What makes a website great?
Unless you have a background in web design or development, chances are you aren’t sure what makes a website a great website. And that’s okay. Off-Center Design’s creative director and owner, Annie Hurst, knows what makes a website great, and she’ll work with you to make sure you have exactly what you need for your business.
Off-Center Design only delivers custom websites. Every website design is a custom design created from scratch, built using the best tools available. Google makes over 500 changes every year to its algorithm to adjust for changes in technology, user trends, scammers, those trying to game the system, and more. Annie stays on top of updates, but none of them change her approach. Why? Because her approach is to use only the best white-hat practices to build your website so it will receive the best rank organically possible. Her approach is timeless.
Do you need a website?
Still on the fence about whether or not your business really needs a website? Or maybe you’re wondering if it’s time for a new website? Ask yourself:
- Are you on the internet?
- Is your website mobile responsive?
- Are you reaching your target market on your website?
- Is your website SEO (search engine optimization) friendly?
- Does your website lead users through the information you really want them to know?
- Does the site clearly outline the benefits of working with your business?
If you’re not sure of the answer to any of these questions, then it’s time to talk to Annie. If your website is not performing for you, the Off-Center Design team can help.
If your business is not online yet, it’s time. Putting your business online is many times the only way local customers will find you. It’s like listing your business in the phone book, but with a much better chance of connecting with a customer than a simple listing. If you have a business that serves customers across the country or around the globe, then it is vital to create an online storefront for your business. A website is a living, breathing representation of your business.
If you do not have a web presence for your business, and your competition does, who do you think potential customers are going to call? Your online competitor. And why is that? Because most people these days turn to Google, Yahoo!, and Bing to look up phone numbers and company information. That’s why phone books are obsolete—very few people use them!
So if you have a business and no website, it’s time to change that.
WordPress with Genesis Framework
WordPress websites are the industry standard. Why? Because if built properly, the finished product is SEO-friendly, easy to use, easy to update, mobile responsive, cleanly coded, and as customized and unique as you’d like.
Any possible feature you can think of that you’d like on your website has most likely been thought of and created using what’s called a plugin. Each plugin is created to provide very specific functionality, and true to its name, it can be plugged in to a WordPress website and set up to deliver the specific functionality you were looking for.
Because industry-standard isn’t enough for Off-Center Design, they build on the Genesis Framework. It’s a step above, and it allows them to completely manipulate a site to deliver exactly what the customer needs, including a great user experience.
Focusing on What is Important
UX Designer
Annie is a UX (user experience) designer. She firmly believes that no matter how functional or technical a website is, it is a failure if the website visitor doesn’t have an easy or enjoyable experience. She brings 10 years of design experience to the table when it comes to building, arranging, and displaying information. Using design psychology, Annie designs with a strategy to lead the user through the site in a way that makes the most impact and provides you with the greatest opportunity to connect.
Additionally, she makes things look “pretty.” Because of her extensive design background, arranging information, graphics, and photos to be most pleasing to the eye is second nature to Annie. This adds to the user experience and helps the entire site flow together.
Content is King
All of Off-Center’s websites are built to be as SEO friendly as possible. This includes working with content writer and marketing strategist, Karen from KE Butterfield, on nearly all websites. Karen writes in a way that connects the dots between ideas and words, information and connection. She writes for humans and Google’s robots, helping each site to rank.
More importantly, she helps businesses make a connection with people through their content. Keyword stuffing is a thing of the past. Authenticity is what matters now. Show those search engines that you have valuable information for your clients, and you’ll move closer and closer to the top of that search engine list.
Photography
Photos make a website. They bring together the words, the layout, the graphics, the logo, and more. They put a face to you, your business, or your customers. Off-Center Design works with photographers in both Franklin County and St. Louis County, each with their own unique abilities to capture your business in just the right light. Having high-quality, professional photography completed for your site adds a polish that you have to see to believe.
Video
With video on the rise, oftentimes the best way to display your business is with a video. Off-Center Design regularly partners with Matt at Wilson Video Productions to create videos that showcase your business and expertise. Let’s be real: attention spans are growing shorter. So captivate your audience with a 90 second clip that will help them understand what you’re offering them.
Wrap it Up
All in all, there’s a LOT that goes into website design and development. It all begins with research and strategy. Call Annie today to discuss your website needs.