Ever wonder if your Web site is cutting-edge or outdated? We at Curvine Web Solutions still see design trends that should have fallen by the wayside years ago. For customers who frequently shop online, these outdated trends may signal a company out of touch, apathetic, and unprofesstional. Below, are just a few such things to be aware of.
 
A “welcome” message on your homepage is the good way to turn away customers. The standard rule is this: if visitors can’t tell what your site is selling, it’s time to redesign the Web site. The site design – including the main body content and images – should sell the story of your business all on in one glance.
 
The next feature we’ll discuss is scrolling text. Since people tend to associate this feature with news broadcasts, it isn’t usually a good idea to incorporate this into your design. Unless your industry is fast-changing and news-worthy, using this feature probably won’t enhance the overall design and functionality of your site.

 
Those flashing, color-changing, bolded words in the middle of a site’s main body text are distracting at best. But, in reality it brings to mind walking onto a used car lot where there are huge, garish signs everywhere encouraging you to buy now or pay for it later. If you have to resort to such matters, then the service you’re selling probably isn’t worth the money – or at least, that’s the impression visitors will get.
 
Speaking of visitors, it’s also a good idea not to include visitor counters on your site. Although we usually see these on personal Web sites rather than business sites, we thought it worthy of mention. Publicly-viewed visitor counters are unprofessional, and frankly, useless. There are far better ways to keep track of that information; if you really want to know how many people are visiting your site, use a site analytics program. Google’s program is free and gives a lot more helpful information that just how many people have clicked on your homepage. (Check out our February 2008 issue for more information.)
 
If your site contains any of the above design faux pas, you may wish to consider disposing of them. Sometimes just a few simple changes, or even deletions, to a Web site can make your design look fresh and new. If you need some assistance in sprucing up your site, contact Curvine Web Solutions today.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what are the images on your Web site saying about your business? We’ve all seen Web sites with grainy pictures, or images that aren’t the best representation of what a particular business does. Here are a couple of tips to help you in finding the right images for your business.
 
Pictures should be of the highest quality – clear, high-resolution, professional-looking images are crucial. Of course we know that beautiful images come at a price. Can you afford it? Don’t sell yourself short! You can find high-quality generic photos from a stock photography business for far less money than it would take to hire a professional. For images that are unique to your business, however – your building and its offices or your staff, for instance – hire a local photographer. Keep in mind that one photographer rarely does it all. If you need pictures of your staff, find someone who specializes in portraits; for your building and offices, hire a photographer who likes to do architectural photographs. And, don’t be afraid to barter – some photographers are willing to trade services with their local businesses. By utilizing a combination of generic and specific photographs, you’ll save money in the long run. 

 
But, how do you know what images you’ll need? Don’t: choose the images and graphics you think you need, and then attempt to figure out where they go on the site, or create a site around the images. Do: craft your Web site copy first, and then find images that illustrate your message.
 
Curvine Web Solutions is adept at recommending which pictures to use on your site, in just the right place. If you’re looking to spruce up your existing site with fresh and innovative images, or perhaps wondering where to begin for a brand new site, give us a call. We’ll help you find the right pictures to tell your story.