At today’s Social Media Breakfast, I sat next to a couple of folks in the web design business (Brock Ray and Mike Ellsworth) and had an interesting conversation about the web industry and the role design should play in web development.
We agreed that sites need valuable content in order to succeed, but I do think there is something to be said about an aesthetically pleasing presentation. It is obvious to (nearly) everyone that a website should be more than just an online brochure, but what exactly is it that sets apart the good sites from the mediocre?
One of the speakers today pointed out that you should “always start with your authentic story and what makes you unique.” I feel you can and should accomplish this through both content and design. Offer content no one else is getting out there and present it in a way that both makes sense and feels good. People won’t be able to identify why they like it – they’ll just know they do.
These days, too, when I see a website that looks sort of cobbled-together, I don’t just think, “These people are unprofessional and this is ugly,” I frequently also think, “Is anyone still updating this site or is it defunct? Does this company even exist, and has it existed since the 90s?” Old look = old site = outdated information.
Posted by Sarah McMenomy | August 28, 2009, 7:35 pm