Great design is a well laid out site that functions like it should. It keeps the reader engaged, plays well with all browsers and doesn't look like some kid put it together. Great design is the complete consideration of your business model and how to display it in a useful professional and elegant way that highly impresses your customer, allows the customer to buy now, and informs them through blogs and social media. Great design says look at me I don't play around.

Good design is a website that provides the essentials and has been put together well with some key elements that are fairly usable to most people. It lacks the wow factor. It's basically a map and a business card. Good developers use a standard approach that they have become comfortable with. They can knock out a fair site with a minimum of effort or attention to detail.

Poor design is the worst case scenario and is often the result of nepotism. It becomes a case of a friend or family member volunteering to make you a website. Or even worse it is the result of a thrifty individual saving a few bucks on development by "rolling his own". If there are multiple components they are hosted on free sites. A web site on wix, a blog on blog spot, and a cart on PayPal. This sort of site frequently has mismatched type styles and irrelevant graphics and a fairly useless layout. Don't get me wrong, many good website creators got their start this way. But does your business really deserve to be an aspiring web creators teething ring?

You ended up here somehow. Probably a similar event will make someone want to check you out on the internet. The first thing they will see is your website. In a lot of cases a judgement call is going to be made quickly as to wether or not you present your business in a professional manner.

In a case where your customer is checking you out to see if they want to choose you over a competitor, your website may be the only chance you will ever get. When considering a web developer have a look at thier portfolio. Check the quality and functionality of the websites they build. If you are yawning on page three it's time to go. If the site makes you want to see whats on the next page, then you're on to something.

A great customer experience begins with a crisp easy to use web presence that creates an enjoyable expreience for your customer. A good website leaves your customer satisfied that they made the right choice. It shows the customer that you care enough to be sure they get the information they need to be confident in doing business with you. It is esential that your website does the following.

• Creates a great customer experience.
• Gets the business to your doorstep.
• Rises above anything your competitor has.

Would you skimp on your road sign? How much did your point of sale system cost? What did you spend on advertizing last month? Where do you really want to save money? You can get a hamburger from a drive through menu for a dollar. Would you go there on a first date with someone you really like? Your website is often that first date.

A great web presence is quite a job to put together. there are literally about 3000 files in a standard website, shopping cart, and blog setup. The attention to detail in the files that display your data is very critical and time consuming. The site needs to show well in all browsers and function flawlessly.

I have chosen not to do cheap cookie cutter web development. My sites stand out and meet and excede all expectations. I am proud to showcase my work and will not take on a job that I believe will end up looking funky. It is for this reason my prices start at $500 and can go much higher.

I give you real functional working site examples to use as a reference point for making your decision. I urge you to contact these people and ask them how it went. did I deliver what I promised? was I on time? did I adhere to the price I quoted? Now do the same thing with everyone else you are considering. By the way people will be asking you how I did as well. Keep that in mind. I know I will.