Q: Why should a business hire a professional designer and marketer?

A: A professional designer and marketer will be able to evaluate your needs and give you a site that is effective. Here are a few things that we consider that an amateur will not.

It is crucial that you have a complimentary layout to content of your site. There is no point in having a long extended full screen web page when you only have one image and a single paragraph of copy.

The appropriate images must be used and placement is a main factor. Using improper images can actually confuse visitors and that is last thing that we want to do.

The file sizes must be minimized. If it takes too long for your pages to load, then people will leave.

Marketing is of utmost importance. An effective marketer will know how to keep people at your site and help you make sales. We look at sites and think they are properly designed, but when they are compared to ones that have been created by a professional, we realize that they have not considered all of factors above. Don't take chances with your company's reputation. Get a professional designer and marketer to work with you and create that effective site that you need.

Q: What should businesses look for in hiring a web site designer?

A: Look at their portfolio. When you see quality from a designer, then quality is what you will get. Often I see design companies that have portfolios that look like they just started last week. You do not have to like colors or even layout, but consider if site is effective. If I complete a dog grooming site, then look at site and ask yourself, "Is this site effective? What are benefits for me? What do I get? Why should I stick around?" If you go to a site that you wouldn't even want to stay at, then why would you want that same designer to make a site for you?

Q: Cris, tell me what you think is biggest mistake people make in their web sites?

A: I believe that people are overly concerned with inundating their site with dynamic elements. Let me explain. Dynamic means: "Of or relating to energy or to objects in motion." Static means that nothing is moving. We often think dynamic is better that static. This is not always case. Yes, a flash presentation or banner is a vital element to success of your site, but if it is designed improperly, then it is just an eyesore. In same regard, having a static site with no flash or javascripts or any type of motion can be so beautifully laid out and effectively marketed. We don't need scripts or animated gifs all over our sites to make them effective. People do indeed enjoy motion, so my suggestion is this: limit energy on your site to focus on one thing. This thing should make you money or bring visitors back. Add flash to your site and loose annoying animated gifs. Flash can market your site, whereas animated gifs are often a distraction.

Q: What factors do you consider when it comes to use of color in a site?

It is important to ensure that your copy is legible. It goes without saying that if you can't read message, then you've failed already. I use white copy on a medium blue background in opening scene. The copy is legible and is isolated in corner so that eye is drawn to it. If I were to have multiple simultaneous animation on banner in that scene, then important message of, "Get Incredible Cruise Bargains" would suffer. Too much motion at once is distracting. Let your viewers have a chance to absorb your message before you start flying more copy in their faces.

Finding a way to break monotony is very important. If you maintain a consistent standard for introducing your copy and it does not vary at all, then nothing important sticks out. Notice that I use an anchor to pull up copy, "All Ports Worldwide!" This scene is effective, as rest of images have been "dissolved" and simple animation of anchor introduces new copy without distracting from message.