[image source_type=”attachment_id” source_value=”3881″ align=”left” size=”small 150 width” autoHeight=”true” quality=”90″] Our first piece of advice is simple:  Unless it’s a hobby site, get your website professionally designed and coded.  We won’t dwell on hobby sites, because there are many simple and attractive templates and Wysiwyg programs to help create this kind of site.

Business sites, however, carry the full force of your reputation and image, and should never be delegated to less than professional care and feeding – even small sites.

Content Management Systems

If it’s a small site, likely your design and development team may suggest an equally simple template design with core pages and navigation.  A more complex site might be well served with a customised Content Management System.  These CMS systems deliver a positive visual continuity within the site, while allowing personnel to contribute to site content at varying permission levels.  We emphasize visual continuity, because older sites, over time, often become a jumble of disparate type, images and navigation that deliver a disorganized and inept message.  Almost any option can include a secure back-end area for internal and customer communications as well as other legacy matters that need be incorporated into the update site.

The Must Do Basics!

In a nutshell, though, follow these basic rules, and you’ll be well on your way to an attractive, professional web presence.