what function do you want your site to perform?
The very simplest websites are often put together by or for individuals who want to share personal or family information with friends and relatives. These sites usually comprise no more than five to ten pages, and will sometimes contain CVs or photos
The next category of site includes those intended for small to medium businesses, schools, charities or other information, promotional or campaigning purposes. Such sites will typically contain ten to thirty pages, have a feedback or email facility, and have a search facility. Other sites of this kind include blogs - diaries maintained by individuals - describing aspects of life or hobby interests
Thes types of sites are generally 'static' - in other words, you click on a link and the server shows the relevant page - the server's role is simply to provide the requested page(s). There are also 'dynamic' sites - those which take information provided by the person viewing the site, and do something with it. You'll have seen this process, known as 'server side programming' if you've visited sites that require a password or maintain infomation about you as a client or user. These sites will usually have some kind of database organising and dealing with the information. Many larger organisations - particularly ones that provide a range of services or products will have this kind of website
These sites will usually have some kind of online purchase facility, usually via the major credit cards. Some, such as eBay have their own payment system, in this case PayPal Most of our sites contain elements of the latter two categories discussed above. To view a comparison of site facilities and corresponding prices, pease see the 'web design' page.
At this point it's worth quoting design expert Vincent Flanders - creator of 'webpagesthatsuck.com.'
The only reason my web site exists is to solve my customers' problems (if you're a charity, for 'customers' read 'clients'). What problems does the page I'm looking at solve?
Nobody cares about you or your site. Really. What visitors care about is getting their problems solved. Most people visit a web site to solve one or more of the following three problems.
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