Your Business

Posted on by Forward_Web

 

Surprisingly, it is not uncommon for many small business owners to think that their business cannot benefit from having a website or that a website is not within their budget. Some even still believe that just because they are not computer savvy, neither are their potential customers. These are incredible misconceptions and in this article, Forward Web discusses why having a website is indeed important to your business.

Let’s explore the following points:

 

  • A Website Saves You Time 

Without a doubt, we all know that time is money and whether it’s face-to-face, emails, brochures, flyers or on the phone, providing information to your customers is invaluable but takes time. However, with your website up and running, you can incorporate the use of an online catalog and provide your clients and potential clients a ton of information about your products and services (which is available indefinitely).

 

  • A Website Saves You Money

In addition to saving time, a website allows you to save money as well! It is unbelievable how many times we hear business owners express that they cannot afford a professional website, when in fact the reality is that as a business owner, you can’t afford NOT to. Of course the cost of designing a website varies (make sure to find about the great offers Forward Web has available), but it is a valuable investment. Consider the potential market you can reach with a website, compared to the cost of a newspaper ad, it is a very cost effective way to promote your business!

 

  • Your Business Will Gain Credibility

Nowadays, it is very common for customers to use the internet to search for the products or services they need and with that in mind, it is a fact that your business will immediately gain credibility by having a professional website. We are living in a time with a very competitive market and without a website, potential customers will go to your competitors that do. If you currently have a website but it is outdated or perhaps home-made, having it professionally re-designed will provide your business with a professional look which will inspire even greater confidence. This is especially beneficial if you have a home-based business which doesn’t have a store front to promote your products or services.

 

  • A Website Provides A Medium on Which to Showcase Your Work

This brings us to our next point; regardless of what type of business you have, a website is a great way to showcase your work. You can demonstrate what makes your business unique by incorporating an image gallery, a portfolio and testimonials/reviews about your work on your website. This goes a long way!

 

  • A Website Improves Customer Service

A website allows you to provide your customers with a plethora of information and depending on your business’s industry, that may include tips, advice or detailed information about a specific topic directly related to your business. By including blogs, uploading newsletters, adding articles (such as this one) or even including a FAQ page to answer all your customers’ questions, you can keep them up-to-date. Sharing information on your website that suits your customers’ needs is the best way to provide them with value added service and what better way to do so than with an effective website!

 

  • A Website Enables You to Keep Your Customers Informed

A website is one of the most invaluable tools to provide information and we simply cannot emphasize enough how imperative that is to the success of your business. Consider your website as an online brochure or catalog; it is much easier and effective to update information about your products and services, let customers know about new products, upcoming events, special promotions or new services you offer on a website versus printed material.

 

  • A Website Makes it Possible to Target a Wider Market

Everything sells online! From cars and houses to services and a variety of products. The internet is a an amazing tool that can be used to your advantage. For example, as a retailer, an eCommerce website is a great place to sell your products to a wider market. But regardless of whether you provide products or services, a website will provide an alternative location to sell them (even services can be made available worldwide!).

 

  • A Website is Always Accessible

With today’s busy lifestyles, we all seek convenience and there is nothing more convenient than to have access to a website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Having your website available to both your customers and potential customers is a great selling point when making a purchasing decision because it allows them to review your products and services when your store or office is closed, facilitating their decision process.

 

It is very clear that having a professional and effective website provides many benefits and is of the utmost importance to your business. If you are having a difficult time setting up your website, do not have the time or you would like help improving the website you or someone else developed contact us. Forward Web wants to improve your website and are always available to discuss any questions and/or thoughts you might have about the development of your website.

 

 

 

 

 

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5 Reasons Why You Should Use WordPress for Your Website

Posted on by Forward_Web

 

Which content management system (CMS) are you currently using? Did you know that WordPress is the most popular content management system in the world? That’s right, WordPress is responsible for over 50% of the sites that use CMS on the internet! Therefore, if you are not already using this content management system, continue reading because Forward Web provides 5 reasons why you should use WordPress for you website in this featured article:

 

Reason #1: WordPress is Easy to Use

It never fails; when someone uses WordPress for the first time, they immediately become amazed when they realize how easy it is to use and how straightforward their new administration will be. It is unbelievable how easy it is to publish articles and change content. Due to it’s popularity, many people have become very experienced using it and therefore, it is much simpler and faster to train new employees or editors when they join your company.

 

Reason #2: WordPress is Open Source

Being open source means that no one owns it, which means that no one is obligated to support it. There was a point when this fact used to be a big disadvantage for WordPress but now, this has become its greatest strength.

What’s the big deal about that? Well, this means there are thousands of WordPress developers all around the world that dedicate themselves to working day and night in order to improve the system. And the best part of this is that none of what they do costs YOU a penny! This includes free security and feature updates every quarter. Does your content management system do that? The community of WordPress developers continue to improve it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that is hard to beat!

 

Reason #3: WordPress has Numerous Plugins

The WordPress developers have created many extensions due to it’s popularity (which are referred to as “plugins”). These “plugins” are pieces of code (oftentimes free) that are created with the purpose of extending the core functionality of your website and help your developer save time, and of course, that means more money in your pocket!

 

Reason #4: WordPress Makes SEO Simple

When WordPress was first created, it began as a blogging platform and it eventually evolved into a powerful content management system which is capable of so much more than just blogging. In fact, one of the reasons that WordPress became so famous and is now loved by bloggers and marketers alike is it’s highly effective search engine optimization (SEO) features, which are integrated into the core of the CMS. Good SEO optimization is priceless!

 

Reason #5: WordPress Suppliers are Not a Problem!

WordPress allows you to have access to a nearly unlimited group of developers. You will never be locked down to a particular provider again and you will never have to go through those nasty “hostage” situations where your website is developed on a unique, arranged system that will not allow you to move it to a new provider.

 

There are so many reasons why we love WordPress, and the reasons we discussed in this article are some of our favorites. We hope that you found this information helpful and inspiring and if you don’t already use WordPress as your content management system, perhaps now you will give it a try. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like further information about WordPress or our web development services, Forward Web is always happy to be of assistance!

 

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