Website development is more than just pretty graphics and neat looking designs. The development process can be very time consuming and includes everything from listing goals to selecting a hosting company. At Netmark, we typically go through eight steps before beginning on a development project. This is done through an interview process with the client that helps us determine their needs and helps to insure that the build is done right the first time. Below is a brief overview of this process. We've included an additional step for those that are still undecided on a website developer.

Netmark approaches web design more from a marketing standpoint than purely by a graphic design standpoint. Confused? Let me explain: There are many beautiful sites out there that have a great look and a ton of fancy bells and whistles, but that have horrible architecture that makes it hard for their customers to find what they're looking for (i.e. fewer sales) or elements that prevent them from being as visible online as they could be. Clients that come to Netmark for design are typically looking for a site that will convert visitors into customers, rather than just a site that will look pretty.

Obviously these are generalities, but let's speak in generalities for a moment:

Netmark's highest priority is to ensure that the site sells the product well, and we believe that takes a healthy balance of looks and functionality. We follow the lead of the largest and most successful ecommerce giants online (such as amazon.com, ebay.com and several service based sites) that have spent millions to determine the most effective method of selling online and we strive to recreate what they've already proven to work.

The web has evolved, and hopefully your website has too. If you have to rely on your web designer or IT personnel to make every change to your website, you really need to give us a call. There are several Content Management System's available for free that give your website many features. Content Management System (CMS) = A fancy way of saying that you can edit everything on your site all by yourself, and do it just as easy as using Facebook or filling out an online form. Being able to edit, add, and delete content on your own is a great feature, but there are many more features of Content Management System's that help your site to succeed. Think of a basic web site as being a Ford Pinto, while a site on a CMS is a Cadillac Escalade, even though both site cost approximately the same amount of money. There are many bells and whistles (or Luxury Features in car terms) that are built right into the CMS. At Netmark, we prefer Wordpress over any other Content Management System, and Magento over any other Shopping Cart platform. Building our clients sites on these platforms helps us to deliver stronger results at a better price.

Writing content is a challenge for many companies, but is an essential part of every website and a strong boost to search engine rankings. Whether your company doesn't have the capacity to write content or write 'strong' content either because you're too swamped, or don't have the personnel that have that skill set, Netmark can help. Netmark's copywriters are excellent and can deliver anything from site content to blog posts to press releases. Our copywriters will either get the info they need from you over the phone or via documents you send over and create what you need.

We believe that having a well-thought-out site architecture is key to success in web marketing. If you examine the top sites across the web, you'll notice a recurring theme: They usually have a simple and basic design (still attractive, but simple), are very easy to navigate, and clearly display calls-to-action and contact information everywhere you look. In addition, while you are looking at one product or service, they are typically enticing you with a related product or service that you may also be interested in, maximizing their revenue potential. Perfect Example: Amazon.com. Amazon has a 16.5% conversion rate, which means that 16.5 people out of every 100 people that come to their site, make a purchase. Amazon has a simple yet attractive design, but has excellent navigation and search functionality. They also go out of their way to take away any reason that you would buy anywhere else: Customer reviews, customer discussion forums, related products, bundled products, suggested products, recently viewed items, wish lists, 1-click checkout, fast shipping options, cheap shipping options, etc… Why would you go anywhere else? Okay, there are still a few reasons why you might shop somewhere else, but Amazon has covered as many of them at the macro level as they can, and so should you. We design sites with customer's objections to buying in mind. If a customer can't find your phone number, can't figure out how to buy your product or can't tell if you have what they're looking for they will LEAVE your site and go somewhere else to buy the product. There are many other objections that would fall into the realm of Conversion Optimization, but the examples stated are primarily objections to site architecture. We take these objections very heavily into account when building a new site to ensure that you don't lose customers because of something as simple as not having your phone number clearly listed or having confusing site navigation.

Netmark provides hosting services for those wishing to keep their services all under one roof. There are many different hosting options available and we're happy to either host your site or point you in the direction of a host that is capable of meeting your specific needs. Talk to us and we'll recommend the best solution for your company.