Studio490: Creative Services

You’ve just been to 3 new websites that look more like a video game than a website. The talking avatars and Myst like pages are still dancing in your head like Christmas morning sugar plums. You sit back in your chair and say to yourself, I need a site like that. I want something that wows someone when they visit my site. I’ll get the next Webby for sure.

You contact a design studio (such as Studio490) and they rain on your parade by telling you that an all Flash site is all but invisible to Search Engines.

You may ask yourself, then why do I see so many sites with all the crazy movement, voice overs, transitions and more?

The Answer….

They usually belong to an established company which really does not need to worry about being Found. It’s more about reinforcing their brand with a cool site. Here is a test, what is the name of the shoe company that has a tag line of “Just Do it”? Can you find their site without having to use Google?

When you don’t have to worry about your audience discovering nike.com, you can focus on different brand angles.

I believe a combination of Flash and html is the best of both worlds. The flash sets a tone to the site, but the html provides you a platform to stay “Findable” on the search engines.

Your objective should be to educate your soon to be clients on your products/services and entertain them enough to have them remember you.

Let Studio490 take you to the next level of web development.

Tj and Dana Todd

Studio490

We’re often approached by clients who have run across someone who sold them a bill of goods and left them with a less than perfect web solution. Just as a big hat doesn’t make you a chef, just because a person says they are a web designer doesn’t mean they are a professional one.

What makes a professional web designer is their ability to listen to the client and suggest the right business solution. Even though that solution may not be something the “Designer” does. A true professional should tell you what you need and not just what you want to hear. Most clients don’t know their meta tag from their link exchange, but it’s your web designer who should.

It does Studio490 no good to design and develop a web solution that never exceeds its clients business expectations. That simply makes a unhappy customer and they don’t return.

The Client

Just as it’s important to hire a professional web designer, we believe it’s important for the client to know what they are asking for. If they don’t, then be open to feedback from that professional. Know when you’re asking for a Lexus on a Yugo budget.

Spend some time learning what you will need to ask for before you find someone to provide that service. Look for a professional who has references, testimonials and samples. Ask about qualifications and how they do business. A professional will be more than happy to talk about their company.

Know what’s included and what is not in the scope of the project. Project Creep is very common in web development and it’s best to define what the cost will cover.

A committed web professional and a educated professional client is a winning combination. You can see our references to see.

Tj and Dana Todd

Studio490

When it comes to web design & development, the process doesn’t have to be a mystery to either side. Clear communication takes the guess work out of expectations, payment and results. I always suggest to my clients, “know what you’re asking for before you ask or be willing to spend the time learning about it”. We spend a lot of time with our clients discussing their projects and like to cover all the bases before we start. But just like any good company, we provide that process in our proposals to refer to along the way.

Web Development Process:

• Define Your Objectives
• Proposal
• Approve Proposal
• Design
• Approve Design
• Production
• Test Site
• Approve Site
• Launch
• Promote

.After this process, we move into Phase II which usually involves added features, text tweaks, expansion, social media, promotion and level II SEO services.

We’ve found that communicating frequently along the process keeps our client informed and assured  their project is moving forward.

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Tj & Dana Todd

Studio490: Creative Services

www.studio490.com