Our web design services span the design and development of static HTML sites, through to more complex database driven websites including ecommerce, content management systems, and multimedia based websites.
Customers will make an instant judgement on your business based on how your website strikes them. At Smith and W-Smith we design websites that are visually compelling, understandable and easy for your customer to use. We want your web site to communicate the value and individuality of your business.
“Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration”
“I haven’t failed, but I have found 10,000 ways that do not work”
The above are famous quotes made by Thomas Edison, who at one time held over 1000 patents, who invented the lightbulb and founded General Electric! Moreover, these quotes can most easily be applied to the art or science of website design. A quality website is not something you can quickly throw together, it needs strategy and tactics, it needs love and understanding, it needs consideration and thought, it needs direction.
Is it for example, to just give visitors information about your Business?
Is it to actually sell product or services online?
Is it to generate sales leads, to get visitors to call you, or sign up for something?
Is it to publish an opinion in order to attract a following?
Is it one, all, or combination of these?
Once you have decided on the objective and targets for your website, you can start planning to achieve that objective. You need to think about how many visitors you need to hit your targets, and how you are going to attract those visitors?
How many visitors do I need to get to make my site cost effective?
Am I going to advertise your website in news media, magazines or on television and radio etc?
Am I going to buy visitors using Pay Per click or other online advertising?
Am I going to buy visitors using search engine optimization techniques?
We will help you answer these questions.
Like any professional occupation, a good website designer brings experience, know how and inspiration.
Initial Web Design Consultation
The primary aim of the consultation is to gain a good understanding of the project and help you set your expectations. Is it a redesign, a brand new website or a combination of the two? What are your objectives for the web site?
We need to identify what materials are already available and if they can be re-used, things like logos, content, images, and video. We will identify if any specialist skills are required such as Graphic Design, Video Production or application development.
We need to know if there are any constraints, for example are you tied to an particular Hosting company, do you own the Domain and the existing website and what budget have you allocated for the project.
We’ll also focus on who your target customers are, what they are searching for, how they currently find you and what their expectations are when they reach your website.
Website Design strategy & scope document
We will provide you with a written statement of work, to match both your expectations and your budget. an idea of expected timescales and a costing for completion. Once you have signed off and agreed the scope of the project we will move forward and start designing.
Website Design mock up
We will provide you with an outline design which will include all the major elements – colors, logos, lay out, navigation, menus. At this stage we will continue to optimize the design and layout based on your evolving requirements.
Website Building & development
At this stage we will be building your website pages, and developing the functionality – menus, navigation, links, media etc.
Website Content
In conjunction with the building we will work with you to make the content ready. You can do this yourself with our help, or if you prefer we can write it with direction from you. The content is probably the single most important module of a website, its importance cannot be underestimated. It needs to be unique, fresh, interesting and regularly updated to keep both your visitors and the search engines coming back time after time. Ideally, you will have between 200 and 700 words on your main pages.
Search Engine Optimization
This is a key part of the exercise in the Smith and W-Smith website design and build service, all through the process from consultation to completion we will have a keen eye on how best to get your site exposure. By optimizing the navigation, links, content, meta tags and with the intelligent use of various media (video, pictures, audio) we aim to get your site ranked on the first page of the main search engines including Google, Yahoo and AOL. Website optimization is not a one off project but rather an ongoing and evolving process, as part of our service we would continue optimizing your website for a further 12 months after completion.
Smith and W-Smith, were founded in 2005, and are based near Cambridge in the UK. We also offer a website appraisal service, a pay per click project management service for Google Adwords and Yahoo Search Marketing. We can also offer creative marketing (including video films), Graphic Design, Production publishing, exhibition design and build and affiliate services (site development and optimisation).
