Professional, quality website design is an invaluable part of the online success of any business. While there are a number of "how to" books and online websites, tutorials, software programs and DIY (do it yourself) websites available, nothing beats professionally done web design. I came across many clients who used to believe that it was beneficial to design their websites in-house, using publicly available templates that can be found everywhere on the internet. But in the end these clients realized that to ensure the success and profitability of a website, they needed specialized skills that can only be found in a professional website design firm.

First impressions mean everything, especially on the internet. Nowadays, the website is a face, a "business card" of a company; this is the most common way how current and potential customers can access your business. It has been proven that websites have from there to six seconds to grab the attention of the visitor. If the website does not have a professional touch to its design, simple navigation, appealing features and fresh content, a majority of visitors will not hesitate to click to another business website in the same market.

Web design professionals, I mean really professionals, know that the right website design will increase the online sales of any business.

In terms of content generation converging with the website design process, there are many "chicken and egg" debates about whether the design should be created before the content, the content before the design, or creating them simultaneously. Some design firms preach that you cannot begin a website design without the final, approved content. While having the final content does help the designer, it also prolongs the process. The design firm must wait for the company to generate content before a website design is started.

Contrary to what many design firms preach, it is efficient to generate content during the creation of the website design. This allows a company time to draft and correct content while the designer designs the website. This is also beneficial because the designer can show examples of possible designs, and the client is then able to select which will fit best with the identity they prefer, as well as with their content. It is common for a company to want a lot of copy to make sure all their bases are covered in terms of literal business message. Once sent to the designer to be put into the website design, often the designer will ask the client to edit the copy so it is more concise and to the point, which limits the amount of copy.

This will make the message stronger, as well as improve the design, as too much copy can cause visual clutter. The inclusion of key words for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is also important and takes some time to get it just right.

How can you be sure the website design company you're thinking about hiring is the right choice? With a little bit of research, you can feel comfortable with your selection. The first step is to check their website. Is it appealing? Does it grab your attention? Is it easy to navigate? And most importantly, is the information up-to-date?

Ask for references. As with any reputable company, graphic design and website development companies should have no problem offering references or referring you to sites they've created. Make sure the website design company you're considering has the experience to create the type of website you want.

Do you know exactly what you want on your website and how you want it to look? Having a clear vision of what you want will help the website designer create a website you'll be proud to have associated with your name or business. If you're unsure, or unable to articulate your needs and desires, both you and your website designer will become frustrated and your website development project will take longer to complete and most certainly run over budget.

In addition, you need to know what you want from your website. What is the purpose of your site? Is your website an informational site? Are you selling products or services? Do you want visitors to sign up for emails? Do you want visitors to your site to interact in some manner, participate in discussions, download a file, or click on ads?