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Time for a Redesign?
by Karie Barrett

When it comes to your web site presence, a fresh and appealing design can be key in retaining current customers' attention and your efforts to attract new ones. Your web site represents your business and if it is poorly designed, customers may view your business in a less than positive light.    Sometimes, a poorly designed web site design hurts a business more than having no web site at all.

All web sites should be reviewed at least yearly to determine if current business and customer goals for the site are being met. Click activity per page, traffic patterns, and feedback from others in your organization should be reviewed and analyzed to identify areas of weakness.

Why Redesign?

Examine your competitors’ web sites.  Ask yourself if their web sites are “better” than yours.  If your answer is “yes”, you should probably consider having your site redesigned.  There are many factors that drive the need for a redesign, including:

• Content is difficult or costly to keep fresh. You have to go through a third party to update your site.
• You need to increase your site’s visibility.  If your original site was developed with little consideration to to Search Engine Optimization, a redesign with new content can raise your site’s search engine rankings.
• You have a better understanding of your customers.  You have learned some of the problems, such as navigation, that they might have encountered on your site.
• Your web site looks "dated."  Technology is moving forward very quickly; what looked great a while ago is now out of synch with today’s design standards.
• Your business needs new features, such as an e-newsletter subscription option.
• Your competitors are ahead of you.
• Your business message or brand/image has changed.

A site redesign is like a remodeling of your office; it creates new interest, conveys an image of business growth, and offers added functionality, and customer value.

The Process of Redesigning Your Web Site

Initial Consultation - This is to help determine your needs and to provide an estimate for your project.

• Why do you want to redesign your web site?
• What objectives do you hope to accomplish with your redesign and site?
• Who is your audience?
• What colors would you like for the site?
• What do you want to communicate to your audience?
• Can you name examples of existing sites that you like or dislike and why?
• Can you show examples of your current marketing materials, logos, pictures, etc. that you would like to incorporate into your Web site's design?

Web Site Development Presentation - A presentation highlighting recommendations, research findings, issues, and concerns related to your web site development and deployment.

Web Site Design - Involves design of web page layout, graphics and navigation structure. You provide all the text and graphic content for your site in electronic format (MS Word or basic format for text and .JPG, .GIF or .PNG for graphics).

Graphics Development - Development of graphics which may consist of logos, buttons, image maps, etc.

Graphics Scanning - This involves the scanning of hardcopy graphical content for conversion to electronic media.

Graphics Optimization - This includes optimization of graphical content for the purpose of reducing image sizes to affect faster downloads and smaller file sizes to reduce overall size requirements for storage.

Flash Movie Development - Macromedia Flash components provide powerful animation of text and graphics. 

Reviewing / Testing / Proofing - A demo of your new site for your review. This is your chance to let us know what you love and what might still need to be tweaked. We will work with you to make any changes so that you are satisfied with your site. It may also be helpful for you to have other people review your demo, especially people outside of your organization. Getting input from people with varying levels of experience with the Internet is especially useful.

Multiple Browser Testing - We test your site against multiple browsers to insure that it works for the majority of your client-base.

Web Site Optimization - We optimize your site so that it loads as quickly as possible. This involves reducing file sizes as much as possible without losing resolution.

Search Engine Optimization- You'll want your site to be found by people using search engines. We make sure you have the appropriate site descriptors and key words so that your intended client-base finds your site.

Web Site Deployment - Once all the changes and corrections are made and you approve the design, your developed site is uploaded to a host server so it may be accessed on the Internet. You can then submit your site to the major search engines and directories.

Why QAT?

At QAT, we aren't your typical Web Design Solutions provider. Our Web Design Solutions are built on a foundation of over 10 years IT consulting including IT architecture, IT strategy, and application development partnered with equal web design, graphic design, and marketing experience. Whether you need a polished corporate design, a strong brand image, or an up-to-the-minute new look, QAT will create exactly the Internet presence you are looking for - with all the built-in functionality you need.

The design team is an integration of talent, creativity and expertise, specializing in turning bland, dated and dysfunctional designs into aesthetically pleasing, easy to navigate, and search engine friendly Internet communications tools. Each of our team members brings his/her own unique ability to create intuitive, graphically appealing web site designs that will effectively communicate your marketing message. Our team is also experienced in user interface design, motion graphics, Rich Internet Application development, and more. We can incorporate Flash and other motion graphics into your web site design which add motion and intrigue to your message. Our experienced consultancy team takes pride in maintaining the skills to provide any form of online business development you need.

If your site needs a face lift, let QAT rejuvenate it with a redesign that clearly and effectively communicates your current business goals and message. We invite you to contact us and discover how truly effective your web site can be.

For more information, please visit http://www.qat.com/ms_webdesign.asp.