A takeaway website!

Last week I was in BORDERS bookshop and was stunned to see a pack called “Your Own Takeaway Website…” It claim to give you your very own fully functioning professionally designed web site, including your own net name (eg www.yourname.com) and your own personalised email address (eg you@yourname.com) with a massive mailbox. All this is just a few clicks away, with no prior knowledge of web coding.

It made me think how poisonous this box is. You see; like any sensible human being can not live on takeaway food only( e.g kabab and the rest..) this box from what I see, is a potential damage to a business, better than not having a website at all.

I do understand that businesses are trying to save few quid’s by using shortcuts and DIY free templates,whilst they are being encouraged to go online, however they should take it very seriously and invest into this by using professionals.

The fundamental idea of having a website is to be represented online; therefore anything that carries the image of you business/company should be professionally designed, and you certainly don’t get that with that box.

When designing a website for a company, a professional designer will taken on the client’s ideas and transform them into something that represents the company. By doing so, s/he will check on the accessibility and usability of your site, search engine friendly, it is also highly and likely that it will be tested across many platforms and browsers. Now tell me if ones can do that by just relying on WYSIWYG editors.

I see box as a way of spreading some harmful viral website across the WWW. Shame to see this while some people are fighting hard to make the internet safe and regulated, other people seem not to care at all.

10 things you wish your clients knew about the web!

1.All websites dont look exactly the same in all browsers let alone monitors.

2.Hey i'm not a psychic! If you cant explain the type of business you do,
dont expect me to dream it!

3.Quality counts! It's up to you to choose between cheap, fast and good.

4.You cant be ranked #1 on Google for free!Sorry it just doesnt happen, it takes time, money and regular updated.

5.Because you have a website/ecommerce doesnt necessarly mean magical increase in sales.

6.Please spare me with WYSIWYG! there is no way you are going to edit your site without an understanding of HTML, and you can’t change the visuals on a maintainable web site unless you’ve spent at least 2 years working with CSS. This also goes to say, updating your site cost money.

7.Using flash isn't always a good idea. think twice before throwing some flash on your site.An entire website designed in flash is opaque to search engine.

8.What da hell is this code?!
oh my neighbour's 15 years old son designed my site for few lagers!
Oh sorry to break you the news, this is not a website where i came from.

9.I’m a web programmer not a thief. If you want to copy someone else’s design do it yourself. That will be £150 for the consultation, thanks.

10.Creating a website is about creating a usable, accessible, and fresh website - creating your OWN brand.