"It's about how smart you are in your use of Internet technologies, not how many stores you have, how big you are, or how much capital you have." - John Sidgmore
In the end, what really matters is the impact your online efforts have on the market you address and your bottom line. And that means serving users -- customers and prospects -- very well in every respect.
Masters and servants
Both graphic design and technology should be servants to the master goal of providing a great experience for users. Obsessing about pretty pages and bleeding-edge applications is usually a waste of time and money.
What users want
These are the major factors driving repeat visitors to web sites, according to Forrester Research:
- High quality content (75%)
- Ease of use (66%)
- Quick to download (58%)
- Updated frequently (54%)
None of these require large outlays for graphics or technology. In fact, the most efficient and effective web production technologies available today can be acquired for free or at a very low cost. Inexpensive but highly professional graphics are also readily available.
Learn more about powerful and flexible open source technologies.
