Three Things My Dad Taught Me About Website Designers

My family has always been a car family. I blame my Dad – his garage contains a Chevy SSR sports truck, a mint-condition ’86 Corvette, and a ’50′s Chevy Coupe that he’s been lovingly restoring since before I was born. As you can imagine, when it came time for me to venture forth and purchase my first vehicle I was in for quite the learning experience. Years later, I’ve found that the very tips and tricks my Dad taught me in regards to buying a car can also help small companies in Chatham-Kent who are searching for a reliable website design firm. Whether you’re new to the Net or considering a re-launch of your Chatham-Kent website, take a page from the MacFarlane vehicle buying guide and always remember to:

1) Do your research

When I first told my Dad that I was thinking about buying a car he was a little worried (I couldn’t really blame him, I’d already been involved in two car accidents and been labelled a “hazard to society” by our insurance company). So, instead of immediately heading to our local car lot, he and I took a trip to the bookstore to pick up the latest edition of the Automotive Consumer Report. My Dad wanted to make sure I was looking at cars that had a proven safety record, no history of complaints, and positive customer reviews. The same should go for small businesses that are out shopping for a Chatham-Kent website design company. You wouldn’t want to sign a contract with a web design company that’s known for shoddy workmanship or poor customer service, would you? A few short hours of research online and at the local Better Business Bureau will tell you just which companies can be trusted, and which should be avoided.

2) Be cautious around fast-talking salesmen

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know much about the mechanical workings of a car. So when it came time to talk to a salesman about things like horsepower and torque I had no idea what to say. That’s why my Dad would always tag along when I went to test drive a vehicle. He knew what to ask, how to ask it, and why it needed to be asked. More importantly, my Dad knew when the salesman was giving a straight answer and when he was trying to pull the wool over my eyes. Unfortunately, website design consultants are just as guilty as used car salesmen when it comes to using industry jargon and unfamiliar terminology. If ever you feel overwhelmed when discussing your company website with a designer, don’t be afraid to stop and ask them to explain things in simpler terms. A quality Chatham-Kent website design provider will be more than willing to explain things clearly.

3)  Focus on function, not just flash

While my Father has an appreciation for fine vehicles, he’s also well aware that there’s more to a car than chrome fenders and a fancy hood ornament. So, when I’d finally found the type of vehicle I wanted to buy my Dad refused to let me buy the first one I came across. He made sure I shopped around until I found one that had passed the required emissions test, had a relatively low mileage count, and a clear accident record. My Dad knew that it didn’t matter how the car looked on the outside – it was what was under the hood that mattered the most. The same goes for website design. There are millions of amazing looking websites on the Internet, but only a small portion of these are designed in a way that is user-friendly and search-engine ready. Don’t let yourself be fooled by fancy designs and cool graphics; make sure your website is going to be designed in a manner that’s functional, and not just flashy.

Finding an honest, professional Chatham-Kent website design company can be easy if you know what you’re looking for. If you have any questions about web design or are interested in redesigning your company’s website, give CIK Marketing a shout. We’d be happy to help you out. And if you’re currently in the market for a new car and need some help, let me know – my Dad knows a thing or two when it comes to purchasing that perfect automobile.