Almost all of the web sites we build these days use a Content Management System (or CMS for short) which is a great way for you to make changes to your own web site independently and at no additional cost.

In today’s market, it’s vitally important that your web site is dynamic and is updated frequently, keeping it fresh and more importantly keeping your visitors interest. With the freedom to create and control your own web site, comes the opportunity to publish a variety of information. Typical CMS uses include:

What can you publish?

• News, announcements and press releases.
• Articles and newsletters.
• Product details and special offers.
• Testimonials and case studies.
• Vacancies and personnel profiles.
• Useful links.

Taking control of your business web site

Managing your web site using a CMS means much less reliance on your web designer to make changes or add new content to your web site. Crucially, this also means saving money by updating your web site independently.

Having a CMS also means that you will never have to wait for “studio time” from your web designer, you can update your site instantly at the touch of a button. If you have to respond quickly to market or competitor announcements you can do so without the need to rely on your web designer.

Search Engine rankings can also receive a welcome boost by using a Content Management System. Search Engines love returning to your web site and finding new content and articles, so by keeping your web site up to date and adding fresh content you will almost always see good results.

It’s also possible to integrate your Social Media profiles (Twitter, Facebook etc) so that any time you post a new article or press release they are automatically posted to your various “feeds”.

Getting started with a Content Management System…

We have lots of experience using a wide range of CMS platforms, so if you’re looking for some no-nonsense advice on your web site and how to proceed then feel free to get in touch.

If your exiting web site is static and you’re unable to make changes, then a CMS “conversion” could be a significant upgrade. Typically your existing design would be converted into a “theme” for your chosen CMS allowing easy implementation and modification. We can also give you (or your site administrator) some training on how to use your chosen CMS solution.

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be well aware of how important it is to keep track of your income and expenses, and budget for your tools and equipment. As a business owner every purchase must be carefully considered.

When it comes to your business web site there are a variety of options available. If you’re fairly tech-savvy you could try a DIY solution like MrSite or even WordPress with a custom theme, but while these options are cheap, they are not necessarily good value for money.

Think “Return On Investment”

Contacting a professional web designer means that your business is in safe hands. After initial consultation and planning stages, we’ll create a web site that fits your business requirements perfectly. As one of your most important marketing tools, it’s important to realise that while having your web site carefully-crafted by a professional may cost more, it will also bring a greater return on your investment.

As part of your free, no-obligation quote we’ll include a breakdown of all web design costs as well as detailing exactly whats included so there should be no doubts about where your money is going. An honest, transparent pricing policy is a crucial part of our business.

Some Typical Project Prices

• £1500+ Entry Level Website – the average start price of a budget website package built by a professional.
• £2500+ Small Business CMS – this covers any number of website types from budget friendly small business websites to light e-commerce.
• £5,000+ Enterprise Level Business CMS – typically an extended version of a standard small business website, taking in mid level e-commerce or small corporate websites that require bespoke professional design, video displays, bespoke image and graphic work.

Of course every project is different and every business unique. We aim to tailor our web design services to your business requirements. We don’t use templates or pass off someone else’s work as our own, we will custom build a web site that fits your business perfectly.

You may not have heard the term “Responsive Web Design” before – it’s the technical term for having a website that scales perfectly to suit any screen size. Whether your website is accessed on a smart phone, games console, tablet or desktop computer, your visitor will have the same great user experience.

In the past few years, developing for smart phones and tablets has become easier thanks to the proliferation of WebKit (which powers the browsers on the iPhone, Android and webOS devices).

Using CSS media queries, a website can be scaled and manipulated to respond perfectly, whatever device is used to access it. Using this website as an example, if you resize the window, you will see that the sidebar moves below the content when the window drops below a certain width. When the window becomes even narrower, the dropdown navigation is replaced with a menu toggle, which not only saves on screen real estate but makes navigation more “touch-friendly”.

Why does my website need to be responsive?

The number of people accessing the web from mobile and tablet devices is growing phenomenally quickly. If your website doesn’t scale to fit their device, potential customers can be left fiddling around with pinch and zoom desperately trying to find the information they’re looking for – eventually, they may just skip to the next search result and leave you out entirely!

So in order to make the most of this growing mobile market, you need a website that looks just as good when viewed on a small screen. There are a couple of ways to achieve this, including creating a separate mobile site altogether, but I’m a strong advocate of responsive web design rather than duplicate content and difficult-to-maintain mobile sites.

Okay, so you’ll probably pay more to have a responsive website developed, but it’s definitely an investment that’s worth making. Not only will your website be future-proofed against new devices, you’ll be able to rest easy in the knowledge that whether your website is accessed from a smart phone, games console, tablet, laptop or even a humble desktop computer, your potential customers will all receive the same great browsing experience.