I just read an article on NYTimes.com that is nothing new for the seasoned web professional but it does offer some good basic information for those that are new to the field or others who could benefit from the knowledge. I’m constantly amazed at the failure at the most basic levels of websites. Too often I see techniques that were used years ago but have long since passed their shelf-life. Things like opening splash pages and the excessive use of graphics and flash on sites is still all-too prevalent.
Here’s an excerpt from the article…
“…Graphics also do nothing to help a site get discovered by search engines like Google or Yahoo. Those sites troll the Internet for key words, as well as the frequency and quality of one site that links to another.
Text embedded in a graphic, like the name of a shop in a photograph, cannot be seen by search engines. And the old practice of embedding key words in white-on-white type will not increase a site’s page ranking; in fact it will do the opposite…” [ Read Full Article ]
To see bad design on newer sites is even more unbelievable. If you haven’t updated your site in a few years, then I can understand. But if you or your designer doesn’t obey the simple rules of web design – then you need to analyze your current web strategy and make an informed decision. I often see businesses and organizations choose web developers based upon either 1) who they know or 2) who provides the most sparkle. Don’t be afraid to shop and make sure you have a good list of questions to ask up front.
If you are a decision maker in the web development of your organization or church, you can and SHOULD be informed enough about the basics to ensure that you don’t get stuck with a product that does nothing for you but take up some digital space. Your website says a LOT about your church or organization. Avoid the temptation to go cheap on something that will be, for many, the only glimpse (and too often the last) of you. Your site speaks volumes about your organization….fair or not.